As the acknowledged center of the U.S. political universe, it makes sense for Ohio to get both political conventions in 2016.
At least that’s how Mayor Michael B. Coleman and Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald see it after coming here to get a handle on what it will take for their respective cities, Columbus and Cleveland, to land a national party convention.
“It’s possible, absolutely possible,” Coleman said. “That would be very cool. If I were the chairmen of the Republican Party and the Democratic Party at the national level, I would look at that option because Ohio is so critical in determining who ends up in the White House.”
FitzGerald agreed: “If it wasn’t in Cleveland, my next choice would be Columbus. It’s long overdue in Ohio.”
And if Columbus and Cleveland each were chosen four years hence, “That would be perfect,” FitzGerald said.
In separate interviews here, the two leaders said they are high on Ohio’s chances of landing a rare twofer in American politics.
After a three-day personal reconnaissance mission of the Charlotte convention, Coleman is so confident that Columbus has what it takes that he declared: “We will be applying for both conventions (in 2016). ... My conclusion is that if Charlotte can have a convention like this, Columbus can.”
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