Tampa beats out Salt Lake for 2012 GOP convention

SALT LAKE CITY — Well, there's always 2016.

Now that the 2012 Republican National Convention is going to Tampa, Fla., backers of Salt Lake City's unsuccessful bid are setting their sights further into the future.

The choice of the Florida city over Salt Lake City and Phoenix by the Republican National Committee on Wednesday didn't come as a surprise. Tampa was widely seen as the favorite, especially since Florida is expected to once again be a battleground state for the party in the 2012 elections. Plus, Tampa had been passed over before, in 2004, for New York City and again in 2008 for Minneapolis-St. Paul.

The decision came after a meeting between RNC Chairman Michael Steele and members of the committee's site selection team. The event where Republicans will formally nominate their next presidential candidate is expected to bring tens of thousands of visitors and millions of dollars in revenues to the host city.

Steele said Tampa's "hard work and dedication resulted in a tremendous bid that we are confident will produce a successful event. The Tampa area boasts state-of-the-art facilities, exciting and vibrant downtowns, and a clear enthusiasm from the community to host our convention."

Still, Salt Lake City was encouraged to bid again during a conference call with the RNC just before the decision was made public.

"They are very anxious that we stay in the running. They hope we have an interest in 2016, and I assured them that we would," Salt Lake Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Lane Beattie said. "While we didn't get it, we were very, very pleased that we ended up being a second choice."

Beattie, who headed the Salt Lake host committee, said the Utah capital is now the frontrunner for 2016.

Utah GOP Chairman Dave Hansen said he was "confident Utah would have put on a world-class event because of our volunteers, facilities and outdoor opportunities. I wish Tampa success in 2012."

He dismissed the suggestion that Utah was passed over because the state votes so reliably Republican.

"We wanted to have people come out and see what the most Republican state in the country is like," Hansen said, noting Minnesota, up for grabs as a swing state in 2008, went for Democratic President Barack Obama despite having hosted the GOP convention.

GOP Gov. Gary Herbert also saw Utah as a showcase for the GOP.