Current RNC FAQs

Republican National Convention Blog NYC 2004

1. Who will speak at the Republican National Convention 2004?

President George W. Bush, and the [yet to be chosen] winner of the "Stand Up and Holla" contest sponsored by MTV and the GOP are confirmed. To date [June 2, 2004], from the office of RNC Communications Department Spokesperson Rori Patrise Smith there's "no confirmation"---but rumored speakers are; NYS Governor George Pataki, NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg, former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and even though he considers suggestions he would be asked to speak to be "presumptuous"---Georgia Senator Zell Miller [who gave the keynote address for President Clinton at the 1992 Democratic Convention] Annonymous spokespersons from the RNC Communications Department say "an official schedule of convention speakers will not be available until late July 2004".

2. What security will be provided, anticipated for the Republican National Convention 2004 at Madison Square Garden and what will it cost?

The Secret Service is expected to take the lead role of security for the Republican National Convention 2004. Also handling security for the convention; The Joint Terrorist Task Force, and 10,000 NYPD officers including the Hercules Unit which has chemical and bio-hazzard training and uses air, and sea support, and bomb-sniffing dogs. Security will extend to all 5 NYC burroughs. There has also been mention of installation of remote controlled cameras as well as state of the art facial recognition devices in subway tunnels, and possible person-by-person searches of anyone entering Penn Station. The cost of security for the Republican Convention is expected to reach $76 million dollars [$59 million for overtime, $17.5 million in other costs]. According to NYPD commissioner Ray Kelly this is $29 million more than had been originally estimated, and $12 million more than the $64 million the host committee expects to raise to cover all other costs put together. The Federal government has agreed to pay $24.9 million for security; NYC has allotted $25.9 million for overtime costs. NYPD spokesman Paul Browne asserts the estimated cost for security for the RNC alone is accurate at $47 million, with the remainder being used for security for the rest of the city and other events during the convention period [The US Tennis Open, and Yankee and Met home games]. An enclosed pedestrian bridge [estimated cost $1 million] connecting Madison Square Garden to the Farley Post Office is under construction. This will allow convention delegates, the media, postal employees, and others who have been cleared by security, access to the Main Post Office, Madison Square Garden, and Penn Station [located below MSG] without having to be outside. For more on security for the Republican convention click here