7:25 p.m. EDT March 21, 2014 WASHINGTON— In an hour-long pitch Friday, Cincinnati leaders told Republican National Committee officials that Queen City is a cool, convenient, and politically hot place to host the 2016 GOP convention.
"You've just got a place on fire," Western & Southern CEO John Barrett told reporters after emerging from the closed-door session with RNC decision-makers.
Barrett, who is leading Cincinnati's efforts to win a competitive GOP convention contest, said he told RNC officials that raising the estimated $50 million needed to put on such a political extravaganza would be no problem. And he said Cincinnati's arena, transportation, and hotel capacity would easily meet the convention criteria.
"I think it's ours," he quipped to reporters. "It's ground-zero location."
Cincinnati is competing for the GOP convention with two other Ohio cities - Columbus and Cleveland - as well as Dallas, Las Vegas, Denver, Phoenix, and Kansas City.
RNC officials said they expected to narrow that list to a few finalists over the next few weeks.
"There is no front-runner at this point," said Enid Mickelsen, chairwoman of the RNC's site selection committee. "We are pleasantly surprised by the level of commitment, both in dollars and community involvement," demonstrated by each city.
Mickelsen said the selection panel would review the bids and come up with a short list of several cities "that the entire committee can visit." The RNC would bring technical experts along on those site visits to inspect the convention space and hotels and "see exactly how the convention would lay out."
"After we've visited those few cities," she said, "then we'll be making a recommendation" to the broader RNC membership for a final decision, she said. That's likely to come in August.
To press Cincinnati's case, Barrett and other top city leaders - including Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Hartmann and the county's GOP Chairman Alex Triantafilou - arrived in Washington Friday morning loaded down with Graeter's ice cream and Skyline Chili, among other local culinary treats.
After Barrett kicked off the city's presentation - accompanied by a slide show and video - he said RNC officials peppered the Cincinnati delegation with questions: "Can you guys raise the money? What's the transportation like? What's the arena like? . . . Are you capable of handling this crowd over this period of time comfortably?"
On the money question, Barrett oozed confidence, even though Dallas officials told RNC officials Friday they had already raised $40 million - a figure they said clearly impressed the selection panel.
Barrett said Cincinnati leaders have secured $15 million so far - without even asking anyone.
"I don't think that's going to be our problem," Barrett told reporters, noting that one local zip code - 45243 - is a rich source of money for Republican candidates.
Barrett touted Cincinnati as "totally walkable" and easily navigable.
He said members of the selection committee asked why three Ohio cities were competing and pressed him to say "why are you guys better than the other two?"
Barrett's response: "Come try us, see us, our downtown works."
He also pointed to the political importance of Hamilton County - a swing county in a pivotal state in presidential contests. "It's apparent that the person who wins Hamilton county . . . wins the whole deal," he said.
RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said it's "wonderful" three Ohio cities are vying to host the GOP convention, but Ohio's role as a battleground state would not be a factor. "There's no great history of turning states for a particular party just based on where the convention is held," he noted, adding that the committee had to consider a broad range of factors in its choice.
"It comes down to money, transportation, delegate experience, and then that bump that we need for the nominee" heading into the general election, Priebus said.
