With all the hullabaloo surrounding the RNC's expenditures on Sarah Palin's clothes, I thought it would be interesting to find out how much money was spent on Obama's Greek-columned stage at Invesco Field. You remember the Barackopolis--those "styrofoam Greek columns"--don't you?

It turns out that the Democratic National Convention Committee spent over $140,000 on "podium production" (you can see the individual expenditures after the jump). It would seem that the construction of the Barackopolis would be included in this amount, but I can't tell how much money was spent on the Greek-columned stage at Invesco and how much was spent on the podium at the Pepsi Center. I've sent an email to the DNC asking them to break this down and will post a response if and when I get it.
Update: DNCC spokeswoman Jenni Engebretsen writes in an email that these expenses were "related to podium functions and personnel rather than podium structures," and she does not know how much the stage at Invesco cost. Greg Pollowitz
points out this
article, which reported that "Convention expenses paid by the committee included $14.1 million for construction costs, including the stage and lighting, at the Pepsi Center and $5.3 million at Invesco Field." How much of that $5.3 million was spent on Obama's Greek columns is unknown. I took a look at the FEC
report, but, shockingly, there isn't an itemized expense for "gaudy Greek Styrofoam columns." I guess the DNC was a bit
smarter than the RNC this time.2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION COMMITTEE INC. ROBERT MULLER ASSOCIATES, INC 2188 NESCONSET HIGHWAY #404 STONY BROOK , NY 117903503 $25,000, 08/11/2008 Convention Expenditures / Production: Podium 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION COMMITTEE INC. GARRY HOOD PRODUCTIONS 2020 FIELDSTONE PKWY SUITE 900 (#208) FRANKLIN , TN 37069 $20,000, 08/11/2008 Convention Expenditures / Production: Podium 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION COMMITTEE INC. HOUSE OF PAINE ENTERTAINMENT INC 5920 YARMOUTH AVENUE ENCINO , CA 91316 $20,000, 07/24/2008 Convention Expenditures / Production: Podium 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION COMMITTEE INC. HOUSE OF PAINE ENTERTAINMENT INC 5920 YARMOUTH AVENUE ENCINO , CA 91316 $20,000, 08/06/2008 Convention Expenditures / Production: Podium 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION COMMITTEE INC. RK DENVER PRODUCTIONS, INC C/O REBACK LEE & CO , INC 12400 WILSHIRE BLVD.STE.1275 LOS ANGELES , CA 90025 $15,000, 07/08/2008 Convention Expenditures / Production: Podium 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION COMMITTEE INC. KETTLE, TIMOTHY 1039 PACIFIC ST. SUITE A SANTA MONICA , CA 90405 $12,500, 09/09/2008 Convention Expenditures / Production: Podium 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION COMMITTEE INC. ROBERT MULLER ASSOCIATES, INC 2188 NESCONSET HIGHWAY #404 STONY BROOK , NY 117903503 $10,000, 08/06/2008 Convention Expenditures / Production: Podium 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION COMMITTEE INC. KINDNESS & INDUSTRY INC 7 SOUTH PORTLAND AVENUE, #5B BROOKLYN , NY 112171369 $8,500, 08/11/2008 Convention Expenditures / Production: Podium 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION COMMITTEE INC. CANNING, JAMES 1537 15TH STREET, NW, APT 401 WASHINGTON , DC 20005 $5,000, 07/08/2008 Convention Expenditures / Production: Podium 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION COMMITTEE INC. PAINE, ROB 5290 YARMOUTH AVENUE ENCINO , CA 91316 $2,400, 07/24/2008 Convention Expenditures / Production: Podium 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION COMMITTEE INC. CATTANY, TOM 11600 W 24TH PLACE CIRCLE LAKEWOOD , CO 80215 $2,160, 07/22/2008 Convention Expenditures / Production: Podium