BOSTON, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- The Democrats' 2004 presidential nominee likely will be known by mid-March, Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe told reporters in Boston.
Some 530 members of the media gathered Thursday at the Fleet Center for a walk-through of plans for the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Some 15,000 members of the media are expected to cover the event.
"I believe we will have a nominee by around March 10," McAuliffe said, in outlining plans for the convention and the party's prospects of replacing Republican President George W. Bush with a Democrat in 2004.
While early caucuses and primaries will likely decide the nominee, the convention July 26-29 will be the platform for presenting the nominee's plans to the country, McAuliffe said.
"By the time we leave here, people will know what that candidate is going to do," he said. Noting Boston's history in bringing about the American Revolution, McAuliffe said: "1776 was the start of getting rid of George III (king of England). Boston will be the start of getting rid of George the 43rd (president)."
The convention chairman, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, said the convention will be a spectacle that also will highlight America's diversity and concerns.
"You're going to see color, spectacle and pizzazz. You're going to see a convention that connects with America."
