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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?
Well all the above comments are very true, plus throw into the mix the uncertainty of weather.
We are in Hurricane season after all, this has been a mild one but who knows about 2008.
The committee must have experienced our rush hour! Downtown can’t handle concerts or hockey games for one night, let alone a huge and lengthy convention like this one would be!
It is a wake up call for our city to get mass transit! Personally I would rather see the Democratic Convention here anyway.
I am actually quite shocked, If anyone had a choice to spend any time in Tampa vs MN. It’s a no brainer. I would love to know the true political motivation behind this one!
Lynne, you hit the nail squarely on the head. Bus and rail transportation are a joke! People from outlying areas can’t even get a bus into the Port of Tampa to go on a cruise, yet we wan’t to push for more cruiselines to go out of Tampa.
Poor public transportion hurts everyone.
YES I AM REALLY SURPRIZED ,BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER DIFFERENCE AND WE HAVE ALL THE ACCOMADATIONS THAT ARE NEEDED.. IF WE WANT IT BAD ENOUGH WE SHOULD HAVE FOUGHT HARDER.
IF THE BUCS KEEP PLAYING LIKE THEY ARE PLAYING WE WILL NEED SOMETHING TO BOOST OUR ECONOMY.
Lynne- i agree 100%, well put…
Tampa should have used the money they wasted on trying to lure the convention here and used to for more urgent immediate needs.....
First thing, perhaps get some better or at least some mass transit. And yes, hotels near the convention center.
I am not surprised at all. I don’t forsee us getting anything major above Superbowl level and this area is more representative of a major city. Biggest thing holding us back is our transportation system. Come on, if we want to compete with the big guys and gals, we need a real mass transit system. We are long over due for a rail system. We just keep building expanding the roads taking up precious land. We build an upper level roadway on the LeRoy Selmon Expressway. Why did we not consider a true beginning to a rail system there?
People will use a system if we had one.
THAT IS NOT SUPRISING. IT WAS A POLITICAL DECISION. WE ALL KNOW WE LIVE IN PARADISE AND NOTHING WILL CHANGE THAT UNLESS HOME INSURANCE AND TAXES DRIVE EVERYONE BUT THE SUPER WEALTHY OUT OF THE STATE.
Well what did we excpect. These people heard about Rhonda Storms and didn’t want the sheriff’s undercover operation watch what they might be doing in one of fine area establishments. 
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Posted by Vicky Baker, Brandon on 09/27 at 02:36 PM
Minneapolis?!?!?! I’m sure it’s a nice city but give me a break!