Democratic Convention: The Countdown

We get lost attempting to count the number of committees involved in preparing for the Democratic Convention, which will begin the 25th of August, in exactly four weeks, in Denver, Colorado. Some signs welcoming the 50,000 visitors have already been installed in the streets of downtown.

This is not the city’s first convention, since exactly 100 years ago in 1908, she received the Democrats who had crowned William Jennings Brian, beaten after the general election by William H. Taft. This is also not Denver’s first big event, since she held the G-8 Reunion in 1997 and received the Pope’s visit in 1993.

Despite the overwhelming warmth and the fact that we are on the point of beating record temperatures – the fifteenth day of over 30° Celsius – a great excitement has swept the citizens. Jeanie is a convinced Democrat, and at 60 years of age, decided to get involved. Consulting the convention’s website, she put her hand on what she had been searching for, “how to become a volunteer”. After ticking all the boxes without delay, she received a phone call. “Mrs. Johnson, we need 3,000 private chauffeurs.” Excited, she registered herself immediately. “Although I won’t be on the premises,” she proudly says, “I will still contribute to this success for my city and the Democrats.” Organizers of the event, which will last four days, didn’t have any difficulty recruiting 22,000 people to work as volunteers.

The Pepsi Center, the skating rink of “The Avalanche”, is unrecognizable. Thousands of meters of cables are drawn, about twenty servers have been installed for the 15,000 media which will cover the convention, and 1,000 telephone lines are connected.

One month away from this historic event, which will celebrate the nomination of the first black candidate for the U.S. Presidency, everything seems under control if we are to believe those responsible. But this is not quite the truth. $20 million to cover the costs of this “extravaganza” is still lacking. It is a deficit that the city of Denver cannot afford and the situation worries many.

But the organizers have more serious problems. It seems that Oprah and her entourage have tried to dislodge the Clintons from the Brown Plaza Hotel because she said it was too far from her protégé to travel, and the Kennedy’s have yet to find a house that meets their expectations.

I thought to offer my guest room to Mrs. Winfrey, but it is already taken. If only I had known! … next time…