Washington (CNN) – Local officials in three states are awaiting word Wednesday to see which city national Republicans have chosen to host the party's 2012 presidential nominating convention.
At stake is international exposure and perhaps as much as $170 million pumped into a metropolitan area's economy, according to an estimate provided by the Republican National Committee.
Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Tampa Bay all bid for the convention and will learn their fates Wednesday afternoon. RNC officials visited each city over the past two months looking at the municipalities' infrastructure, hotel room capacity, transportation, accessibility and entertainment options for attendees.
The RNC says that 45,000 people attended the 2008 Republican National Convention held in Minneapolis/St. Paul. The convention was responsible for "nearly $170 million in new money … generated for the local economy."
Later: Tampa picked to host 2012 GOP convention
Tampa Bay is considered to be well positioned because Florida is a battleground state, has 27 electoral votes and the infrastructure to hold such a big event. Salt Lake City hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics and choosing the city would be a sign that the Republican Party is reasserting itself in the West. President Obama won Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico in 2008, states that President Bush carried four years earlier. And there is speculation that Phoenix's chances of landing the convention might be harmed because of Arizona's new controversial law dealing with illegal immigrants.
The RNC Site Selection Committee's recommendation Wednesday would need to be ratified by the full RNC membership in the summer.
The Democratic National Committee, which is considering 10 cities including Charlotte, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Phoenix, St. Louis and Tampa Bay will announce its decision in late fall, according to a Democratic source with understanding of the process, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
From CNN Politics
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Please do NOT bring their convention to Phoenix.
Teabaggers NOT welcome!
whatever ciity they choose make sure it's "LILY-WHITE" because that is about all you're going to see at the convention. Last time you could count on maybe two hands how many minorities you saw at the RNC..so diversity just isn't their thing. More reason why Mike Steele is just a token front.
They should ask the Tea Party which is the GOP. It is rebranding like Dodge was to Mitsubishi. As soon as the public forgets how they kamikazed our economy they will become just the GOP again.
Phoenix would be perfect because of Arizona's disdain for immigrants, while Salt Lake City - and its STUNNING lack of diversity - would also be a great fit. Which means, of course, Tampa Bay will get it, because Repubs like to pretend that they are a party of open mind and diversity. Which, of course, is just silly.
My bet is that it will be held in Phoenix as a way of supporting the immigration law recently passed thats upsetting a large majority of Americans....If you use the Tea party definition of "large majority of Americans' to mean 20-40 percent of the country.
Tampa Bay – where they can see the results of what comes from their cherished "Drill Baby Drill" war cry
Who cares where they hold their hate fest. Obama will win in 2012!!! Who in their right mind would vote those fools back into office. They got us into this mess and rode off into the sunset. Obama 2012!!!!
Where is the City of Tampa Bay? There is no City Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay is comprised of Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, Seminole, and several other cities. For those of us that live in the Tampa Bay area, the misused term Tampa Bay as a City is offensive.
Watching these conventions really shows the truth. The GOP convention is filled with Kind, decent, respectable, friendly Americans while the DNC is filled with hateful, extremist, socialist freaks.
Don't take my word for it, watch it yourself. Maybe the most importaint truth is what goes on outside, the lib freaks trash the city and harass and harm everyone as they protest the GOP, you never ever have once seen a republican ever act like that.
I bet it is Phoenix.
I bet you $100 they'll go with Phoenix because we all know many Republican are anti Hispanics...
I'm hoping with sarah's pull in the party of No that they will pick Fairbanks! Better yet Beijing!
Phoenix and SLC? Send the cowards to San Francisco!!
Will they require a Loyalty Oath before they let delegates into the convention?
Bring the convention to VISALIA CALIFORNIA
Indeed, bring the Republicans back. The democrats had one year to undo the damage of the last 8 and look what they've done: staved off another great depression, passed healthcare reform, reduced the world's nuclear weapons dramatically, touted financial reform to prevent another economic disaster, and worked to balance the Supreme Court.
Enough of that!!! Bring back the Republicans.
I think the GOP SHOULD GO TO AZ. for their convention.... they would have to show citizenship papers but ya know.. national security and terrorism....
Mark, you are dumb if you think that the dems. messed things up. It was the previous adminstration not doing things correctly. Remeber one thing that we were not in a deficit when the previous admin. took over.
Bet it is a city with a lot of adult entertainment, especially strip clubs and bondage clubs. Them there Republicans like to check out family values during their conventions!
Any city will work, the entire country is ready to dump the Dems. Just look at the looniest state in the country giving the GOP dear ole Teddy's seat, just to try to stop the HC mess.
"For those of us that live in the Tampa Bay area, the misused term Tampa Bay as a City is offensive." Offensive? You may be overly sensitive. If thats all you have to be worried about, I am very jealous.
Tampa? Why not hold it in clearwater with the Scientologists. After all with the actions of some of the more... zealot like members, you might just consider them a cult.
Pres. Obama for 2012!!!!! I say that as a former Republican. If the GOP is so bold to back their own vote, they should hold it in Phoenix. But they are cowards and will probably pick FL.
Phoenix, Arizona is the ideal city. Since the dems have decided to call for a Boycott on Arizona, why not pump $170 million into Arizona. Although the so-called boycott demand isn't working they deserve the money since they have spent millions on protecting the borders and trying to keep out illegals.