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Convention Cities: Why Denver and Minneapolis-St. Paul?

By USC  

The Democratic National Convention will descend on the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo., August 25-28, and the Republican National Convention will occupy the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., September 1-4. When they do, they will represent a great deal of advance planning, including thought about the symbolism of particular American cities.

"The parties make these choices years before, so they're long-term political choices, not short-term political choices," notes Manuel Pastor, USC College professor of geography and American studies and ethnicity.

Like any other convention-holding group, political parties have to spread the wealth, evenly distributing their experience and money over the country, adds Michael J. Dear, professor and chair of geography at the USC College. "So regional representation is the keyword here, as people move around the country to show that they're not elitist," he says. "And heaven forbid that anyone should seem elitist in the current climate."

Party strategists believe that in certain circumstances a convention's location can swing certain voters, Dear says. "I don't say that they choose their cities by swing votes, but there is a sense that you're out pressing the flesh," he explains. "The sense is that if you do that on a regular basis, in the long run that will pay off."

But why this year's two cities, one in America's outdoorsy West and the other firmly ensconced in the Midwestern heartland?

"One new battleground area is the Western states," Pastor says. "I think the choice of Denver reflects the Democrats wanting to have a new 50-state strategy, to get a toehold in areas they don't traditionally have."

In Colorado there's a significant commitment to Second Amendment liberties, but also a significant commitment to the environment as well as large populations of immigrants, Pastor notes. "I think what you're seeing with the Democrats since Howard Dean became party chair is a 50-state strategy, trying to win in all areas."

By choosing Minneapolis-St. Paul, the Republican Party is saying that the Midwest is up for grabs, Pastor adds. Minnesota has a strong Democratic tradition, but it has also had Republican senators, he points out. This venue signifies to Democrats that the Republicans are willing to fight in other people's territories, Pastor says. "It's the state of Hubert Humphrey."

Dear has a fanciful take on the party picks. "Denver is the Mile High City - the Democrats are meeting there because it's a rarefied atmosphere," he jokes. "High altitudes breed good long-distance runners, and Obama will need all the energy he can get to run this race."

"In some ways, the Twin Cities represent a split personality in the Republican Party right now," Dear suggests. "Split in the sense that they love Bush, but they have to distance themselves from him. They have to take him with them, but they have to leave him behind."

judythpiazza@newsblaze.com