WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama’s hometown and Hillary Rodham Clinton’s home base as a senator are among the 15 cities the Democratic National Committee is considering to host the party’s presidential nominating convention in 2016, officials said Tuesday.
The DNC is inviting cities from Miami to Las Vegas to bid to host the party faithful for the made-for-TV festivities. Local officials have until June 6 to submit their proposals â?? or not, if a city declines â?? about how the city would partner with the DNC to stage the massive and costly event.
The cities under consideration are: Atlanta; Chicago; Cleveland; Columbus, Ohio; Detroit; Indianapolis; Las Vegas; Miami; Nashville; New York; Orlando; Philadelphia; Phoenix; Pittsburgh and Salt Lake City.
Democrats’ decision is not expected until late this year or early in 2015. Most cities expect the convention to cost between $55 million and $60 million.
Various factors go into deciding where to plant the convention, most notably whether the city has the facilities to stage the pageantry and whether there are enough hotels to house the delegates and media who descend on the region, as well as the ease with which visitors can navigate the city.