Minnesota leaders brainstorm about how to land cash for GOP convention

06/15/2007

ST. PAUL, MN (AP) -- One month before they reach the first fundraising milepost, political leaders who helped lure next year's Republican National Convention to Minnesota huddled Friday about where to find the money.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, conceded that fundraising efforts need a push. Pawlenty, U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman and the mayors of Bloomington, Minneapolis and St. Paul met privately for 90 minutes to figure out who to hit up and how.

"While there's a little bit of a slow start to the cash in the door part of it, we have got a good momentum behind the pledges and there's a preliminary indications of peoples' willingness to support this event," Pawlenty said. "If those pledges are fulfilled we're on track and then some."

In bidding for the convention, the Twin Cities host committee set a goal of raising $3.9 million by July 15, or 10 percent of the $39 million that must be attained from private sources to pay convention expenses. Some of the fundraising is in the form of in-kind contributions, which are goods and services for the event instead of money.

Other funds will be raised nationally toward an ultimate goal of having $60 million to put toward the Sept. 1-4 convention where Republicans will nominate their next presidential candidate.

Jeff Larson, a host committee organizer, said he was confident the July 15 goal would be met. He refused to say where the committee stands in its fundraising.

"We're not going to get into a numbers game of how much has been raised and from who," he said.

Larson acknowledged that money raising has "been a little bit slow." He said the host committee has spent much of its time lining up hotel and event space.

In Denver, where Democrats will hold their national convention, organizers said earlier this month that they fell $2 million short of their $7.5 million cash goal.

Host committee members in Colorado said they too were lining up pledges they hope to turn into cash later.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, a Democrat, said Friday's meeting proved the leaders of different parties were intent on setting their political baggage aside.

He said he's working to convince donors — regardless of their political affiliation — that the convention will pay off in terms of regional exposure.

"We're not going to get many chances like this and everybody in this community has to step up to the plate in different ways," Rybak said.

Meanwhile, a request for $50 million in federal security funding remains in limbo in Congress. Sen. Coleman said he and Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar are searching for a bill to which the appropriation can be attached.