If the Republican convention leaves Charlotte, other states ‘chomping at the bit’

If the Republican National Convention leaves Charlotte, Joe Gruters would welcome it with open arms.

“Florida is definitely rolling out the red carpet,” Gruters, the state’s Republican chairman, told the Observer Wednesday. “I hope we get the opportunity because we’re chomping at the bit.”

So, apparently, are other states.

For now, the convention is still scheduled to begin Aug. 24 at uptown’s Spectrum Center. But President Donald Trump scrambled those plans this week in tweets and then at a Tuesday news conference.

On Monday he first tweeted threats to move it, saying N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper was in a “Shutdown mood & unable to guarantee that by August we will be allowed full attendance in the Arena.” On Tuesday, Trump said he wants Cooper to guarantee that attendance “within a week.”

Cooper, a Democrat, has been gradually easing restrictions imposed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. On Tuesday he said state health officials have asked convention organizers to provide written plans about how they would ensure the health of delegates and other guests.

“But we’re not going to sacrifice the health and safety of North Carolinians,” he said. “That’s the bottom line.”

Trump’s Memorial Day tweets came three days after Cooper and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen talked by phone with convention CEO Marcia Lee Kelly. According to a person familiar with the call, Kelly told them everything was still on the table, from a full-blown gathering to a virtual convention.

The governor and secretary asked Kelly for plans for each contingency, including protocols for screening delegates and maintaining social distance. Cohen put that request in a letter Monday.

Convention officials could not be reached Wednesday.

Republican officials selected Charlotte in July 2018. Since then the party’s Committee on Arrangements has been planning the logistics of a national convention, everything from hotels and transportation to themes and stage design. It already has spent more than $3.1 million, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, and plans a make-over of Spectrum Center starting in mid-July.

And the convention host committee has been raising money toward its goal of about $70 million.

Before the Republican National Committee selected Charlotte, a half-dozen other cities had applied. But most had dropped out by the time Charlotte was chosen.

At this point any city that wants the convention would have less than three months to put it together. But that hasn’t stopped three states from expressing interest.

Florida

Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose early reopening of his state has drawn the president’s praise, has said he’d welcome the convention.

“Florida would love to have the RNC,” DeSantis told reporters Tuesday. “Heck, I’m a Republican, it would be good for us to have the RNC in terms of the economic impact when you talk about major events like that. . . . We should try to get it done as best we can in accordance with whatever safety requirements.”

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, a former state GOP chairman, said he “would be honored” to host the event at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, which recently hosted the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Miami, Orlando and Tampa, which hosted the 2012 GOP convention, also have been mentioned as possibilities.

“Everybody who’s seen their local businesses struggle would love the opportunity to host tens of thousands of people for two weeks,” said Gruters, the state chair. “We think we’re the natural selection if they have to move out for any reason.”

But former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn said it’s not that easy.

“It took literally tens of millions of dollars and two years to prepare Tampa for the 2012 convention,” said Buckhorn, a Democrat. “To think it could be done on a comparable level, it just astounds me that people think that’s a good idea.”

Georgia

Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who also opened his state earlier than most, appealed for the convention in a tweet.

“With world-class facilities, restaurants, hotels, and workforce, Georgia would be honored to safely host the Republican National Convention. We hope you will consider the Peach State @realDonaldTrump!” Kemp tweeted Tuesday.

State GOP Chairman David Shafer told the Associated Press that the party has “reached out to Republican National Committee Chairman Ronna McDaniel to let her know that, if North Carolina falls through, Georgia is ready to help.”

Atlanta, which last hosted a convention in 1988 when the Democrats gathered there, would be the state’s top venue for the convention.

A spokeswoman for the governor could not be reached.

Texas

It was Vice President Mike Pence who first raised the prospect of holding the convention in Texas, when he mentioned the Lone Star State along with Florida and Georgia Monday on Fox News.

Dallas, Houston and San Antonio have been mentioned as possible sites.

Texas GOP Chairman James Dickey told Fox News that “multiple sites” have already inquired about hosting the convention.

“Texas,” he said, “would be happy to welcome the president.”

But according to the Dallas Morning News, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, like Cooper, still has coronavirus restrictions in place that prevent large gatherings in the state. Officials in Dallas and Houston are skeptical of hosting the convention, the paper reported.

Dallas and Houston, like Atlanta, Miami and Charlotte, are considered hotspots of coronavirus outbreaks, according to the New York Times.

In a statement Wednesday, N.C. Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, Cooper’s GOP opponent, blamed the governor for putting the convention in limbo.

“(W)hen other states in our region are clamoring for the opportunity to host the RNC,” he said, “Gov. Cooper is either not willing to lead or he doesn’t want the convention in Charlotte.”