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Steven John
St. Paul, Minn.

Rybak confident Mpls. has a chance at DNC convention

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Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak remains confident about his city's chances of landing the next Democratic National Convention.

Minneapolis is one of four finalists to host the 2012 presidential nominating convention. But, political observers are putting their money on St. Louis or Cleveland because they are in swing states.

Rybak acknowledges that political calculations will likely enter into the decision, but said Minneapolis can use lessons learned from the Republican National Convention in St. Paul in 2008, including the need for a large security perimeter.

"So that's why we've proposed having it in the Metrodome," Rybak said on MPR's Midday program. "Now what that allows us to do, there's a little more space around there, we can close down that area pretty well without too big of an impact on the rest of the region. Downtown St. Paul will stay alive, Bloomington will stay alive, downtown Minneapolis will be alive."

Rybak said city officials are pitching Minneapolis as the greenest convention Democrats could have, because of nearby transit options and numerous downtown hotel rooms within walking distance.

A DNC site committee is scheduled to visit the city on July 18.