TBO.com > News > Latest News Reports
- Moffitt Among Quarterfinalists For Lott Award
- Two Women Thrown From Boat When It Hits I-75 Bridge
- Judge Imposes Stay On Lethal Injections
- Poll: More Coastal Residents Would Not Evacuate For Hurricane
- Robbers In Ninja Garb Strike Hampton Inn
- Deputy Is Accused Of Domestic Battery
- 2 Men Burst Into Home, Steal More Than $7,000
- Temple Terrace Man Wounded In Shooting
- Polk Deputies Charge 17 Men After Weekend Cockfight
- Baby Dropped Off At Fire Station
- Jury Awards $21.1 Million In Wrongful Birth Case
- Deputies Investigate Bank Robbery
- Grandpa Robbed; Grandson Charged
- Composite Sketch Of Armed Carjacker Released
- Progress Village Homicide Victim ID’d
File Photo of 2004 Convention
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON - Republicans have chosen the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul for the 2008 presidential convention, GOP officials said Wednesday.
The selection was expected to be announced later today, said the Republican sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The choice of the Twin Cities would provide a major political punch for the GOP, capturing the media markets in Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota - all battleground states in the 2004 election.
Losing out were New York City, Cleveland and a joint bid from Tampa and St. Petersburg, Fla., cities that had sought the GOP convention.
The four-day event will be held at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., home of the hockey team.
The Twin Cities also are in the running for the Democratic national convention.
The Democrats plan to hold their convention Aug. 25-28, 2008, and the Republicans will meet a few days later on Sept. 1-4.
The Democrats, who last met in Boston, will announce a decision later this fall. A spokesman said 11 sites expressed interest in having the party’s convention, but only four completed the proposals. New Orleans later withdrew its bid, leaving Denver, New York City and Minneapolis-St. Paul.
The GOP held its last convention in New York City, where GOP delegates nominated President Bush for a second term.
The last national convention in the Twin Cities was in 1892, when the GOP backed President Benjamin Harrison in an unsuccessful re-election bid.
Stay with TBO.com for developments.
Tell us what you think: Are you surprised?
IN YO FACE!!!
I am not surprised. Sure, South Tampa is nice, but for the most part, Tampa is a dump. The rising property taxes have done little to remedy the miles and miles of dirty overgrown ghettos, abandoned buildings, garbage-strewn and pockmarked thoroughfares and run down strip malls. Oh, and let’s not forget the hideous metal poles that TECO erects indescriminately throught this burg. Has anyone here even heard of code enforcement or urban planning? Having moved here from perfectly manicured San Diego, I am sometimes apalled at the ugliness of this city. (South Tampa excluded.)
What else did you expect.
Lets now do what we do best:
Time to win the WORLD SERIES, the Rays can do it.
NCAA footbal championship, USF is in a league where it can happen.
NCAA basketball championship, if the GATORS can do it, so can USF BULLS.
The Bay Area is better off without the GOPNC, the only ones who would have made a dollar on it were the out of town limo drivers, cateriers and working gals. Now they can go to MSP and freez their bunns off and not worry about hurricanes.
Now is the time to start helping the DEVIL RAYS bring the WORLD SERIES to the BAY in 2007.
Tampa is still a wannabe town.
Not surprised at all, the roads around here can NOT handle the people that live here. Driving 10 miles can take 30 mins, I wouldn’t vote for any large event to be held in this area, until they fix the road infusture AND get serious about mass transit. Take a looke at the north-east corridor, getting around is much easier.
Why can’t the have train between tampa -st pete, orlando, etc like they do for philly - nj ? They haven’t got a clue how to handle traffic around here, and I’m sure when they visited, they seen how bad traffic in on a “normal” day, and said No way!
Not surprised at all, the roads around here can NOT handle the people that live here. Driving 10 miles can take 30 mins, I wouldn’t vote for any large event to be held in this area, until they fix the road infusture AND get serious about mass transit. Take a looke at the north-east corridor, getting around is much easier.
Why can’t the have train between tampa -st pete, orlando, etc like they do for philly - nj ? They haven’t got a clue how to handle traffic around here, and I’m sure when they visited, they seen how bad traffic in on a “normal” day, and said No way!
I am not surprised. Sure, South Tampa is nice, but for the most part, Tampa is a dump. The rising property taxes have done little to remedy the miles and miles of dirty overgrown ghettos, abandoned buildings, garbage-strewn and pockmarked thoroughfares and run down strip malls. Oh, and let’s not forget the hideous metal poles that TECO erects indescriminately throught this burg. Has anyone here even heard of code enforcement or urban planning? Having moved here from perfectly manicured San Diego, I am sometimes apalled at the ugliness of this city. (South Tampa excluded.)
Amy, Dick Greco was invited AND ATTENDED all President Bush’s functions and he’s a Democrat. The problem is Iorio. When Bush came to town to present awards at Ashley Aluminum out on Anderson Road, she was invited and declined.
I know, because I do some work with the people who handle the invitations.
I’m not surprised. Aside from Channelside Tampa’s downtown doesn’t have anything to offer.
Dear Amy: Iorio WAS invited the first time Bush came to town after she was elected mayor. She declined because she had “an appointment she couldn’t cancel.” It turned out to be someone interviewing for a low level position. Don’t you suppose the interviewee would have been happy to ride along with her and discuss the job after he met the president?
So, Amy, if anyone was dissed, it was the president.
As a Republican, I’m not surprised by some of the political comments on here.
Just like the war, there are those who would rather the home team lose, than “win one for the Gipper.”
Now that we can’t have the GOP convention, I would welcome the Dems to town. It would be a huge financial boon, and the worldwide exposure would be uncalculable.
Like someone said, a choice between Tampa and Minneapolis? No contest.
I for one am relieved. I think we could spend the money the GOP’s were requiring could be better spent. Maybe fixing the roads, like Gandy Blvd, or doing some decent urban planning. Plus, I flew into Philly when the 2000 convention was taking place and it was a NIGHTMARE!!!! On a personal note, it might have somthing to do with the fact that Bush doesn’t even acknowledge our (Dem.) mayor. She doesn’t even get invited to luncheons and political gatherings when the Pres. is in town. Nice guy, huh. Good way to bring people together. Can’t wait for 2008.
I am not surprised the G.O.P. passed on staging the convention here in Tampa. Tampa is a wonderful city that is certainly on its way to holding its own, but we must not forget that Tampa city proper has a population of just around 325,000 people---hardly a major city. Yes, some may argue that this is not JUST Tampa---it’s “Tampa Bay, USA.” Well, it was not so many years ago that we were still living in “Tampa, Fla.,” and I believe that we have a long way to go before we can firmly establish ourselves as being a major metropolitan area capable of hosting massive-scale events such as a major political convention. As opposed to spending millions to draw grand events, I think that we need to be spending the money in our coffers on improving roads, refurbishing our infrastructure, and improving city services---things that will not sell in a tourist brochure but help make Tampa, Fla., an even better place to live for those who call our fine city home.
I am sure politics had a play in this but you have to wonder what it would be like for all those people wearing suits in hot humid sticky conditions would be like. Then leave and get in all the traffic at a crawl so you can have time to see the run down sections of town while being cut off by road ragers. I would rather be in twin cities. Its not so bad there.
From a political point of view, Tampa would make since. Many analyst will tell you that the I-4 corridor is a major concern for the GOP in the upcoming election. You would think that possibly having their little get together in Tampa along this corridor would help there chances. Also, how many electoral votes does MN have?
We have always been second on this list when it comes to luring baseball teams, conventions, olypics, etc...Is it too hard for us to swallow that the twin cities beat us out?
As a resident, I’m happy that this even won’t take place here. Without a public transporation infrascture, this convention would cripple our critical arteries on a daily basis. It’s bad enough when the President comes into town for 3.5 hours, could you imagine a whole weeks worth of dignataries in town would bring?
By the way, Minneapolis is a great city. Those of you who have not had the pleasure to go there, you should.
Suprised? Not at all. Tampa’s downtown has nothing to offer at all except for vacant buildings and condo construction. As far as getting around the area the roads were poorly planned, constantly congested and can one imaging the number of people the convention would place on the roads? We would have a 24 hour rush hour. 
Of course they chose Minneapolis over Tampa ... because they already get Florida’s electoral votes! Do you think that they put it in NYC last time because it is friendly territory? Nope. Florida is a “red state,” and that actually is a strike against the convention coming to town. Add to the mix that the only Dem that is doing well in the polls is running against Katherine Harris (for the last major Democrat-held seat in the state), the Republicans don’t need to do anything here, they already own it. (Although, admittedly sometimes the margin is slim.) If they come to Florida, it will be to energize their “troops” in the “big blue counties” of South Florida.
I’m just glad the republicans aren’t coming. We already have enough criminals to deal with.
As a Republican I may be a little disappointed but not surprised. As a commuter to TGH through downtown I am elated. We have enough trouble now with traffic. Maybe when we get good public transportation we will deserve to get a major political convention.
Well of course So. Tampa would be nice, do you really think the counry commissioners or Mayor Pam would put anything ugly in their front yard?
Surprised? No George W Bush got all he needed from Florida GOP’s and the Governor his little Brother. Since GOP’s can’t make up their minds to easily I’m not at all surprised. Maybe they don’t feel safe since our ports in Tampa arn’t even approved for any aid from Home land security! Imagine that?
This decision is a major disappointment to many high-level GOP financial backers in Tampa. Sob sob..Whats a matta you didn’t kiss the Bush brown spot enough?
I hope the Democrat’s beat your pants off! This year and in 2008..
2008 the end of an error! 
I am not surprised. Sure, South Tampa is nice, but for the most part, Tampa is a dump. The rising property taxes have done little to remedy the miles and miles of dirty overgrown ghettos, abandoned buildings, garbage-strewn and pockmarked thoroughfares and run down strip malls. Oh, and let’s not forget the hideous metal poles that TECO erects indescriminately throught this burg. Has anyone here even heard of code enforcement or urban planning? Having moved here from perfectly manicured San Diego, I am sometimes apalled at the ugliness of this city. (South Tampa excluded.)
I am actually quite relieved that cooler heads prevailed and the GOP convention is not comming
Dowtown could not even handle bay area teachers showing up for a one day pep rally let alone a week of events.
plus we dont need those crooks coming to our town anyways..we got enough in that devil Ms. Storms
Advertisement
Posted by Norma Og, Seminole on 09/28 at 12:28 PM
No… George W Bush got all he needed from Florida’s GOP’s and the Governor his little Brother. Since GOP’s can’t make up their minds to easily I’m not at all surprised.
Maybe they have set up a deal in the twin city?
Maybe they don’t feel safe in Tampa since our ports in Tampa arn’t even approved for any aid from Home land security!
Imagine that?
So this decision was major disappointment to many of the high-level GOP financial backers in Tampa.
Sob sob..
Whats a matta you didn’t kiss the Bush brown spot enough?
I hope the Democrat’s beat your pants off! This year AND in 2008..
2008 the end of an error!
: