Las Vegas withdraws its bid for the 2016 Republican National Convention

[Newsjock]

Source: Las Vegas Sun

Las Vegas withdrew its bid today to host the Republican National Convention in 2016 and will try again in 2020, according to a letter from Nevada leaders.

Las Vegas wouldn’t have enough time to prepare for the convention and doesn’t have an arena capable of seating delegates and guests, according to a letter sent by Brian Krolicki, Nevada's lieutenant governor and Nevada 2016 Host Committee Chairman, to the Republican National Committee.

The decision is a crushing blow to Nevada Republicans hoping to play host to the party’s political elites and deliver a boost to the city's economy. To hold the convention on the home turf of Democrat Harry Reid would have been a symbolic victory for Republicans. With Nevada’s swing state status, Republicans could have used the convention to lure the Hispanic vote.

Read more: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2014/may/22/las-vegas-out-running-2016-republican-national-con/

[JI7]

1. that's weird, las vegas is one of those places where this should not be an issue

[KansDem]

2. Couldn't the al-Bundy terrorists pitch in and help?

If anything, they could work security.

[underpants]

6. Funny. My first thought was Adelson wanted to play kingmaker.

[freshwest]

14. Good venue for BBQ, religion and target practice on the feds! C'mon, GOP ya know ya wanna...

The Bad News is some other hapless city will be DISGRACED by their presence. Why not have it at one of the Koch homes?

[jeff47]

3. It's gonna take more than a convention

to convince "the Hispanic vote" to vote for Republicans.

"Gee, those pasty-white old guys say all sorts of terrible things about me and my family. But they had a big party here that I was not allowed to attend. I'll vote for them!!"

[Louisiana1976]

5. +1 million

[djean111]

8. The last convention, here in Tampa, was not all that good for Tampa, IIRC.

Don't know how a convention would woo any block of voters, really.

[underpants]

4. Probably couldn't compete with the popularity of the Minn.-St. Paul airport

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=809669

[Rhymes With Orange]

7. Too bad

That would have been fun to watch....

[LuvNewcastle]

9. They'll probably choose Cleveland or Denver. Some people still think that

it matters where they have their convention, that it gives them an edge in that state. I don't think it matters anymore, if it ever did. So they think that having the convention in Vegas would help them lure Hispanic voters? Do they really think Hispanics are that unsophisticated? They're people, not fish. They're not going to bite more if you choose the right spot .

[Julian Englis]

10. They don't have a venue big enough?

Prison overcrowding must be a real problem in Nevada.

[freshwest]

15. And the Bundy ranch has 30 million patriots camped out, just ask OAS!

And the prison reference is priceless. The criminal conspiracy that is the GOP needs some jail time.

[GeorgeGist]

11. The Las Vegas Convention Center is one of the most modern and functional facilities in the world

- a 3.2 million square foot facility located within a short distance of more than 100,000 guest rooms. Operated by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), the center is well known among industry professionals for its versatility. In addition to more than two million square feet of exhibit space, 144 meeting rooms (more than 243,000 square feet) handle seating capacities ranging from 20 to 2,500. A grand lobby and registration area (more than 225,000 square feet) efficiently link existing exhibit halls with new exhibit and meeting rooms, and allowing simultaneous set-up, break-down and exhibiting of multiple events.

http://www.lasvegas.net/Las-Vegas-Convention-Center.htm

[former9thward]

18. Not big enough.

There are about 2300 delegates (Democrats have 5400 delegates). Then you have to add in alternates, other guests and the media. So you need about 5000 seats. Neither party has ever met in Las Vegas because of that issue.

[Jim Lane]

21. The Thomas & Mack Center would be big enough

Even when configured for arena football, the Thomas & Mack Center holds more than 16,000.

I wonder if the issue is that it's a UNLV facility, and use of a public university's arena for such a partisan purpose is a problem. I'd consider it reasonable for the university to augment its revenue by collecting fair market rental from the GOP.

Even with an appropriate facility, many people in both major parties would shy away from meeting in Las Vegas because of the "Sin City" image. Even if you're hurting yourself with only, say, ten percent of the voters, why pay that price when there are so many other cities to choose from?

[former9thward]

22. You are right.

In Las Vegas there would be plenty of ways for delegates to get into 'trouble' and plenty of media just waiting to cover it. Plus the parties like to pretend their conventions are places where delegates seriously debate the major issues when it is just the opposite. I don't think either party would want the Las Vegas image.

[dickthegrouch]

12. "Doesn't have an arena capable"

All their arenas are far too big.

The ~200 delegates the repubs will have remaining after their sound defeat this year will look silly in an arena that's too big. That's why it's worded "no arena capable" rather than "no arena big enough".

Alternatively, they can't fit enough handcuffs to the seats in time to accommodate the influx of traitors and other assorted criminals represented by the republican party.

[freshwest]

16. I love it when you talk like that!

[upaloopa]

13. How would a right wing convention in Las Vegas

lure the Hispanic vote?
You think issues don't matter? Just because that a convention was held in their city they are going to vote for repubs?

[AceAcme]

17. "the low morals of the Republicans would scandalize our fair city." - Las Vegas

[mountain grammy]

19. Damn, I was sure they'd go to Vegas. Sure don't want them in Colorado..

They may stay out of Denver because of the pot, I hope.

[olddad56]

20. Vegas would seem like the perfect place for the GOP convention.

There are already enough strip clubs and hookers to satisfy the married members of the GOP.

[lastlib]

23. I can't fathom why ANY city would want them!!

. .

My own local metropolis, Kansas City, is making a bid for them (we had 'em here in 1976, and they stunk up the place--and nobody here remembers that?? C-mon!). Personally, I'd rather have a convention of bubonic-plague-infected rats in town than the national GOP, but I guess it's easy enough to confuse the two......only difference, the rats don't spend much money.

[davidpdx]

24. Damn

I was betting on a headlines with Republicans, drugs, and hookers.