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Cleveland Host Committee Chairman Terry Egger talks with Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus during the RNC site selection team's June 3 tour of Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.

(Lonnie Timmons III, The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Capping off a months-long, bipartisan lobbying effort, Cleveland has been selected to host of the 2016 Republican National Convention.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus announced Cleveland as the GOP's recommended location on Fox News in a live, on-air interview.

The GOP is considering June 28 and July 18 as possible dates for the convention, Priebus said during the interview.

"We're excited about bringing the convention to Cleveland in Ohio, and we're excited about the decision. We think it's a smart decision," Priebus said. (See video of the interview below.)

Cleveland edged out Dallas, the other finalist, as the recommended location for the convention, giving the city an opportunity to strut its stuff to a national crowd while placing Ohio even more firmly in the political spotlight for the upcoming presidential election.

"I think it's great," Rob Frost, the Cuyahoga County Republican Party Chairman, said in an interview late Tuesday morning. "I'm really excited to welcome our Republican colleagues from around the nation to Cleveland in 2016. I think this convention will really elevate Cleveland in the eyes of the nation, and elevate Republicans in the eyes of Cleveland."

Frost credited the unified effort of local business, civic and political leaders for helping to bring the convention in. He particularly singled out Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, a Democrat.

"Those are efforts other cities didn't have behind them, and it all started with Mayor Jackson," Frost said.

Enid Mickelsen, the chairwoman of the RNC's site selection committee, said in a written statement: "Cleveland is a phenomenal city, and I can't think of a better place to showcase our party and our nominee in 2016. This committee was tasked with difficult decisions and was presented with several strong options to host our convention. I'm confident Cleveland is the right pick for our next national convention. Cleveland has demonstrated they have the commitment, energy, and terrific facilities to help us deliver a history-making Republican convention.



"I extend my deepest gratitude to Dallas," she added. "Dallas is a world-class city with wonderful venues and fantastic people and I'm certain they'll make a great host for our party in the future. The Dallas team were excellent ambassadors for their city and showed both the committee and the RNC all the wonderful things the city has to offer."

"This is great news for Northeast Ohio," Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald, the 2014 Democratic nominee for governor, said in a written statement. "There's no question Cleveland is now in the middle of a historic renaissance."

Republican officials said the committee's choice was unanimous, crediting Cleveland boosters' enthusiasm in attracting the convention, as well as the city's convention facilities and flexibility on potential dates.

While the recommendation from the Republican National Committee's site selection committee is in, Cleveland's status as the convention's host is still contingent on negotiations with GOP officials. (Related: Tell us what you think Cleveland needs to improve before the 2016 Republican National Convention)

The recommendation will also be subject to final confirmation from the RNC's national committee members, which are scheduled to meet between Aug. 6 and Aug. 9.

A news conference, featuring Jackson, FitzGerald, Cleveland 2016 RNC Host Committee Executive Chair, Terrance "Terry" Egger took place at 3 p.m. at the Global Center for Health Innovation in downtown Cleveland.

The courtship with the national GOP dates to at least February, when the city submitted its bid. Cleveland was selected a week later as one of eight contenders.

The RNC narrowed the list to four in late May, and on June 25 picked Cleveland and Dallas as the two finalists to host the event.

And last week, RNC officials visited Cleveland to assess "creative ways" to make the city's bid work.

Conventions can be significant economic generators for a city. One study showed that the 2012 GOP convention pumped more than $200 million into the Tampa and Florida economies. That convention drew roughly 50,000 visitors.

Cleveland's convention pitch was rooted in political geography and in a downtown renaissance that leaders said occurred after the city, which last hosted a presidential convention in 1936, lost its bid for the GOP's 2008 convention. Since that audition, Cleveland has added more hotel rooms and a new convention center.

It's also believed that the expected June availability of Quicken Loans Arena, which will host floor events for the convention, played a role.

Fundraising is another key consideration, and local boosters have estimated that Cleveland will need to raise $55 million to $60 million to cover the costs of hosting.

Boosters had worked worked to lure the 2016 Democratic National Convention, but that effort will likely be abandoned.

"There's not an opportunity to host both conventions, so that's where our focus will be," Egger said.

Political veteran Jo Ann Davidson has been to nine of the last 10 Republican National Conventions, but for 2016 she'll be closer to home.



A former speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, Davidson is the Ohio committeewoman on the Republican National Committee. And she remains active in public service and in politics.



Davidson's first convention was 1976, when Gerald R. Ford was nominated as the GOP's candidate. She missed the 1980 convention, but has been to every one since.



"But this is the first one in my home state," she said Tuesday. "I'm excited to be a part of it."

Northeast Ohio Media Group Reporter Robert Higgs contributed to this story