GOP Sets ’04 Convention for End of August

The Republican Party on Tuesday set its 2004 national convention for the end of August, raising the possibility that both major parties could hold their nominating sessions at the same time.

The GOP said it would hold its convention Aug. 30 to Sept. 2. Democrats said Monday they were considering moving their convention from mid-July to an Aug. 30 start date.

Democratic spokeswoman Maria Cardona said the GOP announcement means “it is a distinct possibility” the conventions could be at the same time. Usually the parties hold them at different times with the party in the White House going second.

“We are very likely to move, and the 30th is a strong option, but everything is on the table,” Cardona said.

Marc Racicot, the Republican National Committee chairman, said that announcing the dates this far in advance will give cities that want to play host to the conventions more planning time.

The scheduling dance is aimed at getting the most mileage out of a convention boost in the polls and making the best use of federal campaign money that becomes available to both sides after nominees are chosen.

When they announced the July dates, the Democrats said five cities were in the running as possible hosts: Baltimore, Boston, Detroit, Miami and New York. Democrats meet today to discuss the potential host cities.

Republicans have invited almost two dozen cities to bid. Republicans get the cities’ proposals in mid-June and say they expect to announce a decision by New Year’s Day.

Both parties have an eye on the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, which start Aug. 13 and run just over two weeks. With the games’ ability to distract attention from politics, both parties want to time their gatherings to reduce the effect on the jump in the polls parties usually enjoy after their conventions.

Democrats also worry about the financial effect of a July convention. It would mean dipping into the party’s share of federal election outlays six weeks before the GOP holds its convention.