Why is the RNC so late?

[Killarney]

It's in Sept, right? Is it always that late? Do you think that's good or bad that it's over 60 days after ours?

[Sir_Shrek]

1. Probably because....

...they have an incumbent running. There's no real challenger for the nomination.

[Webster Green]

2. More shameless capitalizing on 9-11

for political advantage. Nothing new. Hope it backfires on them. There will be massive demonstrations during the event.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

8. exactly, and it WILL backfire

believe it.

[Bluzmann57]

3. They want to politicize 9-11

The convention is in NYC after all and they want it fresh in peoples minds that the repubs are the "tough on terror" party a mere two months before the general election.

[truthspeaker]

4. No it is not usually this late

In fact I know there was a potential problem with the Illinois ballots for Nov. 2004, because Illinois election law wants nominees from the parties by the end of August.

[Yupster]

5. Grand strategery

This was another of Terry McAuliffe's fiascos.

The Democratic leadership picked its date first. They picked a time that was not too far in front of the Olympic Games. The idea was that the Republican convention would then have to pick theirs just a few days before the Olympics would start so that any convention bounce would get snuffed out by Olympics coverage.

The Republicans couldn't wait until after the Olympics because some states filing deadlines to get on the ballot would be missed by then.

Rather than fight the Olympics the Republicans chose to go right after them, therefore missing some deadlines which they're right now trying to get waivers from in state legislatures.

I think the Republicans ended up with the better calendar for a couple of reasons. One is you can use your primary money until the convention, then you each get the same amount for the general. Bush will have the same amount of money to spend in much less time which will be to his advantage.

You'll hear the Republicans did it to capitalize on the 9-11 anniversary, but just take a look at a calendar and say when you'd do it. McAuliffe didn't really leave them any choice. They could get drowned by the Olympics, or wait till after them. And speaking of leave, when will McAuliffe please leave as head of the DNC?

[PATRICK]

7. Sounds reasonable

if they get some glow from their late Convention it will make it all the harder if our campaign is run as it has been in the past. Easier to let the clock run out on debates(yes they can be dumped no matter what you believe). Easier to slip by promises and surprises. Easier because no Dem politician will be so mean as to disrupt their triumphant show.

[cjbuchanan]

6. It is all about the 11th of September (oh, and money)

It will run 30 Aug - 2 Spet. Their main reasons are to take advantage of the 9/11 anniversary (and the positive press W will get) and to give Bush & Co. more time to spend all the money he is raising. Once he is nominated, he will not be able to use that $200 million. They will use the month and a half to spend the rest of that money attacking (read slashing) our candidate.