Green Party's convention coming to Chicago - Sun Times

Chicago will get a glimmer of national politics as the Green Party holds its national convention in July at the Chicago Theatre, with as many as 1,500 to 2,000 participants staying at the historic Blackstone Hotel.

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POLITICS | Anti-war, pro-environment group expects 2,000

Chicago did not bid for the major political conventions being held next year. The Democrats will meet in Denver and the Republicans in St. Paul.

But Chicago will get a glimmer of national politics as the Green Party holds its national convention in July at the Chicago Theatre, with as many as 1,500 to 2,000 participants staying at the historic Blackstone Hotel.

"The Blackstone Hotel is being renovated. It will have a green [environmentally friendly] roof. It reflects our values," said Patrick Kelly, spokesman for the Illinois Green Party.

The major selling point to bring the party to Chicago instead of Detroit, Minneapolis or Oakland, Calif., was the spectacular -- for a third party -- showing of Carbondale lawyer Rich Whitney for governor against Rod Blagojevich and Judy Baar Topinka last year. "It was one of the biggest reasons for wanting to bring it here," Kelly said.

Thanks to Whitney's showing, the Green Party -- which is pro-environment and anti-war -- now qualifies as an established party that can get on the ballot much easier in this coming election.

"We are under the same rules as the Republicans and Democrats: Several hundred signatures, rather than the 25,000 we needed last time," Whitney said.

“I think you’re going to see a much larger number of Green Party candidates running for everything from county board to congressional seats, maybe even against U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.”

Does that mean Illinois Democrats need to worry about Green Party candidates acting as spoilers that allow Republicans to win, as Ralph Nader did for George W. Bush in 2000 or Ross Perot did for Bill Clinton twice?

Illinois Democrats note that Whitney’s 10 percent showing last year did not cost Blagojevich the race and say the party is strong enough to withstand the challenge.

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