Tampa, Fla., Loses Bid for Republican Convention to New York.

Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News, January, 2003

By Sean Mussenden, The Orlando Sentinel, Fla. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Jan. 7--TAMPA, Fla. -- In the end, Gov. Jeb Bush's family ties just weren't strong enough.

Tampa Bay lost its underdog bid for the 2004 Republican National Convention to mighty New York City on Monday -- a city that defined George W. Bush's presidency and will now host his nomination for a second term.

Gov. Bush, who had been personally lobbying the White House to bring the lucrative convention to Florida, said Monday that he was "surprised" by the selection of New York, where Democrats outnumber Republicans 5-to-1.

"Putting on my Republican hat here, I'm a loyal soldier in the George W. Bush army. If he wants to go to New York, we'll go to New...