DNC host city short list: Birmingham, Columbus, NYC, Philly, Phoenix

[Mr. Morden]

The RNC invited 27 cities to bid.  The DNC has invited 34.  They are:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/02/25/for-2016-democrats-hunt-for-a-convention-city/

Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus-Ohio, Dallas, Detroit, El Paso, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville-Davidson, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Orlando, New Orleans, Oakland, Pittsburgh, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa

Of course, only a small subset of those will actually bid.  Cleveland, Columbus, and St. Louis have started getting active in preparing their bids recently, for example.  (Cleveland and Columbus are both going for both the DNC and the RNC.)  Others, like Minneapolis and Philadelphia, were making some noise about a DNC bid last year, but I haven't heard any news from them in a while, so not sure what the status of that is.

UPDATE: The short list consists of Birmingham, Cleveland, Columbus, NYC, Philly, and Phoenix

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/democratic-national-convention-six-cities-bid-107560.html

[Bojack Horseman]

I'm really pulling for Detroit or Chicago, as I go to school in Kalamazoo, which is the exact halfway point between the two cities, so that'd be within driving distance. I'm saving my pennies and am going to try to be a delegate. Cleveland would be a bit of a stretch to drive, same goes for Columbus and Milwaukee, those are about 4 hours away, and Indianapolis is 3 hours and 45 minutes away. Those are my top picks.

[Mr. Morden]

Update: Portland is not interested: http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2014/02/portland_not_interested_in_hos.html

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

Any news on Atlanta? It'd be perfect if Hillary is nominated.

[Mr. Morden]

Austin is not interested: http://kxan.com/2014/02/26/democratic-national-convention-coming-to-austin/

Atlanta is interested: http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2014/02/26/atlanta-interested-in-hosting-2016-democratic-convention/

So the cities that have recently shown interest are Atlanta, Cleveland, Columbus, and St. Louis.

[badgate]

Austin is interested, they just know they don't have the adequate transportation in place. Hopefully Austin will bid in 2018 for the 2020 DNC.

[Mr. Illini]

Bring it to Chi-town.

[Mr. Morden]

Both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are expressing interest:

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/02/27/philadelphia-keeps-itself-in-running-for-2016-democratic-convention/

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2014/02/25/pittsburgh-in-running-to-host-2016-dnc/

[Vega]

I would prefer if it was not held in California...

Philadelphia might be good, though.

[Mr. Morden]

St. Louis is now reversing course, and will not bid for the DNC:

http://www.ky3.com/news/local/st-louis-will-pass-on-democratic-convention-bid/21048998_24711372

Tampa also looks likely to pass:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/tampa-to-bid-for-2016-democratic-national-convention-thanks-but-no-thanks/2167671

Updated list of cities that are actually showing interest: Atlanta, Cleveland, Columbus, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh

[Mr. Morden]

Nashville and Phoenix both sound open to bidding for the DNC as well:

http://www.wbir.com/story/news/politics/2014/02/28/nashville-may-bid-for-democratic-convention/5905053/

http://kjzz.org/content/20968/phoenix-may-host-republican-and-democratic-national-conventions-2016

[Mr. Morden]

Miami is interested:

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2014/03/01/miami-pursues-2016-democratic-national-convention/

Updated list of cities showing recent interest:

Atlanta
Cleveland
Columbus
Miami
Nashville
Philadelphia
Phoenix
Pittsburgh

[Flake]

I'll be a very happy person if the Dems choose Orlando.

[Mr. Morden]

Seattle is out.  They will not bid for the DNC: http://blogs.seattletimes.com/politicsnorthwest/2014/03/03/seattle-wont-bid-for-2016-democratic-national-convention/

[Mr. Morden]

Milwaukee is out.  They won't make a bid:

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2014/03/05/milwaukee-rules-out-bid-for-2016.html

[Suburbia]

Nashville, Tennessee would be excellent. The Democrats need to compete in the South. Columbus, Ohio would be beautfiul. A soothing, Midwestern convention is the perfect way to jumpstart the fall campaigns.

[The Mikado]

Phoenix in the middle of the summer?  I'd rule that out on weather issues alone.

[Mr. Morden]

Update: The DNC has dropped many of those earlier cities that it invited, and is now only asking 15 cities to bid for the convention, with a deadline of June 6.  The 15 cities are:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/22/first-on-cnn-15-cities-in-running-for-2016-democratic-convention/

Atlanta *
Chicago
Cleveland *
Columbus *
Detroit
Indianapolis #
Las Vegas
Miami *
Nashville *
New York City *
Orlando
Philadelphia *
Phoenix *
Pittsburgh *
Salt Lake City

* The nine cities with an * have already expressed some interest in making a bid.  This includes NYC, which now seems interested despite having been quiet on this until recently: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/new-york-pitch-score-2016-democratic-national-convention-include-brooklyn-blog-entry-1.1765315
It's not clear that any of the other six cities listed are actually interested in making a bid.  And in fact....

# Indianapolis appears to have already ruled out making a bid: http://www.wibc.com/news/story.aspx?ID=2161245

[IceSpear]

Really hoping they come to Philly!

[Frozen Sky Ever Why]

No Texas cities. Can you imagine the protests?

[Adam Griffin]

Based on the convention locations of our past two conventions, Atlanta just makes sense. In 2008 and 2012, the DNC picked areas that either were on the verge of becoming or had just became swing states. I'm sure there were plenty of other considerations for the location, but that had to be a prime consideration. There is also a ton of potential political infrastructure that could come into Georgia by being selected in '16. If I were "the DNC", then I'd want to have boots on the ground in the newest swing state two months before the election.

Looking at 2016, the only new possible addition of a swing state is Georgia; Arizona and Texas are fool's gold. I suppose Hillary could upend the map and create a few potential swing states that wouldn't otherwise be there, but considering that the pick will be made right around or before she would announce (Charlotte was picked in Feb '11), I'm banking on it being a tactical decision based on a neutral electoral environment (again, assuming they pick the most rapidly-ripening state).

It doesn't make sense to have it in the Rust Belt, NY/CA would be a waste, and so would any Deep South state that's vying with AR and OK over how crazy and/or Republican it can get.

[JRP1994]

Based on the convention locations of our past two conventions, Atlanta just makes sense. In 2008 and 2012, the DNC picked areas that either were on the verge of becoming or had just became swing states. I'm sure there were plenty of other considerations for the location, but that had to be a prime consideration. There is also a ton of potential political infrastructure that could come into Georgia by being selected in '16. If I were "the DNC", then I'd want to have boots on the ground in the newest swing state two months before the election.

Looking at 2016, the only new possible addition of a swing state is Georgia; Arizona and Texas are fool's gold. I suppose Hillary could upend the map and create a few potential swing states that wouldn't otherwise be there, but considering that the pick will be made right around or before she would announce (Charlotte was picked in Feb '11), I'm banking on it being a tactical decision based on a neutral electoral environment (again, assuming they pick the most rapidly-ripening state).

It doesn't make sense to have it in the Rust Belt, NY/CA would be a waste, and so would any Deep South state that's vying with AR and OK over how crazy and/or Republican it can get.

I'm as irritated at the GOP dominance of GA as you are, but I think Hillary will win AZ and MO before she wins GA.

[henster]

It should be in a swing state (Columbus) or if Dems want to further lock down PA (Philly/Pittsburgh) or other states that have trended towards them (Las Vegas) I don't see TX, GA, or AZ being competitive in 2016.

[MurrayBannerman]

Bring it to Chi-town.

At least I'll have a good reason to take a vacation.

Maybe I'll finally go to Seattle.

[justfollowingtheelections]

Pittsburgh or Chicago are the best options IMO.