DENVER—The host committee for the 2008 Democratic National Convention has stopped issuing updates on fundraising after falling short of its first benchmark, but organizers say they aren’t worried.
The host committee has a goal of raising $40 million in cash and $15 million in in-kind contributions by June 2008. In late June 2007, the last time the committee issued an update, it reported about $6 million in cash, short of its $7.5 million benchmark for June 1.
Host committee spokeswoman Rachel Gordon said in an e-mail to The Associated Press Tuesday that the committee “declines to comment on updated fundraising figures. We are focused on our December goals.”
The December goal hasn’t been released.
Natalie Wyeth, a spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee’s convention organizing committee, said the organizers were not worried about the host committee’s ability to raise money.
“We remain confident the host committee will continue to report in accordance with the contractual deadlines,” Wyeth said.
Questions about Denver’s ability to raise the necessary money were raised when the city was awarded the convention in January. When they were bidding for the event, Denver officials said they had $25 million in commitments but acknowledged that converting pledges into cash would be difficult.
The federal government is expected to pay up to $50 million for security at the event. That money is separate from what the host committee must raise.
The Aug. 25-28, 2008, convention is expected to draw nearly 5,000 delegates and alternates and thousands more family members, media and others.
