The presidential nominating conventions are the premier venue of political theater for each party, and mean big business for the city that gets to host
The Prudential Center in Newark is vying to host the presidential nominating convention for either Democrats or Republicans in 2016.NEWARK — It’s been more than 40 years since a national political convention came to New Jersey and political leaders say it’s about time the state got its due.
Mayor Cory Booker and Assemblyman Jon Bramnick (R-Union) sent a joint letter this week to both national parties urging them to consider Newark as the host of the 2016 Democratic or Republican national convention.
Officials from the two national party committees did not return calls for comment, but local observers say it will take a hard sell to convince delegates of Newark’s fitness.
Explaining the proposal today, Bramnick said, "The Prudential Center is a perfect arena for what you historically think of as a national convention"
He added the bipartisan overture was a testament to the state’s readiness to host either party. "Here’s two guys at opposite ends of the political spectrum working together for New Jersey."
The last convention in New Jersey was held in Atlantic City in 1964, where President Lyndon B. Johnson was nominated for a full term.
In 2008, the Democratic National Convention brought roughly 50,000 people to Denver, Colo., with an economic impact of $160 million, according to city estimates. That year’s Republican convention in St. Paul, Minn., brought 45,000 people with a total impact of $170 million according to that city’s statistics
Bramnick approached Booker with the idea earlier this year. The tentative proposal calls for the first three days of the convention to be held in Newark, and the acceptance speeches to be held at the MetLife Sports Complex in the Meadowlands.
"We obviously have the infrastructure to support a national convention," Booker said today, citing hotels, restaurants and a vast transportation network converging on Newark. "Over a third of the U.S. population is within three hours from Newark," he said.
The idea was first floated by State Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex) in March, but he was not included in this week’s letter.
"I’m glad to see them on the bandwagon," Codey said today. "I welcome their trumpets. It’s nice to see Republicans and Democrats playing the same tune."
Despite Booker’s close relationship with President Obama and Gov. Chris Christie’s star power with Republicans nationally, delegates from both parties will take some convincing, experts say.
"A lot of it has to do with the real and perceived assets of the city," said Rutgers history professor, Clement Price. "That is going to be an issue."
Brigid Harrison, a political science professor at Montclair State, said, "I think that people’s gut reaction to Newark, when compared with the other potential venues, may be negative," . While Booker and Christie are popular national figures, she said, "Their juice is not going to be enough to get the job done."
But events like the NCAA Men’s quarterfinals, the International Peace Summit with the Dalai Lama, the filming of "Batman," as well as Prudential’s rising status as a major U.S. arena may have burnished the city’s credentials enough to convince party leaders, Booker and others say.
The New Jersey Devils, who run the arena, say they are more than prepared for a national convention.
"It would be the NCAA on steroids," said Devils spokesman Robert Sommer. "We applaud the mayor and the assemblyman for taking this initiative."