S.D. Seen as Top Choice for GOP Convention

Benefiting from political complications in Houston and New Orleans, San Diego was named a finalist Friday and emerged as the clear favorite in the competition to be host to the 1992 Republican Convention, GOP sources said.

The Site Selection Committee, expected to name two finalists Friday, felt the gap between the cities was “so close” that it took the somewhat unusual step of naming three finalists, in Houston, New Orleans and San Diego, said Jeanie Austin, co-chairman of the Republican National Committee. She said Cleveland and St. Peterburg, Fla., were eliminated from contention.

Other GOP sources, who asked not to be quoted by name, said San Diego is the heavy favorite at this point, because of a strong bid by Mayor Maureen O’Connor and the backing of Gov.-elect Pete Wilson.

“We’re thrilled,” said Paul Downey, a spokesman for the mayor. “Two months ago, we were not in contention, but the mayor really spearheaded the effort. We went from being totally out of it to being the favorite.”

Downey acknowledged that a key factor in San Diego’s emergence was the backing of White House official Sig Rogich, one of the President’s top advisers, who suggested to O’Connor that San Diego put in a bid because of the GOP’s need for a “Western option.”

But the city also benefitted from political fallout in other cities, sources said, namely Houston and New Orleans, the two expected to vie for the host-city crown since the last GOP Convention--in New Orleans--in 1988.

Sources say the GOP is hurt in Louisiana by the specter of former Ku Klux Klansman David Duke, who, as a Republican, holds a seat in the state legislature and may run for governor. Duke recently lost in his bid for a U.S. Senate seat.

The GOP is concerned about Houston, sources said, because of the recent gubernatorial victory of Democrat Ann Richards over Clayton Williams, for whom President Bush campaigned extensively.

San Diego poses no such political complications. Its biggest drawback, sources say, is the small size and ceiling-to-floor columns of the new San Diego Convention Center, which pose problems not just for television viewers but for delegates inside the hall.

The idea of President Bush making his acceptance speech at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium also is problematic, sources say, in that the GOP has never used an outdoor facility for any portion of a party convention.

The only time any phase of a major political convention has been staged outdoors was the acceptance speech by John F. Kennedy at the 1960 Democratic Convention at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

“What if it rains?” Austin asked.

. “It’s not likely, but it’s something we’ll have to consider in regard to San Diego. The city poses a couple of problems, but none are insurmountable. It’s more a case of, ‘We’ve never done that before,’ rather than, ‘That can’t be done.’ ”

“We’re very encouraged and very excited,” said Dan Schnur, spokesman for the California Republican Party. “This decision brings the city of San Diego and the state of California one step closer to hosting the convention.

“We believe that hosting the national convention would be a tremendous asset, not only to the city and state but also to the Republican Party and Republican candidates.”

California is a key state for the GOP in 1992, Schnur said, a year when it’s expected to have 54 electoral votes, as opposed to its current 47. Texas, by contrast, will have fewer than 30.

Other GOP sources said Friday that New Orleans would be the front-runner for host, were it not for Duke and the problems he poses. The New Orleans Superdome is considered the best site possible, and the city is far more attractive than either Houston or San Diego for its night life.

Austin said that, at this point, all cities are equal.

“I’ll say this for Ann Richards,” Austin said of Texas’ new Democratic governor. “I can’t imagine the governor of any state not wanting a city in their state to receive the $60 million to $80 million in revenue that such a convention would bring. So, no, Ann Richards is not a factor.

“David Duke is not a factor, as far as we’re concerned. He is a Republican, but the party has disavowed him from day one. We’ll pick our site based on a number of factors, which include not just the political but the legal, technical and logistical.”

Austin said members of the Site Selection Committee will visit each of the three cities again and offer a new report by Jan. 11, with the hope of narrowing the field from three to one by Jan. 15.

The full, 166-members of the Republican National Committee will vote on the host city Jan. 25, Austin said. They usually, but not always, adopt the recommendation of the Site Selection Committee, she said.

Other Republican sources said Friday that another problem for San Diego is the $10 million required as seed money to host the event. The city won’t have trouble raising the money from private sources, party officials say, but such donations will then not be available for key congressional races, such as the two California Senate seats up for grabs in 1992.