Kansas City has taken a big step forward toward landing the 2016 Republican National Convention.Members of the Republican National Committee have pared down the list of potential host cities and Kansas City remains in the running, KMBC's Micheal Mahoney reported.Cleveland, Dallas and Denver are the other three finalists. Cincinnati and Las Vegas withdrew from consideration before the announcement."All cities excelled in nearly every aspect of their bids and presentation this year, but these four cities stood out from the field from the start of this process and deserve a deeper look by the full committee," site selection committee chair Enid Mickelsen said in a statement.The RNC said it would announce plans for additional visits to the four cities soon."Once again, we have done what a lot of people said we couldn't do," said Kansas City Mayor Sly James.Kansas City has made an aggressive push to host the event, which is expected to give the city an economic boost and a chance to show itself off to the world. The city is promoting its central location, modern arena, heartland values and the fact that it has enough hotel rooms."The first thing we did was give them a map showing them where all the hotel rooms are. And you'd been surprised, because more of them are going to be between downtown and the Plaza than you think," James said.The 2016 convention would mark the 40th anniversary of the last time the Republicans held their national convention in Kansas City, a gathering that helped springboard Ronald Reagan to the presidency four years later.A final decision on the convention is expected later this year.

Kansas City has taken a big step forward toward landing the 2016 Republican National Convention.



Members of the Republican National Committee have pared down the list of potential host cities and Kansas City remains in the running, KMBC's Micheal Mahoney reported.



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Cleveland, Dallas and Denver are the other three finalists. Cincinnati and Las Vegas withdrew from consideration before the announcement.



"All cities excelled in nearly every aspect of their bids and presentation this year, but these four cities stood out from the field from the start of this process and deserve a deeper look by the full committee," site selection committee chair Enid Mickelsen said in a statement.

The RNC said it would announce plans for additional visits to the four cities soon.

"Once again, we have done what a lot of people said we couldn't do," said Kansas City Mayor Sly James.

Kansas City has made an aggressive push to host the event, which is expected to give the city an economic boost and a chance to show itself off to the world. The city is promoting its central location, modern arena, heartland values and the fact that it has enough hotel rooms.



"The first thing we did was give them a map showing them where all the hotel rooms are. And you'd been surprised, because more of them are going to be between downtown and the Plaza than you think," James said.

The 2016 convention would mark the 40th anniversary of the last time the Republicans held their national convention in Kansas City, a gathering that helped springboard Ronald Reagan to the presidency four years later.



A final decision on the convention is expected later this year.