Private donors foot most of convention bill

[Nambe]

Gannett News Service

As Republicans gear up to nominate President Bush for a second term, they would be wise to pack their party hats and dancing shoes in anticipation of the "the delegate experience" in the Big Apple.

The host committee for the Aug. 30-Sept. 2 Republican National Convention in New York intends to spend $7.7 million just on four days of schmoozing and merrymaking, almost equal to the entire cost of producing the GOP's 1980 convention in Detroit.

Corporations and wealthy individuals will pick up a big chunk of the tab. Private donations account for $64 million, or 60%, of what the host committee expects to spend on the gathering at Madison Square Garden, according to the Campaign Finance Institute, a nonprofit research group.

The major New York-based donors include Altria Group Inc., the parent company of Philip Morris; American Express, Merrill Lynch and Time Warner. More than 20 companies, including AT&T and Microsoft, have supported both political conventions this year.

When the Democrats convened in Boston in July to nominate Sen. John Kerry, $40 million in private money covered 61% of the overall cost. ..

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