Republican National Convention 2012: Tampa Expected To Be Named Host City

The RNC is expected to announce Wednesday that they have chosen Tampa, Florida as the site of their 2012 convention, Politico reports.

The decision, which had been narrowed down to a choice between Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Tampa, has been preceded by lengthy deliberation. The RNC's site-selection board has traveled to the potential cities in the past few months, where they examined key considerations and were wooed by support committees.

"It comes down to Florida being a key targeted state in the past several elections, and it'll continue to be in future elections," a top GOP official told Politico. "There's a practical effect, in that it'll bring a lot of attention and resources to a targeted state."

Though there were significant blocks pushing for Phoenix and Salt Lake City, Republicans told Politico that concerns over the scorching summer heat and current political climate in Phoenix following the passage of a controversial immigration bill knocked it out of consideration. Salt Lake City similarly lost favor among representatives who saw it as a safe, unrewarding location due to its standing as a largely-white, conservative bastion, Republican officials reportedly said.

The location selection must pass an up-or-down ratification vote this summer before plans for the event can go forward.

The GOP convention will be held the week of Aug. 27, 2012. If Tampa is chosen as expected the convention will take place at the St. Pete Times Forum, a 21,500-seat venue in downtown Tampa.

Comments

[snesich]

04:24 PM on 05/13/2010

So, why didn't the Republicans choose Phoenix?

Do you think they might have been thinking about the recent "anti-immigrant" law passed in Arizona and the meetings boycott against it?

[supertim]

01:15 AM on 05/13/2010

ROTFL

TAMPA IS THE LAP DANCE CAPITAL OF THE USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Man, the comedy keeps writing itself:
A reputation can sometimes be hard to shake and the city of Tampa has a reputation it would probably like to eliminate. For the past decade some have called Tampa the lap dance capital of the world.

Paul Allen, the founder and publisher of NightMoves magazine, says he hears about the city's reputation all the time. He believes the shear number of strip clubs in the Bay area has undoubtedly contributed to the city's rep.

"In greater Tampa Bay, I think the last count is around 56 different clubs that are adult-oriented," he said.

http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/still-doing-damage-control-bondage-cl

[farmilyman]

12:20 AM on 05/13/2010

Great choice! They can bask on the oily beach they created through deregulation.

[dragonladywaltham]

10:55 PM on 05/12/2010

They should arrive before the oil slick and get the Floridians prepared to deal with slime.

[eternalscorpio1]

10:45 PM on 05/12/2010

I live in Tampa, and I thought that being forced to watch the Bucs on local television on sundays was torture...then comes along the GOP, I really hope that they don't nominate Palin in 2012, I couldn't take a week of the Hillbillies from wasillsa slithering around town....

[miketothad]

10:13 PM on 05/12/2010

Wall St. Reform??..."NOOO!"
Unions?..."NOOOO!"

The RNC should host the convention in China.

[Grannysue]

09:52 PM on 05/12/2010

Hopefully they will all be served up some of that good water floating along the coast of LA, don't mind the dark color it's just aged!

[NetProphet]

08:57 PM on 05/12/2010

OK Guys - How's the Hurricane Season '12 shapin' up fer yas!?

[mamapower]

12:16 AM on 05/13/2010

LOL! Exactly!

[BushIsAWarCriminal]

07:19 PM on 05/12/2010

Tampa's hot, humid and beyond a cool bridge, and Centcom, not really much of interest. Perfect for the Repunks.

[needlefingers]

07:02 PM on 05/12/2010

Of course Tampa. Isn't Florida where the GOP is handing out credit cards?

[Santo2]

06:51 PM on 05/12/2010

How much Scientology money went into making this happen?

Just askin".

[alrp]

06:12 PM on 05/12/2010

If the tea baggers thought DC was not prepared for them, wait till they come here. Traffic was a nightmare a month ago, when there was a large motivational seminar at St. Pete Times Forum. Tampa will be overhwhelmed, will not be able to handle it. At least the strippers and transexual hookers will clean up.

[BushIsAWarCriminal]

07:23 PM on 05/12/2010

Finally, the Rethugs have found a place where they belong, a complete, vast wasteland, a swamp, a bog. They're all snakes, so it's a good place for them to find a nice rock to crawl under. And Blubbering Bohner won't have to use so much fake suntan junk. He can just lay their in the hot sun and fry.

[alrp]

08:25 PM on 05/12/2010

How does his face not streak when he cries? Must be some high quality tan in a bottle

[SPacific]

05:43 PM on 05/12/2010

This will provide perfect cover for BP and the impending civil suits since they'll certainly dispute the source of all that oil in the bay......

[sparky73]

05:03 PM on 05/12/2010

makes sense...plenty of r@cists there!

[truenews]

04:57 PM on 05/12/2010

“This is going to be awesome! All people interested in getting the true nature of the conservatives and the republicans... GET YOUR VIDEO CAMERAS and POINT AND SHOOT CAMERAS READY!!!

Setup shop at every STRIP CLUB in Tampa... Mons Venus etc etc....then just SIT, WATCH, FILM AND ENJOY!!!

Watch how the so called conservatives and republicans stick to their principles and the christian church by worshipping all these strip clubs (their true churches)

THIS IS AWESOME! I CAN;T WAIT!! What a bunch of hypocrits...”

[BushIsAWarCriminal]

07:23 PM on 05/12/2010

You forgot the rentboys.