What's a Democrat to do?

Play the good host, of course.

The city has a big stake in making sure the four-day convention runs smoothly and delegates have a good time. City leaders are hoping positive word of mouth will lead to additional convention business and an increase in tourism.

"We want to make sure that people who come here have a Philadelphia experience that they can take with them," said Democratic Mayor John F. Street.

U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, is throwing a bipartisan bash on the last night of the convention at Finnegan's Wake, an Irish bar near downtown. About 40 Republican members of Congress have said they will attend.

"They'll be able to quench their thirst and get a chance to unwind from the typical Republican stuffy event," joked Stanley White, Brady's chief of staff. "Black tie is not required. It's not even an option."

Democratic Rep. Chaka Fattah is also getting into the act, acting as a "facilitator" for Republican colleagues. Fattah has been using his many local contacts to help meet individual GOP requests -- from booking restaurants to getting golfing tee times to arranging meetings with community leaders.

"Given the fact that I was born, raised and educated in Philadelphia, I can help arrange things that may be difficult to arrange," he said.

Former Mayor Ed Rendell, who was instrumental in luring the Republican convention, will play a dual role in Philadelphia. As current chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Rendell said he will be "the representative for the loyal opposition." That means going on television to argue against Republican proposals.

But the former mayor will also help make sure that convention-related events like PoliticalFest -- a retrospective of American politics -- the summer Mummer's Parade and a lighted boat parade go well. He had a hand in all three.

"Wild horses couldn't keep me from those," said Rendell, who has continued to raise money for the convention.

Street will attend to some ceremonial duties during convention week, but for the most part he plans to stay behind the scenes to make sure the city is doing its job.

"My major focus is going to be to make sure that this town functions right for the people who visit here," he said.

At least one top Democrat, though, is skipping town.

Vince Fumo, one of the most powerful Democrats in the state Senate, will be on Martha's Vineyard that week, a spokesman said. Fumo goes on vacation every year at the same time, said assistant Christian Marrone.

Despite the kindnesses they're bestowing on Republicans, Democrats aren't planning to forget which party they belong to.

Brady, the congressman, added this P.S. to his written invitation to Republican colleagues:

"We are having 'Republican for a Week' T-shirts printed for our elected officials, Democratic Party and union leaders," he wrote. "You're also invited to our Friday, August 4, bonfire, when we dispose of those shirts."