Top Republican officials toured Savannah, Georgia, on Monday as a possible site for much of the Republican National Convention.
Last week the GOP said the business side of the Republican National Convention could stay in Charlotte but that President Trump wouldn’t come to North Carolina to give his acceptance speech.
But Republicans are keeping their options open for moving much of the RNC out of Charlotte.
Convention CEO Marcia Lee Kelly toured Savannah’s convention center and historic district Monday, along with Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, according to a RNC official. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has said her city isn’t interested in hosting.
Savannah’s metro area is less than 400,000 people, compared with more than 2 million people in the Charlotte region.
The GOP says Democratic Gov. Roy’s Cooper health mandates are forcing the party to look elsewhere. Cooper has said it's "very unlikely" that he would allow the Spectrum Center to have 19,000 people with no social distancing and no face coverings.
Republicans have also said Jacksonville, Florida; Orlando, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; New Orleans, Dallas and Phoenix could host.
Charlotte officials are meeting GOP convention planners today about what the convention may look like in Charlotte.
Under Phase 2 of North Carolina's reopening, there is a limit on gatherings of 10 people inside. If that doesn't change, it would be almost impossible to have any part of the RNC in Charlotte.
