Host committee surpasses goal for GOP convention

By RANDY FURST, Star Tribune

Last update: December 14, 2007 - 10:28 PM

The Minneapolis St. Paul 2008 Host Committee has exceeded its mid-December goal of raising $21 million in cash and in-kind contributions for next summer's Republican National Convention, an official said.

Jeff Larson, the committee's CEO, continued the committee's policy of not disclosing how much cash had been raised or the names of the contributors.

Appeals for donations to the corporate community and others have been "extraordinarily well received," said Larson. "Every major corporation we have asked in the Twin Cities area has been eager to help and support us."

The committee has promised to raise $60 million for the convention. The money will be used to promote the city, provide a bus system for convention attendees, pay for temporary construction at the Xcel Energy Center and install the technical infrastructure needed by the news media at the Xcel and adjacent St. Paul RiverCentre.

The Host Committee, under contract with the city of St. Paul, was required to have raised 60 percent of its goal by Dec. 15. But Larson said Friday that meant raising 60 percent of $35 million, which he described as the "transferable budget." He said that budget covered "mission critical" expenses such as the construction at the Xcel Center and the technical equipment for the media.

The $35 million does not include items such as the transportation system.