DNCC Release on Credentialing

DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES CREDENTIALING PLANS FOR FOURTH NIGHT OF CONVENTION AT INVESCO FIELD AT MILE HIGH

More than Half of Seats to Go to Colorado Residents with Nearly Two-Thirds of Seats Going to Mountain West Region; Community Credentials Available in All 50 States

DENVER — The Democratic National Convention Committee announced today plans for credentialing for the fourth night of the 2008 Democratic National Convention at INVESCO Field at Mile High. More than half of the seats at the stadium will go to residents of Colorado, host state for the Convention, on Thursday, August 28, 2008.

“We are delighted to be able to open the doors of the Convention to the public on this historic night,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 2008 Permanent Convention Chair. “There is a growing movement for positive change in Colorado, the West, and across the country, and what better way to foster it then to have more Americans participate in the fourth night of the Convention.”

“Thanks to the hard work of the Convention staff, the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee, the City of Denver and the support of the Obama Campaign and the Democratic National Committee, we will be able to ensure that the people of Colorado, who have helped make this Convention possible, will be represented in a significant way when Barack Obama accepts our party's nomination,” said Leah D. Daughtry, CEO of the DNCC. “When we said we wanted to open the doors of this Convention to the community, we meant it.”

The DNCC credentialing plan is designed to accommodate traditional Convention delegates as well as Democrats, Independents and Republicans who want to be a part of the growing movement for change in this country. Delegates, alternate delegates, pages, or guests credentialed for the Pepsi Center will also be seated at INVESCO Field at Mile High. The Obama campaign will also receive an allotment of credentials.

The DNCC will distribute the remaining "community credentials" to State Party Campaigns for Change and to all other states, territories, the District of Columbia and Democrats Abroad. More than half of the credentials for the stadium will go to Colorado residents, while nearly two-thirds will be available to residents of the Mountain West and Southwest regions, both of which are areas of growth for the Democratic Party.

“Colorado residents have been dedicated partners in making this Convention a reality. Now we want to make it easy for them to be a part of this historic night,” said Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. “I am delighted such a large portion of the seats at INVESCO Field at Mile High will go directly to Coloradans.”

“Through exciting public programs and civic engagement efforts, our goal has always been to bring the Convention out into the Metro Denver community,” said Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. “Now we can bring more of Metro Denver inside the Convention itself. The Thursday night event at INVESCO Field at Mile High is a tremendous opportunity for local residents, and we encourage everyone who is interested in attending to contact the Colorado Campaign for Change and take part in this historic process. Whether you have the opportunity to experience the event firsthand or watch it on television, the Rocky Mountains and the Denver skyline will provide a stunning backdrop to this important night of democracy in action.”