Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus announced in a tweet Thursday morning the eight finalists that will vie to host the 2016 GOP convention.
The purple states of Colorado, Nevada and Ohio are well-represented.
The bids are in & we have 8 great cities vying for the 2016 RNC Convention. The finalists are…
— Reince Priebus (@Reince) February 27, 2014
Congratulations to Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Denver, Dallas, Kansas City, Las Vegas & Phoenix for moving on to the next phase.
— Reince Priebus (@Reince) February 27, 2014
Missing from the list was Salt Lake City, which was a finalist to host the 2012 national convention. The committee ended up choosing Tampa.
Early speculation has tabbed Las Vegas as the frontrunner to be the host city; as The Washington Post noted, it has appeal across Republican factions in different states.
“Other than Vegas, you can’t find a state that has vocal supporters from other states,” Saul Anuzis, the former head of Michigan’s GOP, told the paper. “There’s a pretty broad consensus that Las Vegas is the most logical choice.”
A less likely consideration that will factor into the decision is the quality of chili; Dallas would most likely lay claim to having the best, but your author, a born Cincinnatian, will note that whenever you’re feeling good and hungry, it’s Skyline time.
