CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Republican National Convention site selection committee departed Charlotte Friday after spending three days in the Queen City to check it out as a potential host site for the 2020 GOP convention.
There was a delegation of about 30 people led by RNC 2020 Site Selection Chairman Ron Kaufman and Lara Trump. The group received detailed briefings from city leaders on things like traffic, hotels and security.
A source with knowledge of the visit said NCGOP head Robin Hayes and Mayor Vi Lyles laid out the red carpet for the delegation. The visit included dinners overlooking the speedway and one on the 60th floor of the Bank of America building in uptown.
What's propelling Charlotte's bid to the top is the strong bipartisan support for #RNC2020. At a breakfast Friday morning at the Kimpton Hotel, Democratic Councilman James Mitchell told the RNC delegation that RNC2020 stands for "Republicans in Charlotte 2020," per source.
It's likely this was the RNC Site Selection Committee's last visit to Charlotte before a decision is made this summer.
NCGOP confirmed the visit to Charlotte Friday afternoon.
"Over the past three days, I have had the pleasure of working with Mayor Vi Lyles, her team, and a number of Charlotte officials making a presentation to the RNC Site Selection Committee,” Hayes said. “I could not be more proud of their efforts, professionalism and hospitality. They and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority have put on an all-star presentation highlighting the benefits of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and surrounding areas in the state of North Carolina. I look forward to the decision of the site selection committee. Based on merit, I think we have a great chance of winning the competition."
Sources said the finalists for the 2020 GOP Convention are Charlotte, Las Vegas and an unnamed city that is believed to be in Texas.
Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:
- CMPD chief on Mayfield's controversial tweet: 'It's hard to stomach'
- Reports: Shots fired at Santa Fe High School
- Single mom being evicted; landlord won't accept supplemental funding
- 21st fissure opens, Hawaii officials hand out masks to island residents
- WATCH: Vicki Graf's Friday forecast outlook
Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/M6R3AKDXB5DUTFW5EXPDAOZB5Y.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/HWFR2RMJFRGK5KQ4IS5NSPVRLA.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/NNOUXLIBE5ARHGXUBOI3Z54JNI.jpeg)
:quality(70)/d1hfln2sfez66z.cloudfront.net/11-30-2019/t_3c54e64117b241468154187ee196e4dc_name_F478DFBD10EE44EA965A9E4ADD35F496)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/K3P2ADYQUZAOHGBHXM3FE2E36Q.jpeg)