The idea that either the Democratic or Republican Party would select Detroit to host of their 2016 national conventions seems like a longshot.
Then again, there was a first-term Illinois senator whose 2008 presidential bid was a long shot. In 2010 and unknown Ann Arbor businessman made a long-shot run for government. And just last year, the odds seems long for a white candidate who had recently lived in Livonia running for Detroit mayor as a write-in.
The point is, sometimes long shots pay off. Mayor Mike Duggan hopes Detroit can do just that as the GOP and Democrats bid out their next convention sites.
Detroit Free Press: Any bid by Detroit to host the Democratic or Republican nominating conventions may be a long shot considering the hurdles to be crossed, but it’s one that could offer the city a national stage from which to rebrand itself. And Mayor Mike Duggan is in the early stages of looking into the prospects.
“There certainly has been some discussion in the political and business community,” said Sandy Baruah, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber. While he’s uncertain how serious an effort it is, Baruah said Detroit has a revival story to showcase now — and will have more of one to tell in two years.
A local host committee would have to raise roughly $50 million to fund the convention operation.
Bids for the Republican convention are due next Wednesday. The Democrats are asking potential host cities to express their interest in bidding by March 1.
