Army Of Security Descends On Denver For DNC

WASHINGTON – Every day the Secret Service has to think: today could be the day.

That sober mind-set must be used by the roughly 4,400 agents and officers detailed to security for the upcoming presidential conventions, which each present special challenges.

They’re the second set of conventions since the 9/11 terror attacks, but al-Qaida is not the leading concern this time. The Secret Service and FBI are paying special attention to the possibility of action by other extremists, including home-grown anarchists or lone-wolf crazies. The significance of Barack Obama’s race is not lost on anyone, either.

The Secret Service has already budgeted more than $15 million for the conventions. It will actually cost a couple of million more than that because of Obama’s decision to accept his party’s nomination at an open-air stadium.

Meanwhile, the FBI has set up a special inter-agency cell to look at all potential threats, covering the conventions, the November election and on through the inauguration.