Party officials stress picking a convention spot is a business decision. It’s about hotels, restaurants and stadiums.
Shelley Kofler with public radio station KERA in Dallas says a major reason Cleveland won was timing. She says Dallas’ stadium would likely be tied up by the city’s basketball and hockey teams in June, when Republicans wanted to host the convention. Not so for Cleveland.
Kofler suggests there are other reasons are at play. Former President George W. Bush lives in Dallas. Plus, the Texas State Republican Party recently added to its platform support for so-called gay "reparative therapy," meant to change gay peoples’ sexual orientation.