Denver readies for Democrats' convention

Denver police officers patrol downtown Denver, where the Democratic National Convention opens next Monday By William M. Welch, USA TODAY DENVER — This hub of the Rocky Mountain West has hosted world leaders, the World Series and, a century ago, another presidential nominating convention. But boosters say it has never seen the intense attention and potential for economic gain and civil unrest that Democrats will bring next week. "It's the biggest event in the history of the city," says Richard Grant, spokesman for the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau. "We've never had anything close to it." The Democratic National Convention opens its four-day run next Monday at the Pepsi Center arena downtown. The convention concludes Aug. 28 when Sen. Barack Obama accepts his party's nomination for president in an outdoor speech at... [read full story]