6 cities looking at 2012 RNC bids

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2012 Democratic National Convention Site Selection News
2012 Republican National Convention Site Selection News

Atlanta is moving forward with its efforts to bid for the 2012 Republican National Convention, with a meeting planned for Nov. 22 to kickstart the effort. Here's the October letter announcing the meeting:

We are excited to announce the formation of the Georgia 2012 Republican National Convention Bid Committee. I wanted to give you an update:

The first meeting of the Committee will be Saturday November 22, 2008.
...
After Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine called for Atlanta to host the RNC in 2012 at the 2008 RNC in Minneapolis Minnesota, members of the party have unified behind this effort.

And even better for us, they let us know who the competition is:

Already Republicans in Arizona (Phoenix), Indiana (Indianapolis), Louisiana (New Orleans), and Texas (Dallas) are organized and moving forward with their 2012 bids. All these states have already formed committees - before the close of the 2008 election cycle. In fact, Arizona who is busy trying to elect their US Senator as President, is able to also focus on 2012. New Orleans has already earned the support of the Democrat Mayor, who sent an official delegation to Minnesota to observe and prepare for their bid. Indianapolis is hosting the 2012 Super Bowl and the Indiana state GOP is working with the business community - today - to do both the Super Bowl and the National Convention.

There are also stirrings in San Antonio:

San Antonio was at one time among the cities considered to host the 2008 Democratic and Republican national conventions, but those mega events were eventually awarded to Denver and Minneapolis/St. Paul, respectively.

Now some Texas Republican leaders say they would support San Antonio making a bid as a potential host city for the GOP’s 2012 national convention.

San Antonio showed indifference in 2006 when it was among the cities under consideration by both parties for their 2008 national conventions.

That spring, San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger, concerned with the high costs associated with hosting a national political convention, informed officials on both sides of the political aisle that the Alamo City was declining the invitations to bid.

See here and here on why San Antonio dropped out of the 2008 bid process.

Previous posts on Indianapolis and Dallas.

Atlanta looking at 2012 GOP gathering

WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com

Atlanta joins Dallas and Indianapolis in showing possible interest in hosting the 2012 Republican Convention:

Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine wants to explore the possibility of an Atlanta bid for the 2012 Republican National Convention.

Speaking to Georgia delegates to the current convention, Oxendine said between Phillips Arena, the Georgia Dome and the World Congress Center, Atlanta has more than enough facilities. The city has also the hotel capacity to avoid what delegates here face, which is a 30- to 45-minute bus ride to the convention in St. Paul.

“Let’s see if we can go ahead and put a bid together and let’s take a serious look and weigh the options,” Oxendine said. “We can do a better one in Atlanta. Why don’t we take a look at doing that?”

Atlanta last hosted a national party convention in 1988 when Democrats gathered in the city. - Atlanta Journal-Constitution

(h/t Georgia Politics Unfiltered)