Romney's convention comments irk Dems

BOSTON, March 19 (UPI) -- Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is being accused of "political mischief" for suggesting Democrats should consider moving their national convention from Boston.

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and Rep. Michael Capuano, whose district includes much of Boston, allege that Romney is trying to make the convention "worse" for Democrats.

Menino and Capuano are Democrats. Romney is a Republican.

The Boston Globe reported that convention organizers claim that the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority and the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority have threatened to pull out of agreements already reached concerning the convention. Those agreements include supplying buses and the removal of an elevated rail line near the site.

The governor recently said that commuters would have the Democrats to blame for added downtown congestion and gridlock if the Democratic National Convention were in the downtown FleetCenter. He suggested it be moved to a convention site in South Boston.

Menino told the Boston Globe, "It's political mischief. ... Everybody said it was great to have it in the city but to continue to put roadblocks up doesn't help."

The Democrats have set their convention for July 26-29 during which Sen. John Kerry, who lives in Boston, is expected to he nominated by the party for president.