2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

Twin Cities Selected As Site Of 2008 RNC Convention

Washington, D.C. – The Republican National Committee made an announcement this afternoon regarding the 2008 Republican National Convention.  RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman and RNC Co-Chairman Jo Ann Davidson hosted a press conference call today, Wednesday September 27, 2006 at 3:00 pm CDT.

"I am pleased to announce that the Site Selection Committee of the Republican National Committee met today and has decided to begin negotiations with the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul to be our host for the 2008 Republican National Convention," said Chairman Jo Ann Davidson.

PARTICIPANTS: RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman, RNC Co-Chairman Jo Ann Davidson, Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, and Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman.

Ken Mehlman Addresses The RNC Summer Meeting In Minnesota

Ken Mehlman addresses the RNC Summer Meeting and talks about the 2006 election.

"It is our job to spend every single one of the next 95 days doing everything we can.

We cannot rest now.

We cannot coast.

We must spread the word through every possible medium.

We will use old media, like newspapers and television.

We must spread the word through email and talk radio … blogs and podcasts.

We must make sure every campaign has the tools it needs, from advice to volunteers to understand how using Voter Vault, microtargeting and youtube.com can help.

We must make sure we are reaching out to new faces and new voices … to people who might be Republicans but just don’t know it yet."

RNC Site Selection Committee To Visit Twin Cities

RNC Site Selection Committee To Visit Four Cities To Determine Host Of 2008 National Convention

WASHINGTON, D.C. – RNC Co-Chair Jo Ann Davidson today announced that the Site Selection Committee will visit four cities that submitted bids to host the 2008 Republican National Convention. The nine member committee will visit Cleveland, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York City, and Tampa-St. Petersburg in August.  The RNC members are scheduled to vote on the Site Selection Committee’s recommendation at the annual Winter Meeting in January of 2007.

“We were thrilled to receive bids from these four dynamic cities in key regions of the country,” Davidson said. “The Committee looks forward to working with each city’s representatives to determine the best city to host the 2008 convention.” 

Bid proposals were submitted to the RNC by May 22.  The Site Selection Committee hosted Interested Cities Day in April where several cities sent representatives to work with the committee on their bids.

RNC Invites Cities To Host 2008 Republican National Convention

RNC Invites Cities To Host 2008 Republican National Convention

WASHINGTON – In beginning the process of selecting a host city for the 2008 Republican National Convention, the Republican National Committee (RNC) yesterday presented request for proposals to 31 cities. The request includes an outline of the specifications for hosting the convention and a request for preliminary information that will assist the RNC Site Selection Committee in evaluating each interested city.

Cities that received 2008 request for proposals are: Anaheim, Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Memphis, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, and Tampa.

“We are excited to begin the process of selecting a city to host our 2008 convention,” RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman said.

“We have had a lot of interest from a variety of cities across the country and look forward to finding a city that will help us showcase our positive agenda for America,” added RNC Co-Chairman and Site Selection Committee Chair Jo Ann Davidson.

Cities were informed that the RNC Site Selection Committee will hold individual meetings in Washington, D.C. with representatives from all interested cities to discuss convention criteria, logistics and the site selection process. Cities that did not receive a request for proposal but would like to be considered can contact the RNC.

The Site Selection Committee will decide on a list of finalist cities by mid-summer of 2006. The Committee plans to visit only those finalist cities during the late-summer and expects to make a final selection on the Host City no later than February 1, 2007.

The RNC will select dates for the convention in the coming weeks.

Patrick Ruffini Named RNC eCampaign Director

RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman today announced that Patrick Ruffini has been selected to assume the role of RNC eCampaign Director.

Patrick Ruffini served as Webmaster for Bush-Cheney ?04 where he was responsible for managing President George W. Bush?s reelection campaign website. 

?We are very happy to welcome Patrick back to the RNC as eCampaign Director,? Chairman Mehlman said.  ?He has been at the forefront of innovative political communications and he will enable the Republican Party to become even more effective at communicating our positive vision for the country.?

Republican National Committee Web Site Redesigned

The new flagship web site for the Republican Party, GOP.com is completely redesigned. The site features new tools and opportunities that will enable every supporter to become involved in the RNC's mission to spread the Party's and President's positive message. It was introduced with this message by RNC eCampaign Director Michael Turk.

"Welcome to the New GOP.com and Our New Blog. This site reflects our commitment to acquiring and maintaining a technological advantage in the tactics of politics. The features contained within will grow between now and the elections this fall, and in 2006. Our Action Center provides concrete steps you can take to ensure the election of Republican candidates at all levels, and our News and Research content gives you all the facts you need to debate your liberal friends and set the record straight.
Our blog gives you every opportunity to research and discuss the issues. We invite you to have that discussion right here. Sign up as a member of the GOP Team, register for your blog account, and share your opinions, thoughts, and suggestions with other Republican activists."

"In addition, we're giving you exclusive content and commentary from Republican leaders. Later this week, we'll have a special guest appearance by an old friend of ours from the campaign. Keep your eyes peeled for that."

Bush Cheney '04 Minnesota Spokesperson Named RNC Press Secretary

RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman and Communications Director Brian Jones announced that Tracey Schmitt will serve as Press Secretary for the Republican National Committee. Tracey was the Regional Spokesperson for the Western States and Northern Plains, which included Minnesota, for Bush-Cheney '04.

RNC Unanimously Elects Ken Mehlman Chairman

WASHINGTON – The Republican National Committee (RNC) today unanimously elected Bush-Cheney ‘04 Campaign Manager Ken Mehlman as its new Chairman at the RNC Winter Meeting in Washington, DC.

In his acceptance speech, Mehlman presented four goals for his term as Chairman: “Enact and articulate our reform agenda. Deepen and broaden the GOP so we’re growing our party. Work to elect the best candidates in 2005, 2006 and 2008. Institutionalize the grassroots focus. If we can accomplish these four big goals, the Republican Party, the dominant party in America in 2002 and 2004, can cement our position for a generation. And in so doing, we will help accomplish great things for our nation,” said Mehlman.

Before his election as Chairman, Mehlman served as campaign manager for Bush-Cheney ‘04 and served from 2001 to 2003 as White House Political Director.

Mehlman was National Field Director for Bush-Cheney 2000, where he worked with the campaign leadership in all 50 states and the Republican National Committee to execute winning political plans and mobilize strong grassroots.