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New York vs. Tampa? This is a serious question? I've got nothing against Tampa. Heck, as a writer who's likely to spend several days at the convention no matter where it's held, I might even prefer to go there. Pleasant Gulf breezes vs. muggy humidity; a population of people who are probably glad to see us; the chance to slip away to the beach for a few hours. (Memo to my editor: Just kidding about the beach. Unless you want to go, too.) But folks, let's face it. New York has the Yankees, and Tampa has the Devil Rays. I hold no brief for the Yankees — hate 'em, in fact — but at least they're relevant. In the first Republican political convention in the wake of September 11, the nominating assembly simply must be held in New York. Ground Zero is the focal point — indeed, it's the raison d'etre — of the whole Bush presidency. It has transformed not only the tenor of George W. Bush's first term, but also the fabric of American political life. Candidates in recent years have taken to embarking on political pilgrimages culminating in their acceptance speeches. Two years ago, Bush left Texas and traveled to Philadelphia by journeying through states Republicans had fared poorly in. The trek was all about symbolism, and meant to convey confidence. Imagine Bush, in 2004, quitting the White House sometime in the afternoon, flying to New York, making a solemn visit to the site of the terrorist massacre, and then walking — yes, walking! — to the convention hall for his acceptance speech. Critics will accuse him of politicizing September 11. Let 'em. Bush's performance in response to September 11 is precisely the reason why most Americans are glad he's in office, glad the 2000 election turned out the way it did in spite of the controversy, and glad he'll be on the ballot again. Terrorism has given Bush's presidency a vital cause, and Bush shouldn't have to pretend he doesn't realize this. Even so, perhaps this is all too theatrical. Bush doesn't have to do any of it to make an important point about terrorism and American resilience. Islamic madmen can bomb the buildings in our greatest city, but they can't stop the mechanics of freedom — the right to assemble! — from operating at the very place where they wrought so much havoc. And who doesn't like the idea of Rudy Giuliani delivering a heartfelt endorsement of Bush from a stage in the Big Apple? Then there's Tampa, the home of that NFL team that used to wear those silly orange uniforms. There are several arguments made on Tampa's behalf. Foremost is the claim that convening there will help deliver Florida's electoral votes, which are said to be valued by presidential candidates. There are two things wrong with this. First, Gov. Jeb Bush won reelection by a reasonably good margin — Florida might not be quite as friendly to Democrats as the liberal party would like to hope. That downgrades the GOP necessity for gathering there. Second, political conventions really don't give much of a boost among the locals. If they did, Bush would have carried Pennsylvania in 2000. Moreover, the Democrats wouldn't have picked Boston for their own convention in 2004, unless they're worried about holding together what we might call the "Dukakis coalition." Yet people can't resist interpreting city selection in these terms, especially on the political chat shows. A move to Tampa might look as though it's driven by fear — fear of what happened in 2000, fear that Republicans need to prop themselves up, fear that they might lose the White House if Florida's voters reject them. They will certainly be accused of all this. A mass of reporters looking for things to write and talk about inevitably will turn to this topic, raising a subject that isn't helpful to Bush on his march to reelection. There will also be chatter about Bush scratching his brother's back; again, this isn't beneficial. Picking New York, in contrast, would exude confidence. Republican presidential candidates aren't supposed to take the state. They haven't since 1984, the last time a Republican president won reelection. Holding a convention in New York may make it look like they're actually trying to prevail there — as though they think they have a chance to carry 40 states. If Bush actually does win New York, he can just spot the Sunshine State to the Democrats because its electoral votes won't matter. The case is clear, at least from where I sit. If it's up to me: New York! |
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o it has come
down to New York and Tampa, with New Orleans lagging far behind, in the
competition to host the 2004 Republican convention. The Republican National
Committee soon will make its choice.
