GOP announces 8 cities vying to host 2016 convention

Eight cities including three from Ohio - Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus - as well as Denver, Dallas, Kansas City, Mo., Las Vegas and Phoenix will make their cases next week to play host to the 2016 Republican National Convention.

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus announced the bidding cities via Twitter on Thursday. Representatives from each will make presentations March 3 in Washington, D.C. before the full site selection committee, but the final vote won't come until late summer or early fall of this year following site visits later this spring.

In 2012 the hosting honor went to Tampa, Fla., where the impending Hurricane Isaac forced the RNC to cut out the first day of the convention.

Democrats, meanwhile, are reportedly being wined-and-dined by Columbus too. The Ohio city has a cocktail reception slated Thursday at a DNC meeting in Washington, where they hope to make an early bid for the 2016 Democratic National Convention.