Some Statistics from the Convention

compiled by Lee Jolliffe, J-prof

We have here:

400-500 bloggers are registered and got press credentials (hundreds more are blogging on their own, of course);

Media people will outnumber delegates about 5 or 6 to 1;

17,000 hotel rooms in Denver are dedicated to the Convention;

Delegations range from 12 to 500 people each (from states and territories);

150 delegates are in wheelchairs;

Over 1,000 volunteer drivers are ferrying delegates from the airport and train station;

27,000 volunteers have been accepted to work with the DNC Convention committee (many more people have come to town hoping to volunteer and have not been able to find placements);

343 of the volunteers are students in our group, The Washington Center;

The Denver Host Committee's budget is $40.6 million; Denver is spending no taxpayer money on the Convention;

The Dept of Justice estimates security costs at $50 million;

At least 1,500 events are expected, as interest groups and state caucuses hold mini-conventions of their own at the Colorado Convention Center and in every venue in the city, from hotel suites to theater to bars.

The Convention will bring about $150-200 million in revenues into Denver;

Over 2700 people declared their candidacy for the presidency this time around; Secret Service is only obliged by law to protect "major candidates."

Secret Service men usually have master's degrees; also, they work 21-day rotations;

Only 47.2% of US-ians vote in national elections, placing us FAR down the list among the world's approx. 122 democracies;

They told us how many miles of tv cable they had run; it so boggled my mind I didn't get it wriiten down. Anyone out there know? Pls post in the Comments section.