It's Wild: Convention staffs place their bets

The puck stops here: GOP and Democratic Convention staffs bet each other over upcoming hockey playoffs.

By RANDY FURST, Star Tribune

Last update: April 9, 2008 - 5:28 PM

When hockey meets politics, the trash talking can't be far behind.

The Republican and Democratic Party got into it Wednesday, as the Minnesota Wild prepared to square off against the Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

St. Paul is hosting the Republican National Convention at the Wild's home, Xcel Energy Center, in September. In August Denver hosts the Democratic National Convention in the Pepsi Center, the regular home of the Avalanche.

The two parties' convention staffs celebrated the coincidence with a friendly bet of local "delicacies."

If the Avalanche wins, the GOP convention team in St. Paul will send the Democratic convention staff in Denver an assortment of walleye from Minnesota lakes. If the Wild prevail, the Democrats will send the Republican staff a selection of Colorado-raised beef steaks.

"Fortunately for me, the Avs know what it takes to win a championship," Leah D. Daughtry, the Dems' convention committee CEO, said in a statement. "Soon enough, the Pepsi Center will be home to the Stanley Cup once again. And just five months from now, it'll play host to another winner -- our nominee for President of the United States."

Maria Cino, the GOP convention president and CEO, issued her own statement. "As I kidded with Leah earlier, our staff in Minneapolis-St. Paul is pretty excited that the roads to the White House and the Stanley Cup Championship will both lead through the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul."

Randy Furst • 612-673-7382