BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FLORENCE -- A political convention in Cincinnati next summer is expected to attract the top Republican contenders for the 2000 presidential race.
And there could be some spillover into Northern Kentucky.
Bert Massey of Somerset, Ky., president of the Kentucky Federation of Young Republicans, said the national Young Republicans will hold its 1999 convention June 23-27 in Cincinnati.
"It should be an exciting event because we're expecting to see all of the top Republican candidates running for president," Mr. Massey said.
"There are already a lot of candidates running in the race, and we're two years away," Mr. Massey said. "By next summer people will really be running hard, and I'm sure most, if not all, of the major candidates will be in Cincinnati for our convention."
The convention is scheduled at downtown Cincinnati's Regal Hotel, according to the Greater Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Mr. Massey said the Kentucky Young Republicans will also plan some events in Northern Kentucky in conjunction with the Cincinnati convention.
"That means we'll probably see some of those candidates in Kentucky -- at least I hope we do," he said.
The Blue Chip Republicans, the Young Republican arm of the Hamilton County Republican Party, helped attract the convention to Cincinnati, said Gary Abernathy, spokesman for the Republican Party of Ohio. From 700 to 1,000 Young Republicans are expected to attend, Mr. Abernathy said.
The GOP presidential contenders are also expected to visit Kentucky in January 2000, when the Southern Republican Leadership Conference will be held in Louisville.
Getting a good look
The event will be one of the country's largest gatherings of Republicans before the Republican National Convention in the summer of 2000, said state party Chairman Tom Jensen. He said 1,500 party members, elected officials from throughout the South and the Republican contenders for the 2000 presidential bid are expected to attend. It "looks like we're going to get a good look on both sides of the (Ohio) river at all the Republican candidates," said 4th District Republican Party Chairman Damon Thayer of Grant County.
"Hamilton County over in Ohio and Kentucky and Northern Kentucky have been supporting Republican candidates," Mr. Thayer said. "It makes sense that they would want to come to our areas with the election coming up in 2000."
The list is long
Among the Republicans running for president or being mentioned as possible contenders are:
Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the son of former President George Bush.
U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia.
Former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander.
Newport native Gary Bauer, one of the nation's leading spokesmen on conservative issues.
Magazine publisher Steve Forbes.
U.S. Rep. John Kasich of Ohio.
Red Cross Executive Director Elizabeth Dole, wife of former Sen. Bob Dole, the party's 1996 nominee.
Former U.S. Rep. Jack Kemp, the party's vice presidential nominee in '96.
U.S. Rep. John Ashcroft of Missouri.
Former Vice President Dan Quayle.
