Could Dems pick Tampa for 2016 convention? | News

Tampa, Florida -- Tampa Bay Host Committee CEO Ken Jones surprised some this week when he told a group of downtown Tampa businessmen that in 2016, "I think the Democrats will come here."

The comment comes just more than two months before the city hosts the 2012 Republican National Convention.

"I hope so, and I mean that in all sincerity (about possibility of landing the Democratic National Convention in 2016)," Jones later told 10 News. "I mean, if we're going to be a world class city, you can't be one and done. You've got to keep doing more and more events and you want to ramp them up. Now it's the Republican National Convention... maybe in 2016 it's the Democrats. Maybe after that it's the Olympic games. Who knows?"

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn later told 10 News, "I never say never," regarding a possible 2016 bid for the Democratic National Convention.

"I don't know if we'd bid on another one or not," Buckhorn said. "Would I entertain it? Sure, I'd entertain it. But I've got to get through this one first."

A spokesperson with Tampa Bay & Company, the agency that would ultimately file any bid for the event, also didn't dismiss the idea of trying to bring another major political convention to Tampa.

"We are always looking at potential major conventions and if we met the bid requirements and had the necessary community and political support, Tampa Bay & Company would consider bidding to host the 2016 DNC," Travis Claytor wrote in an email to 10 News. 

Historically, it's not unheard of for one party to follow the other party to a city. In 1968, Republicans held their convention in Miami Beach. Four years later, Democrats held their convention in Miami Beach while the Republicans also returned to South Florida.

Political Editor of the Tampa Bay Times Adam Smith doesn't think the idea of Tampa landing the 2016 DNC is far-fetched.

"I don't think Ken Jones has got a lot of intel with the Democratic Party," Smith joked. "But I think it absolutely makes sense."

"If Tampa Bay shows they can put on a good event, they can handle the logistics... I think absolutely, the Democrats would be interested."

Already officials in Newark, New Jersey have expressed interest in trying to lure the Democrats to their city in 2016. Other cities that could be interested include Cleveland, Minneapolis and St. Louis. They were three finalists for the 2012 DNC.

The Democrats will hold their convention this year in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Republicans are scheduled to hold their convention in Tampa beginning on August 27^th.