Democratic National Convention

For his latest documentary, "Convention," filmmaker AJ Schnack wanted to examine the small-scale work that goes into mounting a large-scale event. He chose to focus on the behind-the-scenes stories of the countless people last summer who helped stage the Democratic National Convention in Denver, recruiting a dream team of colleagues from the world of nonfiction cinema to detail the massive effort required to put on the historic event.

The long and winding fight for the Democratic presidential nomination is giving a fundraising migraine to the Mile High City. As the host city, Denver must raise $40.6 million by June 16 for the party's Aug. 25-28 convention. This week, the host committee missed its second fundraising deadline, and Mayor John W. Hickenlooper said he believed the drawn-out battle between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois had distracted potential donors.

Less than a month ago, Texas Democrats turned out in huge numbers for the presidential nominating contest between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, confident that, no matter who won, the party would have a popular, well-financed candidate. But that exuberance is gone now.

California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown spoke at the state Democratic Party convention Saturday, and boy, did he sound an awful lot like a candidate for Golden State governor -- again. Eerie. Brown, who served two terms as governor from 1975 to 1983 before term limits took effect, reminded his Democratic audience assembled in San Jose of some of his "highlights," like getting rid of former Gov. Ronald Reagan's bulletproof limousine and using a blue Plymouth from the state motor pool.

Greetings, superdelegates, standard delegates, compromised Floridians, miffed Michiganders, would-be VPs and all-access VIPs. As you and the other Democrats convene here Aug. 25 to formally choose a presidential candidate at last, you will be wined, dined, wooed, spun, schmoozed, queried, denounced and perhaps bamboozled by all manner of unreliable operatives, members of the press and, of course, one another. Don't trust those people. Trust me.

Gridiron fans, move over. The Obama campaign hopes to turn the last evening of the Democratic National Convention in Denver on Aug. 28 into a giant rally of voters in a football stadium. The unusual move, confirmed by two sources, would be an echo of John F. Kennedy's acceptance speech in 1960. Kennedy delivered his address before thousands of supporters at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Obama's big moment also would fall on the 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'

Mitt Romney -- increasingly visible on the campaign trail on behalf of the man who beat him out for the Republican presidential nomination -- is about to forgive the $45 million he loaned himself for the primary struggles. The filing of papers with the Federal Election Commission to re-declare Romney's loans as contributions is imminent, according to the Boston Globe. That would clear the legal decks for the former Massachusetts governor to become a candidate again as, oh, say, vice president.

For nearly a decade, city leaders here have wooed the Democrats, hoping to lure their national convention to this often-overlooked town and showcase its new public transit system, bustling downtown and sweeping views of the Rocky Mountains. Municipal leaders were jubilant when they won the right to hold this year's event. But the convention is raising questions about whether this perennial booster town has bitten off more than it can chew.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is seeking a way for her delegates to be heard at the Democratic National Convention, telling supporters such a step would help unify a party that split between her and Sen. Barack Obama during their hard-fought nominating contest. "I happen to believe that we will come out stronger if people feel that their voices were heard and their views respected.

Presidential conventions have morphed into four-day infomercials for the nominee, but this time around Barack Obama may have to cede some camera time to the rival he vanquished in the Democratic primary, Hillary Rodham Clinton. Clinton's allies are negotiating with the Obama campaign over a delicate question: whether to set aside time to celebrate a political figure whose historic campaign brought her closer than any other woman to clinching the party's nomination.