The general consensus is the GOP is holding their 2016 convention in Cleveland because Ohio is a swing state. The real reason may have more to do with the presidential aspirations of two Ohio Republicans.
The Dallas Morning News unearths emails from a prominent Texas Republican who claims the reason Dallas missed out on hosting the GOP convention is Ohio Republicans Gov. John Kasich and Sen. Rob Portman who "would like to run for president."
One email, from Ray Washburne, a Dallas businessman and the national finance chairman for the Republican Party, says internal party politics sank Dallas' bid.
"Senator Portman and Governor Kasich, who both would like to run for president, put a lot of pressure on the committee,” wrote Washburne, referring to the 13-member selection panel. “At the end of the day, it was all business, which is political business.”
Other details from the nearly 200-pages of emails obtained by the news detail the $470,000 spent on their failed bid and how Dallas fought to win the convention even when it became apparent the pick was going to be Cleveland.
