- Title: UNITED STATES: PHILADELPHIA PREPARES ITSELF FOR THE 2000 REPUBLICAN CONVENTION
- Date: 29th July 2000
- Summary: PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA (JULY 29, 2000) (REUTERS) SV'S: PHILADELPHIA POLICE OFFICERS IN STREETS (2 SHOTS) SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) PHILADELPHIA POLICE COMMISIONER JOHN TIMONEY SAYING: "We've been quite clear all along that we're willing to work with any group and we'll bend over backwards. The only thing we do not want is violence or heavy property damage - anything else we can work out." WIDE OF TIMONEY WITH BICYCLE TALKING TO PRESS MV/CU: STATE SIGNS IN CONVENTION CENTER (2 SHOTS) Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 13th August 2000 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: USA, United States
- Country: USA
- Topics: Crime,General,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAAZMMVRJEV6UVI6Q3IVXA9HKTV
- Story Text: Politicians, journalists and protesters are arriving en masse in the city of Philadelphia this weekend for the 2000 Republican Convention. Texas Governor George W. Bush is expected to be endorsed as the Republican party's official candidate for President of the United States.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, "City of Brotherly Love"- home of the cheesesteak, Liberty Bell, Rocky, the Declaration of Independence, and Phillies baseball. And now Philadelphia, known for its loyalty to Democrats and labour unions, will be home for at least one week to the Republican party.
Over the last few months, workers in the city have been busy sweeping, building and hoisting in preparation of the 2000 Republican Convention.
Republican National Committe Chairman Jim Nicholson told Reuters that the convention is "a convention is the closest thing as you can come in America has to a national town hall meeting."
The convention, which will nominate Texas Governor George W. Bush as the party's residential candidate, will bring 45,000 delegates, guests and journalists to Philadelphia for a program that runs Monday (July 31) to Thursday (Aug. 3).
Bush has climbed steadily in the polls recently, increasing the gap above his Democratic Al Gore in the race to get undecided swing voters.
Nicholson says all Bush "needs to do what he's doing" to attract voters. "He's lead in the polls just continues to widen because the more people get to know him, they get to like him," says Nicholson.
At one of Philadelphia's most famous cheesesteak stands locals and out of towners alike were queing up to get a taste of the city's favourite food. Owner Joseph Vento, a republican and Bush supporter, says he's happy the presidential candidate and the convention are in his town. "I think it's great, it's super. It's great for everybody," says Vento." A lot of money is going to be made."
Not everyone is as enthusiastic as Vento, however.
At Veterans Stadium, home of the Philadelphia Phillies professional baseball team, players were more concerned with improving their record than party and presidential politics.
"I haven't really thought about it," said Phillies Player Desi Relaford. "I know it's just going to make the city a little more busy."
Many in Philadelphia are actually upset that the conventions are being held in their town. A welfare activist group took journalists to some of the poorest neighbourhoods of Philadelphia on a media tour. Galen Tyler, Chairman of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union, thinks that Philadelphia is more concerned about giving the appearance of a clean city than actually solving its problems. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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