Opinion: Barack Obama shakes up the Democratic National Convention

In a break with tradition, Barack Obama will accept the Democratic presidential nomination at Invesco Field at Mile High, a 76,000-seat stadium, rather than at the site of the party’s national convention across town. Democratic Party officials said the decision to move Obama’s speech on the final night of the Aug. 24-28 convention to the giant open-air football field of the Denver Broncos was a natural extension of the Illinois senator’s efforts to open up the political process.

Then comes the pitch: ‘If you make a donation of $5 or more between now and midnight on July 31st, you could be one of 10 supporters chosen to fly to Denver and spend two days and nights at the convention, meet Barack backstage, and watch his acceptance speech in person. Each of the ten supporters who are selected will be able to bring one guest to join them,’ [campaign manager David] Plouffe wrote. If that makes him sound a bit like a lottery salesman, well so be it. The Democratic National Convention is still hurting for cash and struggling to get organized. An official familiar with those problems confirmed over the weekend that the Obama campaign has begun fundraising on the convention’s behalf.