FACT SHEET from the 2008
Democratic National Convention
THE
2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION:
A DIFFERENT KIND OF CONVENTION
The 2008 Democratic National Convention will be a first-rate,
technologically savvy Convention that will celebrate the strength of
Barack Obama and the Democratic Party, the diversity we embrace, the
values we share and our vision for America.
In May 2007, we laid down the marker in calling this a “transitional Convention” -- one
that is more accessible to the American people and begins to change the
way Conventions are organized, funded and implemented. In keeping
with this and the values of the 50-state strategy, this Convention
highlights the importance of the West to the future of the Democratic
Party. In fact, this is the first Democratic Convention to be held in
the Mountain West in 100 years. A sampling of efforts to open this
Convention to more Americans than ever before include:
- First Convention since 1960,
when President John F. Kennedy moved his acceptance speech to the Los
Angeles Memorial Coliseum, to open its doors to more
than 75,000 people from across the country, as Barack Obama accepts the
Democratic nomination for President of the United States at INVESCO
Field at Mile High. In the first 48 hours after the invitation was
issued, more than 80,000 Coloradans requested community credentials for
Senator Obama’s speech at INVESCO Field at Mile High on Thursday,
August 28, 2008.
- First Interfaith Gathering
to kick off Convention week. The event will include national and
local clergy of different faiths, Party leaders, elected officials and
local community leaders, symbolic of the Party’s desire to bring
multiple communities together under its “big tent.” The gathering
will also feature readings from diverse religious texts, prayers and
musical selections.
- First Delegate Service Day,
chaired by Michelle Obama and Colorado’s First Lady Jeannie Ritter, at
sites throughout the Denver area allowing delegates to join together to
both contribute to and celebrate the people and organizations effecting
positive change and strengthening communities in the city hosting this
historic Convention.
- First Live High-Definition
Streaming of Gavel-to-Gavel Convention Proceedings via
DemConvention.com providing viewers worldwide with an all-access pass
to the Convention. Our online efforts will be supplemented by
more than 120 credentialed blogs, a record for a national political
convention, and more than three times the number of blogs at the 2004
Convention.
- First Complete Spanish Language
Simulcast available at DemConvention.com and via broadcast
networks making the Convention accessible to the more than 35 million
Americans whose primary language is Spanish. All primetime
Convention activities at the Pepsi Center will be simulcast.
- First Daily Convention Webcast,
“Countdown to America’s Future,” previewing the 2008 Democratic
National Convention’s evening program each day of Convention week.
Hosted by rising political stars and key campaign officials,
“Countdown” will be broadcast on DemConvention.com, Comcast’s Video
On-Demand (VOD) and via satellite. The series of daily webcasts will
feature special appearances by campaign and Convention insiders with
each show providing behind the scenes information not available
anywhere else.
-
First
“Community Open House” and sneak peek of Convention hall for
Denver area residents and students – invited to be among the first to
tour the Convention hall and get a glimpse of its innovative design
before the thousands of Convention delegates and guests arrive in
Denver. More than 5,000 free tickets for the event were snapped up in
less than 24 hours.
###