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DNC to vote on 2004 convention cityBoston, New York, Detroit vying for the assignment
From John Mercurio
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Eight days after the party suffered a serious drubbing in midterm elections, the Democratic National Committee will gather in Washington Wednesday to make its first major choice about the next campaign: Where to hold its 2004 national convention. DNC officials privately say Boston is the clear front-runner in a three-way race with New York City and Detroit. DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe has urged the committee to select a site in a unanimous vote, but few officials expect that to happen. Also unlikely is the chance that the committee will remain deadlocked, with none of the cities getting the required majority of committee votes. Since the DNC narrowed its list over the summer, Democrats in all three cities have been lobbying for the plum assignment, which showers extensive media exposure on the chosen metropolis and directs millions of dollars to local businesses. Boston officials, for example, estimate that the convention would create 5,000 jobs and $150 million in spending over its six days. New York was considered an early front-runner, given the continued attention both parties will surely be paying to the city's recovery from the September 11 terror attacks. The convention is scheduled to take place within weeks of the third anniversary of the attacks. But Democrats are reluctant to highlight a string of election losses they have suffered recently in New York: Republican Michael Bloomberg succeeded two-term GOP Mayor Rudy Giuliani last year, and Gov. George Pataki, a Republican, sailed to a third term last week over Democrat Carl McCall. GOP also eyes New YorkDNC officials also complain that New York, which is being considered as the Republican convention site, has not mounted an aggressive bid for the Democratic convention. While Bloomberg had dinner on Sunday with McAuliffe, New York has not supplied a detailed convention budget to the committee. Boston and Detroit have provided comprehensive spending plans. Boston recently secured two $1 million commitments for its convention plan, from Gillette Co. and Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Massachusetts, raising its total pledged contributions from businesses to $10 million. The city is seeking $20 million in cash and $12.5 million in donated services to accompany $17.5 million in government assistance, making a $50 million package. Perhaps the most active in the fund-raising and lobbying efforts has been Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts. Meeting in Detroit would allow the DNC to showcase the party's diversity and give Democrats a stage in an important Midwest battleground state. Holding the convention in Detroit would would allow Democrats to highlight Michigan's new governor, Democrat Jennifer Granholm, who will succeed three-term GOP Gov. John Engler in January. However, Democrats also fear that a severe hotel shortage in Detroit would force delegates and the media to seek lodging in nearby Canada. Republicans plan to announce their convention site in the first week of December. The Republican National Committee also is considering three sites: New York, the presumed front-runner; Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida; and New Orleans.
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