http://news.bostonherald.com/localRe...rticleid=29274
TV could pull plug on Hub convention
By Jack Meyers
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Uncertainty over whether Sen. John F. Kerry [related, bio] will accept the nomination at July's Democratic National Convention in Boston could scuttle television coverage of the bash.
``If you ever wanted to give the television networks a reason not to cover the convention, this would be the way,'' said one longtime Democratic activist, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
If this convention lacks even the spectator appeal of an acceptance speech, television executives might ``pull the plug'' on coverage, knowing they'd be spending a fortune to broadcast an event they will be unable to sell advertising for, the operative said.
``It does affect the fund raising. You're asking people to contribute to a non-event,'' he said. ``The city's gone through contortions to host this convention, and this pulls the rug out from under it.''
Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who led the charge to land the Democrats' convention in Boston, said he spoke with Kerry yesterday by telephone but received no apology for the confusion over whether the nominating convention will actually nominate anyone.
``He talked about the convention, some of the issues. He asked me how we're doing'' on fund raising, the mayor said. He said Kerry ``has brought to light a real flaw in the law'' that tilts the fund-raising edge toward whomever delays the nomination the longest.
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy [related, bio] yesterday backed Kerry's consideration of a delayed nomination, saying, ``I imagine this will be decided in the next few days. I intend to support (Kerry's) decision.''
Out-of-state delegates coming to the FleetCenter in July said they strongly support Kerry's move to stay competitive with Bush financially, even if it means stalling the nomination.
``The issue is do the Republicans get another month to spend money'' without being under the cap, said Robert Tuke, a delegate from Tennessee. ``We have to keep our eye on the ball and focus on winning in November. Virtually every delegate I've spoken to is for it.''
Henry Yanez, a firefighter from Michigan and a convention delegate, said he supports ``whatever he has to do to counter the Bush money machine. I say go for it.''
Dick Harpootlian, a South Carolina delegate, agreed. ``To sacrifice five weeks of strategic political parity . . . is not worth giving up for an acceptance speech and 15 minutes on the news,'' he said.
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What is this moron thinking?
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