2012 GOP Convention-Bring it to Miami!

SAN DIEGO - The Republican National Committee (RNC) on Friday took its first tentative steps toward choosing a location for the 2012 national convention, selecting the committee that will evaluate cities that wish to host the quadrennial gathering.

But in picking the four men and four women who will visit and evaluate the cities, Republicans added additional hurdles for a dozen states if they wish to host the national convention, thanks to a rule aimed at fairness and impartiality.

The rule, informally known as the Sharon Day Rule after Florida's national committeewoman, prohibits members of the site selection committee from representing states that will be submitting bids to host the GOP.

Michigan national committeewoman Holly Hughes, an early supporter of RNC Chairman Michael Steele, will be chairwoman of the site selection committee. The RNC will therefore not be able to hold its convention in Detroit, where Ronald Reagan accepted the party's nomination in 1980.

Ohio is another state that likely will not see a return of the national convention. The GOP has held two conventions in Cleveland and one in Cincinnati, in the 19th century, but Buckeye State GOP chairman Pat DeWine, a member of the site selection committee, would have to step down if either city submits a new bid.

Republicans are also unlikely to return to New Orleans, as Louisiana's national committeewoman is an alternate on the committee.

And though they have never held Republican national conventions, Milwaukee, Denver and Atlanta are all out of the running, as Wisconsin, Colorado and Georgia are represented among site selection members. The District of Columbia, Connecticut, Utah, Alaska and South Carolina also have representatives on the committee.

The committee is seen as a plum perk for RNC members. Committee members travel to cities that have submitted bids to host the convention, where they are wined and dined while making their evaluations.

Though just 11 months have passed since the 2008 convention, held in St. Paul, Minn., some are beginning to move behind the scenes to position their favored cities.

Meeting this week in San Diego, the RNC has a chance to scope out the self-described America's Finest City. California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring, who lives near San Diego, has already approached Mayor Jerry Sanders (R) about returning to San Diego for the 2012 convention, 16 years after ex-Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.) accepted the party's nomination here.

Florida, Day's home state, has made a conscious effort to stay off the committee in hopes of returning the convention to the Sunshine State. Republicans and Democrats both held their conventions in Miami Beach in 1972, and the GOP held its 1968 convention there as well.