Every four years, representatives of the parties placing candidates on the ballot for president convene for a week or so credentialing, caucusing, platforming, speechifying, nominating, and celebrating. The two highest profile conventions, of course, are those held by the Democratic and Republican parties – whose delegates have selected the eventual American president since 1852.
Conventions are the marquee events of the American political season, attracting thousands of partisans, journalists, guests, staffers, and vendors to their host cities. The Democratic and Republican conventions this summer will each generate roughly $200 million dollars for hotels, taxicabs, restaurants, tourist spots, shopping districts, and taxing districts in Denver and the Twin Cities. Economists debate whether revenues exceed true costs, but civic boosters note that the increased national and international profile of the host cities is likely eclipsed only by hosting an Olympics.
In the earliest days, the major political conventions were held in Eastern cities that were convenient to most of the delegates. As railroads began to stitch to the country together, Midwestern cities became popular hosts. Baltimore hosted most of the early conventions; Chicago has hosted the most conventions. Eight times – five times to St. Louis and three to Kansas City – the Democrats or the Republicans have brought their national conventions to Missouri. The Constitution party’s event for the 2000 elections – which nominated Howard Philips – was the most recent national political convention staged in St. Louis; its 2008 convention was held in Kansas City, nominating Chuck Baldwin.
This year’s Democratic and Republican conventions are a little unusual in that they have been scheduled back-to-back instead of a month apart; and because both parties have nominated tickets that promise to make electoral history of one sort or the other. Voter interest has been high, with Senator Barack Obama’s acceptance speech from a stage set up in Invesco Field drawing 38.4 million television viewers.
This week’s Mini-Poll hopes to quantify your “conventional” opinions while they are still fresh in your mind.
Go to MayorSlay.com to vote.
