The Corporate Convention, St. Paul Edition

Matt Cooper reports from St. Paul: There are so many corporations represented here, you'd think you were at a Chamber of Commerce meeting.

AT&T remains a huge sponsor of the Republican National Convention, as it was for the Democrats in Denver. This afternoon, there's a Verizon and Blue Bunny Ice Cream Social (Blue Bunny is a popular Midwestern ice cream maker). Last night I saw the Charlie Daniels Band perform at an event sponsored by Target and the Creative Coalition, the organization of actors and performers interested in issues related to the arts. The Recording Industry Association of America and the ONE campaign, which fights global poverty, sponsored a huge party downtown.

Do corporations get their money's worth at these things? I think they do on average. The Distilled Spirits Council of America, I know, was very happy with their events in Denver and Minneapolis. Their party at the G.O.P. event was transformed into a fundraiser for victims of Hurricane Gustav. For small companies, they're seen as investments—a way to get their message out to a lot of journalists and policy makers.

And at least it's all transparent. Unlike so many of the pundits on TV who have corporate clients and never ever disclose them, at least it's all upfront. Do we know who Leslie Sanchez or Paul Begala's clients are? CNN won't let its journalists take corporate cash, but doesn't have that standard for its pundits.

Matt Cooper

Get more from the Republican convention in St. Paul with these:
-- A G.O.P. Drilling Machine.
-- Should We Take Economic Advice From Fiorina?
-- Republicans' Bizarre Night
-- Mr. Rove, They're Ready for You in Makeup
-- The G.O.P.s Gov Child.
-- The Republicans Get a Mulligan With Gustav.
-- McCain's Pick of Palin a Game Changer.
-- Drill, Baby, Drill!
-- Where to Eat in the Twin Cities.
-- How to Party Like a Rockstar TV Star With Republicans.

Get a recap of what happened with the Democrats in Denver:
-- The End of the Affair.
-- Obama Gets Down to Business.
-- Are Obama's Donors Tapped Out?
-- Google's Schmidt: "They Have Guns and We Don't"
-- Why Does Everyone Want In on the Act?
-- I'm T. Boone Pickens and This Will Save America.
-- The Election According to Mr. Burns.
-- The Portfolio.com Capital Index.