Kemp Offers Atlanta As Potential Host For GOP National Convention

ATLANTA, GA – Three days after Gov. Brian Kemp was praised by Vice President Mike Pence for his leadership in reopening the state, Kemp has offered up Atlanta as a possible host for the Republican National Convention if President Donald Trump chooses to move it from North Carolina.

In a tweet Tuesday morning, Kemp wrote that he hopes Trump will consider The Peach State and said Georgia would “be honored to safely host” the convention.

His offer came a day after Trump threatened to pull the national convention from Charlotte, North Carolina, stating that he wants a guarantee that all restrictions on all gatherings will be lifted by Aug. 24. The convention is scheduled to be held Aug. 24-27.

Georgia, which has offered a myriad big events including the Olympics and other major sporting events has only hosted one national political convention in its history. The city held the Democratic National Convention in 1988 when Democrats nominated Michael Dukakis to run against then-Vice President George H.W. Bush.

In his tweet Tuesday, Kemp said that Georgia can offer world-class facilities, restaurants, hotels and workforce.

However, in an emailed statement to Patch, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms wrote that she does not anticipate the city being open to hosting large gatherings in time for the convention.

"Like North Carolina, the City of Atlanta is following a phased, data-driven approach to reopening," the mayor said in the statement. "That plan does not contemplate hosting a large gathering event in August. In fact, several long-standing City-supported and sponsored events have already been canceled in order to comply with CDC guidelines."

Trump on Twitter demanded an immediate answer from Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper whether the Spectrum Center in Charlotte will be allowed to be fully occupied by the convention, which is scheduled to be held in late August.

“If not, we will be reluctantly forced to find, with all of the jobs and economic development it brings, another Republican National Convention site,” Trump tweeted. “This is not something I want to do. Thank you, and I LOVE the people of North Carolina!"

Cooper, the North Carolina governor, replied to Trump on Twitter stating that state health officials are working with the Republican National Committee and will review its plans to host the convention. He added that North Carolina is relying on data and science to protect its health and safety.

Kemp appears to be back in the good graces of the White House after Trump initially criticized the governor's plan for reopening Georgia. The state has been open since the end of April, but Mayor Bottoms only recently announced her five-phase plan for reopening the city. According to a news release last week, Bottoms indicated that the city could move into Phase 2 as early as this week.