American Notes Politics

The lobby of Atlanta's Peachtree Plaza Hotel featured a curious display last week: a large butter sculpture of a donkey. The perishable sculpture, as well as complimentary airline tickets and an elaborate reception at the Atlanta Historical Society, was intended to show the visiting Democratic National Policy Commission what an excellent host Atlanta could be for the Democratic National Convention in 1988. Although the Democratic and Republican political conventions are still more than two years away, selection committees are already touring the nation to check out arenas and exhibition halls at potential sites. Bidding is highly competitive: the Democrats have sent a 25- page package of specifications to 20 cities with requirements that include 500 nights' worth of complimentary rooms at the headquarters hotel, as many as 150 cars and drivers during the convention, and "upholstered, theater-type seats" at the site. Atlanta estimates a convention would cost nearly $10 million. But the returns would include worldwide attention and more than $37 million pumped into the local economy.