The Pepsi Convention Center in Denver, Colorado is a perfect location for the Democratic National Convention to be held August 25 through the 28th. It has the required infrastructure needed to provide security with great accommodation for the convention and the 35,000 expected guests and media.

The Pepsi Center is a beautiful and modern construction, but it won't be the center of attention at the convention.

The 2008 Democratic National Convention will be a thrilling and historic event surpassing the past two decades in excitement. Neither candidate can clinch the Democratic nomination without help from the superdelegates unless Michigan and Florida redo their primaries. So far about one third of the superdelegates are unpledged and even those that are pledged to a candidate are free to change their minds.

Is it a political fight to the death for Clinton and Obama? They certainly look like they want to finish each other off before the Democratic National Convention. They keep pounding each other hoping for a KO, but so far both are still standing. Party officials are not very vocal about the fight so far, but if it continues there could be a major train wreck at the DNC this August.

As Gabor Steingart in Washington writes, "the winner of this internecine party battle will have to go up against all the same accusations from a Republican opponent - but ten times worse. Indeed, what's uttered now will be fired from a cannon later." [http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,54 0801,00.html

Michigan and Florida were stripped of their delegates and their right to vote for violating Democratic National Party rules. Now, however, those votes are crucial for the candidates. 366 votes could put either candidate over the top of the needed amount and end the political fight, but Democratic National Committee Chairman, Howard Dean, says the party will not pay for a redo of the primary.

For the voters, the telecasting of the Democratic National Convention will take on new life as they wait expectantly with hope for their favorite candidate to be nominated. Only one other time in 1984, has the superdelegate played such an important role in selection of the democratic nominee for the presidency.

As of this writing, Clinton has 1487 delegates (1240 of which are pledged) and 237 superdelegates.

Obama has 1614 (1403 of which are pledged) and 207 superdelegates. As you can imagine, both candidates are courting superdelegates.

Recent conventions have been predictable and without suspense, but that all changed with Clinton and Obama. This year the place will be alive with intense anticipation and political clamor. We might have to wait until the party convention ends to see who is left standing.

Learn more about this author, Mona Gallagher.
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