And it doesn’t paint a pretty picture of and for Charlotte:
The fundraising limits compound a number of other factors — from the sluggish economy to the Obama administration’s strained relationship with the business community — that have made it harder to convince corporations and trade groups to underwrite the parties and other events around the convention, they say.
Fewer members of Congress are also expected to attend than in years past.
“I think there’s more and more of a sense that the conventions are an anachronism and why bother? Why spend all this money?” said Steve Elmendorf, a Democratic lobbyist who worked on the presidential campaigns of Dick Gephardt and John Kerry.
Democrats also face a tougher political environment than they did four years ago, when they gathered in Denver to crown Obama as the first African American to win a major party’s presidential nomination. And many were already less than enthusiastic about spending a week in Charlotte, which is known more for its banks than its cultural amenities.
“It’s grim,” said Heather Podesta, a Democratic lobbyist who scouted 30 of the city’s restaurants earlier this year. “Going to the NASCAR Hall of Fame isn’t reason enough to be in Charlotte.”
Party insiders worry that the restrictions will lead to a bare-bones convention that will alienate the allies they need to inspire ahead of the election. Labor unions, for example, donated $8.6 million to the party’s 2008 convention but are not participating this year.
30
2012 At 8:42 am, Skyler the Weird Said:
“Democratic insiders see less enthusiasm on the part of the party faithful. Fewer politicians will be making the trip to a s SECOND-TIER host city with few cultural attractions. And some worry that the parties that swirl around the convention will be less lavish than in years past.”
Ouch!!!
The Second Tier comment had to hurt the World Class Conscious folks at the CCCP. i guess we better hunker down for some more taxpayer funded Boondoogles to become FIRST TIER.
30
2012 At 9:45 am, SnowSun Said:
Funny how the Nascar HOF was sneared at by the Democratic lobbyist.
The whole thing was promised to be what brings people to Charlotte, and here we have Heather Podesta (the Democratic lobbyist) speaking the inconvenient truth that it most definitely is not something that will bring people to Charlotte. I guess she didn’t get the talking points.
Next up: CCCP sending money to more lobbyists.
30
2012 At 11:55 am, Skyler the Weird Said:
It’s because there’s no Street Car and not enough Light Rail.