Six cities seek Democratic convention

WASHINGTON – New York, Hillary Rodham Clinton’s political base, and two cities in presidential battleground Ohio are among the six locations under consideration for the 2016 Democratic National Convention, officials announced Saturday.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the Florida congresswoman who leads the Democratic National Committee, said it had received proposals from Birmingham, Alabama; Columbus, Ohio; Cleveland; New York; Philadelphia and Phoenix. Wasserman Schultz said the committee had “fantastic options” and a group of national committee officials would evaluate the cities and make site visits as the committee considers its options.

The contenders include large cities familiar with holding major conventions and potential out-of-the-box picks.

New York’s proposal would stage the convention in Brooklyn, the home of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and a liberal stronghold.

A New York convention could offer some Clinton nostalgia and a homecoming of sorts if the former first lady runs for president again. Clinton, the former secretary of state, represented New York in the Senate from 2001 until she joined President Barack Obama’s administration in 2009.

Republicans are considering four cities for their 2016 convention: Dallas, Denver, Cleveland and Kansas City, Missouri.