Baltimore no longer in the running for '04 Democratic National Convention

Baltimore's bid to play host to the 2004 Democratic National Convention ended this week when party officials scratched the city from a list of five contenders.

New York, Boston, Miami and Detroit remain in the running.

The Democratic National Committee had invited Baltimore to compete for the event. But its site selection committee ultimately decided that the city lacked the necessary hotel and convention space, Mayor Martin O'Malley said yesterday.

"It was a learning experience for us. What we learned is our convention center needs to be bigger and we need some more hotels," he said.

The DNC had considered Baltimore a good backdrop because of the city's diversity, crime reduction and urban renewal, O'Malley said.

"We were flattered to be considered, flattered by the kind of story they thought Baltimore could portray," he said.