What better way to offset any gain Democrats get in North Carolina by having their convention in Charlotte than to have the Republican convention in the Tar Heel state too?
South Carolina's Republican chairwoman is suggesting exactly that today. Karen Floyd sent a letter to national party leaders saying the GOP's convention planned for Tampa should be moved out of Florida if that state doesn't back down from its current plan to hold its primary on Jan. 31, 2012, which would put it ahead of South Carolina and other traditional early states. Floyd suggests a few places Republicans should consider for their new convention site, including North Carolina. It's a battleground state, she says, and Democrats could get a boost here from their Charlotte convention.
We love the idea, and North Carolinians of all political stripes should too. But don't hold your breath. The chances of the GOP moving its convention from Tampa are almost nil. Floyd is just maneuvering to try to put pressure on Florida to back its primary date up and keep South Carolina's early-state stature.
Republican rules would require that. But it sure makes sense to have Florida vote early. A candidate who performs strongly in Florida is more intriguing than one who can just woo folks in Iowa or New Hampshire.
-- Posted by the Observer's editorial board
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6 comments:
This would never happen BUT I'll play along with the hypothetical situation here...
If they were to move it, they would have to either use Charlotte or Raleigh and Raleigh doesnt have enough hotel rooms (only about 14K)so either that requirement would have to be overlooked or Charlotte would host back to back convetions since they Republicans are the week before the Democrats. It would be tough but not impossible.
The question is, would Charlotte want to be a virtual secure fortress for 2 weeks if this hypothetical became reality?
I'd rent my place out and go on vacation, I couldn't stand it. I'm not talking about dealing with the political parties either, I'm talking about having to hear Fox and MSNBC complain about North Carolina for two weeks.
Just out of curiosity I looked it up and there is plenty of precedent for using the same city for both conventions, last time was in Miami Beach, in 1972. Chicago has had both conventions held at the same time on several occasions.
I realize the liberal Democrats on the Observer Editorial board live in an alternative universe from reality....but I question their premise that the Dems are going to "gain" in North Carolina from having the convention here.
A close up look and a spotlight on Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, Maxine Waters, Charlie Rangle, Sheila Jackson Lee, Harry Reid and the rest of the Dem. comedy contingent should be more than enough to put NC back in the Red column.
This would give the public a perfect opportunity to see how the big CO slants everything left. Dems would undoubtably be covered with a positive angle. Repubs would be .......
Interesting idea. Small businesses should be happy that one convention, maybe both would come. That would be great for North Carolina. I think Charlotte could pull it off. Funny how people still don't think N.C. is now up for grabs even though it went blue in 2008. I like being a swing state. Being locked in for the Republicans makes them take us for granted. Make both parties work for our votes.
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