Democratic Convention

Denver Host Committee Cancels Delegate Parties

DENVER (CBS4) ― The Democratic National Convention Host Committee in Denver has run into some trouble. The committee is so far behind in its fundraising efforts it's canceled dozens of big events during the convention week.

Host Committee spokesman Chris Lopez told CBS4's Raj Chohan they decided to have one big party instead of a bunch of smaller ones. He claims it wasn't solely about the money, but some of the venues Chohan spoke with said that's exactly what it was about.

CBS4 learned the suggestion for one party came from DNC chairman Howard Dean. He wanted a benefit event in support of the Friends of New Orleans. The convention marks 3 years since Hurricane Katrina. The single benefit party means the Friends of New Orleans helps pick up the tab.

The Host Committee was charged with raising more than $40 million in cash by June 16 to pull off its end of the convention. Now it appears the committee is scrambling to cut costs and is trying to break contracts with a number of venues in hopes of doing just that. For example, the Colorado History Museum was scheduled to host delegates from Arkansas, Kentucky and Wisconsin. The Denver Zoo was scheduled to host delegates from Alabama, North Dakota and South Dakota. The list goes on and on.

Political analyst Eric Sonderman said it's not the kind of press the city wants right now.

"Part of hosting a convention is an opportunity for the city to put its best foot forward, and you wonder whether this is doing this or whether this is going to hurt; even if it's just at the margins whether it's going to hurt the image of the city or the fullness of the city's presentation," Sonderman said.

The fact that the Host Committee has been behind in its fundraising is nothing new. The ongoing nomination battle between Sens. Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton has likely kept many would-be donors on the sideline until a winner emerged.

Now that Obama has won the nomination, the hope is fundraising efforts will pick up. Still, this latest stumble may leave a hangover.

"When Denver puts in a bid for the next big event, it might be a political convention, it might be some other major sports event or whatever, the notion that Denver didn't fully deliver this time out could be a slight negative," Sonderman said.

Another problem for the Host Committee is whether it has to pay cash out-of-pocket to break the contracts with different venues.

CBS4 also tried to contact Mayor John Hickenlooper, who's put so much of the fund raising burden on his own shoulders. He did not have a comment.

Below is a list of parties that have been cancelled:

• Denver Zoo - was scheduled to host a party for the Alabama, North Dakota, South Dakota delegates.

• Colorado History Museum - was scheduled to host a party for the Arkansas, Kentucky, Wisconsin delegates.

• Exdo Event Center - was scheduled to host the California delegates; however there is a contract in place and negotiations are underway.

• Hudson's Gardens - was scheduled to host New Jersey delegates.

• Museo de las Americas - was scheduled to host District of Columbia delegates.

• Museum of Nature & Science - was scheduled to host Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah delegates.

• Belmar Center - was scheduled to host delegates from Alaska, Indiana, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Tennessee

• Denver Art Museum - was scheduled to host delegates from Illinois

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