Denver needs $55 million for convention

Now that the Denver Host Committee has completed its job of landing the 2008 Democratic National Convention, executive director Debbie Willhite is stepping aside.

“I am not a heavy-duty fundraiser,” Willhite said. “For the next year, job number one is raising the money,” she said.

The convention will run from August 25-28 and is expected to attract 35,000 people, including 4,950 delegates and alternates.

The Post Independent reports that local organizers will have to raise $55 million toward the convention’s total budget of $80 million. The federal government will contribute the other $25 million for security.

The article also says that Denver officials claim they have commitments for $25 million toward the local share. However, Willie Shepherd, the Host Committee’s finance chairman, did not immediately return a call.