By Bud Kennedy
bud@star-telegram.com
Some day, Texas will host a political convention again.
But will the circus stop in Dallas, Fort Worth or Arlington?
Arlington officials declined an invitation to bid for this year's Democratic National Convention and its $200 million jackpot for North Carolina.
Cowboys Stadium would be a great stage for an acceptance speech.
But a city spokeswoman downplayed the idea Thursday, even as a Cowboys spokesman said the team is "very interested."
Dallas or Fort Worth would have to host some convention sessions, both said, because the stadium can't be closed for the whole month of August for construction and security sweeps.
But Cowboys spokesman Brett Daniels said: "We've sat around all week saying, 'Weren't we going to have a political convention?' It's definitely something we'd like to see."
Arlington officials have said they didn't bid for the Democratic convention because they couldn't draw money from the state trust fund that invested $31 million in the 2011 North Texas Super Bowl.
Republican state Sen. Chris Harris and Rep. Diane Patrick of Arlington took care of that little glitch last year, amending the law to include national conventions as an event eligible for state incentives.
"We worked together on that for Arlington," Patrick said.
"The opportunity is definitely there."
But Arlington spokeswoman Rebecca Rodriguez said convention talk stalled because the late summer date conflicted with Cowboys games and other events.
Even if the convention met in Dallas or Fort Worth and came to Arlington for one night, the "timeframe for security" ruled out the stadium, she said.
State Rep. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, who is running to succeed the retiring Harris, said he'd like to see a bid.
"It's a big economic benefit for the state, and the money's more than paid back in increased revenue and sales tax.
"I'm all for having it at Cowboys Stadium."
State Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, is running for Congress in Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington.
"With all the hotels here and a stadium with a roof, it makes sense," he said.
"Just think of [San Antonio Mayor] Julián Castro right here in his own back yard -- and Bill Clinton with Jerry Jones, both from Arkansas."
Just think of the $200 million.
Bud Kennedy's column appears Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 817-390-7538Twitter: @budkennedy
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