Kenney, Nutter let DNC know Philly wants to host ’16 convention

The city almost missed a deadline, but Philadelphia City Council has passed a resolution saying it’s interested in hosting the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

Councilman Jim Kenney introduced the resolution, which expresses the city’s interest in welcoming the convention, because he wants to send a strong signal to the national party.

“I think this is a no-brainer to pursue,” Kenney said Thursday at a City Council meeting. “Whether we get to the point at the end if we are selected or decide if we can or cannot do it, there’s no reason to cut off discussion before we get into the discussion.”

U.S. Rep. Bob Brady said he was concerned about the approaching Saturday deadline and that, with 72 hours to go, Mayor Michael Nutter had not replied to the request for an expression of interest.

But a spokesman for Mayor Nutter tweeted that the letter would be in the hands of the U.S. Rep, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the DNC chairwoman, expressing the city’s interest before the deadline.