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Philadelphia Still Among Cities Being Considered for 2016 Democratic Convention

By Brad Segall

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- The Democratic National Committee has whittled down its list of potential cities to host the 2016 Democratic presidential convention, and Philadelphia is still on it.

Commissioner Josh Shapiro, Montgomery County's top elected leader, calls Philadelphia's presence on the list of 15 remaining candidate cities a good first step, but he says there's still a long way to go.

Shapiro has been working with city Democrats and business leaders to try to bring the convention -- and the hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue that come with it -- to the area.  He says it's a regional effort with the city serving as the hub for the event -- and the suburbs the spokes.

"My sense is that the DNC would like to go to a big city and return to a big city after the last convention in a mid-size city (Charlotte, NC)," he said today.  "And I think, given that, it puts Philadelphia in a unique position to compete."

Shapiro estimates that it will cost between $1 million and $2 million to put together an initial competitive proposal.  The proposals need to be in to the DNC by June 9th, and that organization will continue to weed out cities throughout the summer and fall.

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