About Attending

About the Nomination

About the Platform

The 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver will be a first-rate, technically savvy Convention that will help put our presidential nominee on the path to victory for the November 2008 election. Working in partnership with the Denver Host Committee and the Denver community, our goal is to make the Convention an engaging celebration of the Democratic Party, the diversity we embrace, the values we share and our vision for America.

In keeping with the values of the 50-state strategy, the Convention in Denver will also embody our strong belief that if Democrats show up, stand up for what we believe, work hard and ask for votes, we can win up and down the ballot – everywhere - as we’ve seen with strong Democratic gains in the Western states.

The Denver Convention is an opportunity to highlight the importance of the West to the future of the Democratic Party and to broaden the conversation about what it truly means to be a "big tent" party beyond regional and ethnic diversity to include an expanding array of people who share our values.

We are committed to showcasing all aspects our Party, to be inclusive and accessible. Our leadership team represents the great diversity, integrity and talent of our Party, and we are making every effort to actively engage all communities in new and creative ways. The Denver community in particular is also an important partner in the Convention, and we look forward to engaging the people of Denver both in the lead-up to and during Convention week. Read more about volunteer opportunities here.

Already, we have announced a number of initiatives that demonstrate our commitment to a Convention that is inclusive and accessible in creative ways. In September, we launched “Convention Conversations: A Traveling Forum Sponsored by the DNCC” to include at least 10 community forums and provide residents in Denver, the state of Colorado and states throughout the Rocky Mountain West with opportunities for direct communication with top Convention organizers and a venue to ask questions, share ideas and find out how they can get involved. See where we’ve traveled and read more about the series here.

In an effort to give back to the Denver community hosting the 2008 Democratic National Convention, we introduced "DNCC Service Days" -- a year-long campaign of service outings that the DNCC will participate in during the lead-up to the four-day event in August. In choosing the issue areas of focus for the campaign – youth, environmental projects and the combined issues of homelessness and hunger – the DNCC looked to combine areas of need identified by city and community leaders with priorities among Convention organizers. The “greening” of Convention planning and an effort to spotlight leadership – including the leaders of tomorrow represented by youth in Denver and throughout the country – as well as the City’s strong commitment to addressing homelessness were all driving factors in developing the DNCC’s service platform. See who we’ve worked with and learn more about "DNCC Service Days" here.

We also aim to make the “greening” of the 2008 Democratic National Convention a comprehensive, long-term effort. Accordingly, Convention organizers are applying green planning principles to every decision we make during the lead-up to this four-day event, striving to design waste out at every turn. We look forward to producing one of the greenest political conventions in history.

About Attending

For those planning to attend the Convention, Denver has much to offer in hotel rooms, restaurants, entertainment venues (such as museums and sports teams) and transportation. We announced the list of area hotels selected to house some 5,000 delegates during Convention week in the fall. Watch how we broke the news to Denver hotels and read more about it here. After arriving at Denver International Airport, the largest international airport in the United States, four days of excitement awaits, as the enthusiasm builds until the eventual nominee accepts the nomination before the nation and the world. To learn more about becoming a delegate, click here.

About the Nomination Process

Rather than voters directly electing the candidate, their votes are translated into delegates that are distributed according to the level of support candidates receive. Each state receives a certain number of delegates according to a formula agreed upon in advance of the Convention. Those delegates are selected by rules formulated at the state level in keeping with national guidelines. In addition, there are different types of delegates from each state. Some are elected officeholders and party leaders, some are elected at the district level, and some are elected at the state level, such as elected by other delegates or given by committee. For more information about the different types of delegates, and basic information about how to become one, click here. Most (around four-fifths) of the delegates will be "pledged" to candidates based on their state's voting in the primary, so the nominee could be known in advance. However, there are complicating factors, such as delegates that have not pledged their allegiance to a candidate, as well as rules governing how delegate votes are allocated when candidates drop out of the race. Once a candidate locks up a majority of the delegates, he or she can receive the party nomination.

About the Platform

The national platform is an official statement of the Party's position on a wide variety of issues. Each issue category included in the platform is a "plank." A new platform is adopted every four years by the Democratic National Convention. The Platform Committee is one of three "Standing Committees" of the 2004 Democratic National Convention. The Committee is responsible for drafting and recommending a proposed National Platform for approval at the Democratic National Convention. Its recommendation is presented as a Committee Report voted on by the delegates to the Democratic National Convention. Under the Democratic Party's rules, any person may submit a written statement concerning the platform to the Platform Committee at any time prior to the Committee's meeting. In addition, any person may request permission to testify at a public hearing and/or forum. The Platform Committee's Report is usually considered on the second day (Tuesday) of the Convention.