Detroit's a reliably Democratic city, but it will become a liberal bastion this week when more than 3,000 progressive political activists head to town to network and plan their strategy for the 2014 and 2016 election cycles.
Netroots Nation, part of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, will descend on Detroit for a four-day conference at Cobo Center beginning Thursday. With 80 panel discussions, 40 training sessions and keynote speeches from Vice President Joe Biden, a potential presidential candidate in 2016, and liberal icon U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, the conference will attempt to engage and ignite the next generation of leaders from the left. [...]
"We always try to pick a city that has a strong labor component and then we look at what will be a good story to tell based on what's happening in the city," [Netroots Nation spokeswoman Mary] Rickles said. [...]
"Detroit is a really excellent spot to come. It's an example of the out-of-control income equality we have in our country," she said. "We have live action examples in Detroit of years and years of the wealthiest being separated from the poorest."