Democrats on the Dash for Cash

June 17, 6:54 PMDenver Politics ExaminerColin Campbell

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            If the contest to determine a presumptive democratic nominee was road race, then the sprint to raise money for the Democratic National Convention is a marathon.

For organizers fundraising for the Democratic National Convention, the struggle continues. The DNC host committee says it still has more than $11 million dollars to raise before it reaches its overdue target. So far, the Denver host committee is about $15 million short of the $40.6 million it was supposed to raise yesterday. Organizers say they remain to be undaunted by the shortfall and missed fundraising deadlines.

There are four full-time people raising money for the event everyday of the week. They still remain optimistic that enough money will be raised to have a complete convention in less than two months even though Monday’s goal was not met.

“The Denver Host Committee is fully confident about completing its fundraising goals,” said host committee spokesperson Chris Lopez.

Problems with the DNC’s cash flow should they not be resolved will create problems in August. Attendees could face a more subdued convention without money for organizing activities at the Pepsi Convention or the parties that usually come with the climatic festivities. Suggestions have already been made to cut several cocktail parties which could save up to $3 million dollars in expenses.

            There are various reasons why it’s taking organizers so long to raise money. One of the biggest reasons fundraisers point to is the protracted battle that took place between Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama and ended only less than two weeks ago.

"Now, since the landscape has changed, we're counting on raising a lot more money from people that haven't even approached before because there was still some competition there," said Elbra Wedgeworth president and chair of the DNC host committee.

The Democratic National Committee awarded Denver the convention in January last year with the hope that the Rocky Mountain state would be able to raise the money needed. The DNC Chairman Howard Dean felt confident at the time that Colorado and other Western states would embrace a move to the Democratic Party. To some degree, that has happened. Colorado is considered a battleground state for Republicans and Dems for the general election in November. There was growing evidence of Colorado moving from traditionally red to purple in the race for the democratic nomination.

            But the race for the Democratic nominee is all but over with Obama as the presumptive nominee, but the question remains if DNC organizers will make it to the finish line with the cash prize in hand.