Utah has better chance to host 2016 GOP convention, Herbert says

SALT LAKE CITY — He may call himself Utah's "chief cheerleader," but Gov. Gary Herbert doesn't believe Salt Lake City is the top pick for the 2012 GOP national convention.

"Tampa was a runner-up before, so I would say Tampa's got the inside track on this as opposed to Salt Lake," the governor told the Deseret News. "So my hope is that if we don't get it for 2012, let's get it for 2016."

Herbert's prediction has nothing to do with what Utah has to offer the Republican National Committee, which has a site selection team here through Wednesday to tour a variety of locations, including Temple Square and EnergySolutions Arena.

The GOP governor was among the guests at a welcoming dinner held at Rice-Eccles Stadium Monday evening for the nine-member Republican team from around the country, which has already seen the other two finalist cities, Tampa and Phoenix.

The team arrived at the stadium for a pre-dinner reception in the Olympic museum and were greeted by a slightly soggy red carpet under only temporarily dry skies. Besides the governor, several dozen political and business leaders were gathered, including Herbert's Democratic challenger in this year's special gubernatorial election, Salt Lake Mayor Peter Corroon.

"We, I think, are a much more attractive venue. We've hosted the Olympics," Herbert said. But he said the Florida city was passed over for the last Republican National Convention in favor of Minneapolis-St.Paul in 2008.

The governor dismissed the argument that the GOP should hold its convention in Florida to help swing presidential votes in what's traditionally a battleground state rather than Utah, one of the most consistently Republican states in the nation.

"I think we in Utah don't want anyone to take us for granted," Herbert said. "We can showcase to the rest of the nation, 'Look at Utah; it works. Conservative thought and values do work.' … There's another way to spin this thing."

But the governor said 2016 is likely Utah's best chance to host the national convention, which boosted the Minnesota economy by nearly $170 million, according to the RNC. The decision is expected to be made in May.

"We'll give them a good pitch, but who knows?" Herbert said. "I think this is one of the examples of Utah as this emerging little gem that people have discounted in the past. They're saying, 'Whoa, man, I like what I see in Utah.' "

RNC Chairman Michael Steele said Monday the party can't afford to overlook any state, including Utah.

"The political landscape in this country is no longer so clearly defined," Steele said, adding he was looking forward to seeing what the state has to offer for the convention. "It's great to be back in Salt Lake. I love this part of the country and I'm very excited to see how we can translate an Olympic experience into a convention experience."

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