DNC host committee short of fundraising goals

Gee, there's a hot headline. Let's go Plunketting:

Millions of dollars behind in raising money and unlikely to meet a fast-approaching final deadline, the Denver committee hosting the Democratic National Convention is considering spending cuts.

Please don't cut the the sonic ray gun. Please don't cut the sonic ray gun.

Committee sources say they are working with the Democratic National Convention Committee to consider lowering the $55 million in private cash and donated services that must be raised to bring the convention to town. The cuts would be made to the many parties the host committee is obligated to throw for the delegations and the news media, and other hospitality functions not tied to production aspects inside the convention hall. With less than 90 days to the convention and no way to stage it elsewhere, the shortfall in funds could mean the Democratic Party's plan to showcase itself in a smaller city [read: cowtown] will result in making do with less.

The development could likewise hurt Denver's desire to showcase itself, both in the civic programs it wants to stage during the convention week [Cinemocracy?] and in future bids.

"It's never good to not deliver the goods," said Eric Sondermann, a political analyst in Denver.

That's why he's a political analyst and you're not (unless you are, in which case, would you mind explaining why the Drunkablog wasn't picked for the DNC general blogger pool?).

DNCC spokeswoman Natalie Wyeth declined to discuss the matter but said in a statement, "We are always reviewing our budgets and plans to ensure we are being fiscally responsible and budgeting efficiently and effectively throughout the planning period."

The host committee sources didn't specify an amount they wish to cut. But committee officials are $15 million short of the $40 million in cash they are contractually obligated to raise by June 16.

The committee also must raise $15 million in donated services, which, if those aren't offered, must be bought. The value of donated services offered to date has not been released.

The committee never established an $19.5 million line of credit it agreed to in its contract with the DNCC. Officials had said they didn't think it would be necessary. Now those officials say it would be impossible to establish.

Nice work.

More: Here's a list of the bloggers receiving credentials for the DNC. In case you hadn't heard, the Drunkablog is not among them.

More yet: CBS4, in a belated story on the latest ACLU suit, has a picture of (I think) a sonic ray gun:


Watch out, Godzilla, er, Spagnuolo.