CHARLOTTE (ABC 4 News) - Just a few days after the Republican National Convention ended and just a few days before the Democratic one begins, this question is being asked at both: are conventions still necessary?
We put that question to Utah Democratic Chairman Jim Dabakis and he gave us this surprising answer.
"One of the proposals that the president was considering was having 4 one day conventions across the country."
Yes, you heard Dabakis right.
He says the Obama campaign was seriously thinking about having 4 one day conventions, each one in a different swing state.
He told ABC 4 News exclusively,
"It came really close and ultimately they decided to go with the more traditional way."
But Dabakis believes future conventions will change.
With no more drama about who will be the nominee of each party, Utah's Democratic leader feels the conventions have become political made-for-tv specials,
"The people inside the pavilion or inside the arena are really there, more or less, as props to television."
Not lost on Dabakis - or others - is the time and cost involved with both party's conventions.
More reasons, he says, for conventions to become more unconventional,
"My guess is there will be changes in conventions at least in the way we've had them before."
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