While he didn't have a prime time speaking spot like Senator Hillary Clinton did, Governor David Paterson did get a chance to speak at the Democratic National Convention yesterday. It was only for 4 minutes at 5:50 p.m. (and his theme music was "New York, New York"), but he made the best of it, even joking during applause and chants of his name during his entrance, "Thank you, my time is up!" The NY Times......

After a bitter primary season, Hillary Clinton gave a rousing and passionate speech in support of presidential candidate Barack Obama during the second night of the Democratic Convention. She said she was a "proud supporter of Barack Obama" and "Barack Obama is my candidate, and he must be our president." Clinton, who remembered staunch surrogate Representative Stephanie Tubbs and thanked numerous people--especially her "sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits"-- articulated why Obama had her vote and......

The Democratic National Convention's first night in Denver was capped off by a speech by Michelle Obama, but the emotional highpoint was a speech from Senator Ted Kennedy. The ailing lion of the political dynasty surprised many by speaking, as he has been undergoing treatment for cancer. Introduced by his niece and Obama adviser Caroline Kennedy, Kennedy stirred the crowd:Nothing, nothing is going to keep me away from this special gathering tonight... I have come......

The NY Times Styles section looks at how the The Year of the Political Blogger Has Arrived, both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions extended credentials to bloggers. However, not all bloggers are created equal: At the DNC, there's the national credential ",which offers the same access granted to members of traditional news media organizations," while the "coveted" state blogger credential "allows one blogger per state to cover the convention alongside its state delegation, with......

Billionaire Tom Golisano's seven-figure donation next week's DNC in Denver has, according to the NY Times, worried some Republicans that he may be leaning towards Barack Obama for president. Though Golisano is a registered Republican, he did run for Governor as an independent twice (losing both times to George Pataki). Golisano, who made his fortune with payroll processing company, formed a political action committee and plans to supports candidates who share his views; he has......

In an effort to unify Democrats after a bitter, hard-fought primary season, presumptive Democratic nominee Senator Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton issued a joint statement announcing Clinton's name will also be placed in nomination at the convention. Obama said, “I am convinced that honoring Senator Clinton's historic campaign in this way will help us celebrate this defining moment in our history and bring the party together in a strong united fashion," while Clinton said,......

Former president Bill Clinton will speak on the third night of the Democratic National Convention later this month. The AP reports his address will precede one by Barack Obama's TBD running mate. Obama is confident that his constituents and those of Hillary Clinton will get along, and the Senator from NY herself told supporters she and her former rival were "working together to make sure it's a big success." However, there's the possibility she make......

With all the news of identity theft, of course it would have to hit couples who are getting married. The Post has an alarming story about a number of couples who, when applying for a marriage license, have found themselves already "married." It's believed that thieves use other people's identities to get marriage licenses and green cards. Denise Daskalkis "filed two appeals, multiple petitions, and attended a hearing at the Office of Administrative Trials and......

In unsurprising but still headline-generating news, Senator Hillary Clinton has declared herself in the 2008 presidential race this morning. She posted a message on her website, HillaryClinton.com. Here is some of her statement:I'm in. And I'm in to win. Today I am announcing that I will form an exploratory committee to run for president. And I want you to join me not just for the campaign but for a conversation about the future of......

Peter Boyle, who you may know as the father ("Frank") on "Everybody Loves Raymond", died last night at the age of 71, in Manhattan. Boyle wasn't always an actor, he pursued acting only after he left the life of a monk. His successful career includes his roles in films like The Candidate, Young Frankenstein, Monster's Ball and Where the Buffalo Roam (a portrait of Hunter S. Thompson, in which he played Carl Lazlo, Esq.). While......

Now that Democrats have had a victorious 2006 election year, attention is turning to the 2008 Democratic National Convention. New York and Denver are the two remaining cities left in the running, and the Daily News reports Senator Hillary Clinton wants the convention back in NYC. Her advisers say her support has nothing to do with the possibility that she may run, but let's face it, New York is where Bubba was nominated back in......

We always knew Mayor Bloomberg was a busy guy, but a NY Times article today makes him seem especially crunched for time. The article's first sentence says it all: New York City’s bid to land the 2008 Democratic National Convention is in jeopardy because Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is spread so thin with fund-raising commitments that he may not be able to raise the money from private donors needed to pay for it, an official......

Ooh, Mayor Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn are are headed to Chicago in order to present New York City as the spot for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. The NY Sun reports that Bloomberg and Quinn will have Lorraine Bracco as celebrity back-up at a cocktail reception at Millennium Park - and "Cosmopolitans, Manhattans, and 'Big Apple' Martinis" will be served. That's the way to a politician's heart - make 'em realize the......

Picture of a live turkey in Battery Park courtesy of Gothamist Contribute user. - A convention hell that more New Yorkers would like: Democratic National Convention in 2008? - All the crazy stuff is happening in Chelsea, as a drunk firefighter crashes a stolen truck into storefronts; a NY1 employee helped apprehend the driver in the midst of where the Olive Stone movie was filming - Ron Guidry is back as the Yankees' new......

It may have been John Edwards' night, but Gothamist was heartened by Al Sharpton's fabulous speech. Sharpton apparently departef from his prepared text, which had been "scrubbed by John Kerry," (Sharpton said Kerry's people knew he'd veer off speech, though not how much) and Gothamist thinks all the better - it was totally rousing and full of great imagery, like "As I ran for president, I hoped that one child would come out of the......

A few major telelvision critics weigh in about the Democratic National Convention coverage so far: The Daily News' David Bianculli like old footage of Tom Brokaw on the convention floor in 1976 (the election is Brokaw's swan song, before he retires) but didn't like how CNN showed the empty seats at the Fleet Center; he also notes that Fox News covered the disappearance of pregnant Lori Hacking a lot. The Washington Post's Tom Shales thought......

If it's the last Monday in July of 2004, it must mean Boston is the town the country is watching, with the 2004 Democratic National Convention (official site) taking place. Presumptive Democratic nominee, John Kerry, threw out the first pitch at the Red Sox-Yankees game last night, which bounced before caught, saying, "It's the opening of the convention, it's a wonderful rivalry, and it's a great event [Gothamist thinks he's referring to the Yankees and......

This week, Ask Gothamist answered your questions with all sorts of handy advice: -You just replaced your old leaky air conditioner (just in time, too, give how awful the last few days have been). Now what do you do with the old one? -The humidity also brings out the mosquitoes, and we've got some fun facts. -The Democratic National Convention starts on Monday, which reminds us that it's not too late to register to vote!......

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs announced his voter-registration/voter interest drive initiative, Citizen Change, earlier this week. The way to reach the 42 million voters between 18 and 30? The urgent, fatalistic and ultimately pithy: "Vote or Die!" (It also sounds like a video game.) The program is non-partisan, non-profit, and chock full of celebrity endorsers, with 50 Cent, Leonardo DiCaprio, Snoop Dogg, and Jay-Z and Ashton Kutcher on board. Vote or Die! shirts went on......

Former governor Mario Cuomo says that Rudy Giuliani will be played like a violin at the Republican National Convention this summer. As in, why not pimp the most beloved Republican in NYC during the convention? The Post reports Cuomo as saying, "They'll probably play Rudy heavier than any other part of the convention...So Rudy will go up and people will start talking about him replacing [Vice President Dick] Cheney or him running for president...It'll be......

Apparently, General Wesley Clark did not do enough jumping jacks for votes in New Hampshire. John Kerry's double digit win over Howard Dean in Dean's neck of the woods spells some doom for Dean. John Edwards is excited, but at this point, Gothamist will just wait to see what happens after the convention, weigh our options, and probably vote third party again. Check out Aaron's fantasy of having the Democratic National Convention here in......

New York's foodies have the next two weeks circled on their calendars: Winter Restaurant Week runs January 26-30 and February 2-6. People get to sample some of the city's best restaurants with $20.04 three-course lunches or $30.04 three-course dinners. Restaurant Week began in 1992, as a way to welcome delegates for the Democratic National Convention (back then, the three-course lunches were $19.92, which means with the 1 cent increase each year versus inflation, diners are......

The Republican National Committee gave the media a preview of their plans for next year's convention at Madison Square Garden, and it looks like the nation will see President Bush on a rotating stage at the center of room, sort of like a human Marriott Marquis rotating restaurant. (Gothamist suggests the GOP watch out with the number of rotations per minute, because we have a feeling the President might feel a little woozy, although seeing......