Citing concerns about cost, New Orleans on July 13 officially dropped its bid to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Denver, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and New York City are still in the running for the 2008 DNC. According to the Washington Post, New Orleans spokeswoman Kelly Schulz said the $11 million or so that the city would need to raise in in-kind sponsorships and donations could be better used for more immediate concerns in the city. The Post quotes her as saying, “We're definitely open for business again, but there were larger needs. It might be a little early to host something this large."

Minneapolis-St. Paul is also in the running for the Republican convention, along with Cleveland, New York, and Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla.

For more information and reactions from other cities still in the DNC hunt, see these articles:
New Orleans Drops DNC Bid, Rocky Mountain News
N.O. Says No, Twin Cities Pioneer Press
N.O. will not host 2008 Democratic National Convention, New Orleans’ WWLTV

For ongoing updates, see the 2008 Democratic Convention Watch blog.