DNC Chair takes final look at Philly convention plans for 2016

It’s coming down to the wire in the competition to host the 2016 Democratic National Convention, and  the chair of the Democratic National Committee was in Philadelphia today for a final look.

The party’s site selection committee spent several days in Philadelphia last summer. Former Gov. Ed Rendell, who co-chairs the city’s host committee said in a phone interview that the visit from the DNC Chair, Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is important.

“I think she received thorough reports the party’s site selection committee, but I think there’s some things she wants to see for herself,” Rendell said.

So Wasserman Schultz had a full schedule, touring the Wells Fargo Center, which would host the convention itself, the Pennsylvania Convention Center downtown, a critical meeting and reception venue and a variety of sites around Independence Hall.

Wasserman Schultz is also visiting the other two finalists in the competition, Brooklyn and Columbus, Ohio. The concluding event in Wasserman Schultz’s Philadelphia tour was a dinner with Mayor Nutter and Rendell —  a final chance for them to turn on the charm?

“Well sure, but there’s charm in Columbus and charm in New York as well,” Rendell said. “So I don’t know if that will make the difference. I think the difference will be our facility, our historic sites, our venues, the ease of transportation.”

And Rendell said, the city’s successful hosting of the 2000 Republican convention should help. A decision on the site of the 2016 Democratic convention is expected in a few weeks.