Short On Cash, Democrats Trim Convention

Democrats are scaling back their national convention plans in the face of fundraising shortfalls, the AP reports. The Denver host committee has just $29 million of the $40.6 million it promised to deliver by yesterday. The committee says it’s confident it’ll get the money before the convention begins Aug. 25, but organizers are shaving $3 million off events and vendor obligations.

Many blame the protracted primary season, but there are other problems as well. “Denver is not a major corporate center,” said one strategist, who called the shortfall a major concern. “Many of the corporations who contributed to Boston just haven't seen advantages to coming here.” Still, says one Denver organizer, "The fact that we have a candidate now does help." (More Democratic National Convention stories.)