Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, who was “flattered” that his city was invited to bid on the 2016 Democratic National Convention, did the prudent thing by not letting flattery metastasize into a bid plan. Unless Al Austin switches parties, there’s not enough Democratic fund-raising heft around here to do it right. As a result, that could mean the city being at risk to make up any shortfalls incurred by the local host committee.
So, no thanks. Debbie Wasserman Schultz still has 29 other DNC-host-city candidates to solicit.
Buckhorn, a fiscally pragmatic Democrat, took the right course. This is not a politically partisan matter. What’s best for his city trumps what’s best for his Party. He was a cooperative and amiable host to the GOP in 2012, and now he’s a responsible and polite non-host to the Dems in 2016.