http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2004-08-23-donors-gop_x.htmexcerpt:
The host committee for the Aug. 30-Sept. 2 Republican National Convention in New York intends to spend $7.7 million just on four days of schmoozing and merrymaking, almost equal to the entire cost of producing the GOP's 1980 convention in Detroit.
Corporations and wealthy individuals will pick up a big chunk of the tab. Private donations account for $64 million, or 60%, of what the host committee expects to spend on the gathering at Madison Square Garden, according to the Campaign Finance Institute, a nonprofit research group.
The major New York-based donors include Altria Group Inc., the parent company of Philip Morris; American Express, Merrill Lynch and Time Warner. More than 20 companies, including AT&T and Microsoft, have supported both political conventions this year.
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Elliott noted that the cost of staging political conventions, which have become media events with little suspense, is enormous. He added that none of the host committee's expenses would be passed on to taxpayers.
"They're building a podium that costs two and a half million to build," said Weissman, suggesting that some of the costs are excessive.
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I hope that they harp on the GOP as heavily as they did on the Dems.