Posted on 12/11/2002 5:41:12 AM PST by nypokerface
WASHINGTON - New York City is close to winning the prize of the 2004 Republican National Convention, the Daily News has learned, despite White House concerns that
Mayor Bloomberg is not enough of a team player. Several GOP sources said that while President Bush has not made up his mind, both Bush and chief political strategist Karl Rove are leaning toward New York's bid.
"There's a general view among the President's political advisers that Bloomberg is a reluctant ally," a key Bush source said, "so it's a big bet to make. But I think New York is now in the pole position - in spite of the mayor's deciding he wants to tax everybody."
Another well-placed source urged caution, noting that Tampa and New Orleans are still in the hunt. "No decision has been made," he said.
Rep for being difficult
Rove recently told political allies that Bloomberg was an impediment to the city's winning its first Republican convention. He has a reputation around the White House for being "not as cooperative as he should be," one source alleged.
But sources told The News that a secret meeting between Rove and Bloomberg last week in New York - also attended by Chelsea Piers chairman Roland Betts, one of Bush's closest friends - was designed to clear the air by addressing White House concerns that the mayor is a prickly one-man band.
"They wanted to be reassured the convention will be a Bush show, not a Bloomberg show," one GOP source said.
"Hopefully, those concerns have been dealt with," the source added.
Some Bush aides still complain Bloomberg was needlessly difficult during the negotiations preceding the President's visit to the city for the first anniversary of the terror attacks.
"He didn't make it convenient for the President to come and pay his respects," one GOP official said.
Tampa is being pushed aggressively by Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, the President's brother. But some Bush aides worry that the choice would prompt massive demonstrations by Democrats alleging Bush stole Florida, and the presidency, in 2000.
New Orleans was seen as a safer choice, but a possible negative is that Louisiana reelected a Democratic senator last week.
New York, which has played host to several Democratic conventions, recently lost out to Boston for the party's 2004 gathering.
The GOP's host city decision will be made later this month in time for the Republican National Committee to rubber-stamp Bush's choice at its January meeting.
Why should that money, which is essentially a gift by the RNC to the local economy, be pumped into a City and a State, NY, NY, which will NEVER vote Republican in a Presidential contest, and seldom in any other contest (Noting here that Bloomberg himself is 20% Republican, 80% "Other.")
Comgressman Billybob
That'd be a great idea--If there hadn't of been the fiasco down in Florida, they'd probably get it. But with the 2000 mess (which the pathetic dems refuse to let go of), it wouldn't matter where in the state the convention was held, be it Tampa, Miami, etc.), the democrats would be yelling and screaming about what happened 4 YEARS ago. Missouri would be a good choice since they are the "show me" swing state and did go for Bush last time, what better way to show thanks to them. In NY maybe the gop figures they can at least get a good deal more votes than the last time around, which shouldn't be hard--though there's 0% chance we'll win the state.
Hawking cheap long distance rates now Billybob?
Seriously, yer forgetting that NY (Bloomberg?) informed McAwful that the GOP might get NYC, couldn't guarantee it for the 'Rats, which thus prompted their moved to Kerry's beantown. New York will be important for this "war president" with it's obvious connection to the WOT.
BTW, whatz new in the world of campmcinsane-Feingoldance reform court procedings?
Maybe because he's not really a republican.....he switched parties so as not to have to run in the dem primary.
Yeah, God forbid the RNC toss some business to the city that took the worst of the brunt of the 9/11 attacks.
We voted for Reagan in 1984, and notwithstanding Bloomberg's weirdness (and RINOness), this city *has* elected a Republican mayor for the third straight time. And this state has re-elected a GOP governor for his third straight term.
It would also be nice to be able to sum up the conventions thusly: The GOP honors the city that took the hit for the country while the 'rats honor the city which launched two of the 9/11 planes -- the 2 that hit NYC.
Gee, I can't imagine why. Maybe because he's really a liberal Democrat who cravenly changed his official status to Republican to ride the coattails of Giuliani and Bush to victory?
A phony, cheap imitation is never as good as the real thing, as New Yorkers are going to find out. The hard way.
Hmmm... interesting. I'm still hoping it's NYC.
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