Phoenix prepping for Democratic convention committee visit

PHOENIX — Democratic Party leaders will be coming to Phoenix in September to see if the capital of Arizona is capable of hosting the 2016 national convention.

Six cities are in the running, including Birmingham, Ala., and Cleveland. The Valley has hosted the Super Bowl, college football title games and many other major events. Phoenix’s site visit is scheduled Sept. 10-111.

Todd Sanders, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, said the city is ready to host the convention.

“There’s a lot of confidence that we will be able to host and provide the hotel room space needed,” he said.

Sanders isn’t worried the Valley heat will used against it by the other bidders. The Republicans went to Tampa, Fla., for their convention in 2012 and ran into a hurricane.

“We are a dry heat. We live here and we understand what it’s like in the summer. We need to make sure they (Democratic leaders) know that it’s easy to cool off.”