Different conventions with similar goals

ST. PAUL, Minn., Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Democrats last week, Republicans this week, two political conventions with similar tasks but with obvious contrasts, The New York Times says.

In their St. Paul, Minn., conclave, the Republican National Convention, in contrast to the Democrats, exhibits overwhelmingly white delegates – more than in 2004 and more men, too -- a strongly unified hall and speeches aimed at iconography, the report says.

Polls indicate 93 percent of the Republican delegates are white, compared with 85 percent in 2004, while 5 percent are Hispanic and 2 percent are black. The survey placed the Democratic delegate pool at 65 percent white, 23 percent black and 11 percent Hispanic, said to be roughly the same as in recent Democratic conventions.

The poll said men accounted for 68 percent of Republican delegates, compared with 57 percent in 2004 and about half the Democratic delegates.

The Times report said Republican leaders this year, mindful of the black backlash over the government's response to Hurricane Katrina and the pull of Democratic nominee Barack Obama's candidacy, have largely de-emphasized their outreach to minorities.