All Business at Party Conventions

Here's another reason the press, Democrats, and presidential convention delegates are aching for a convention fight between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. New lobbying rules have all but ended the freebies and lavish parties corporate America and K Street like to throw. "Denver will be a dog," says one K Street lobbyist, referring to the Democratic National Convention set for that city in late August. Ditto for the GOP confab in Minneapolis-St. Paul, he adds. All-night parties used to be the lure for delegates, especially because most conventions lack political theater. One firm, which tells us that it used to haul in rock stars to perform for lawmakers and delegates, isn't showing up. "The rules have killed all the fun," says another lobbyist.