Mayor Potter nixed that idea quick. From kgw.com:

The mayor's spokesman John Doussard said the Portland Oregon Visitors Association believes the city would not be eligible because the Oregon Convention Center -- despite its recent expansion -- does not meet the GOP's minimum requirements.

"No, we're probably not going to move forward on this," he said. "Our convention facility, and in many ways our city is too small for what they want."

The RNC is requiring at least 22,000 hotel rooms and suites, and a convention facility capable of seating 20,500 people with convention floor space big enough for 5,500 delegates and alternates, according to a news release on the Republican National Committee's Web site. RNC spokesman Aaron McLear said the requirements are "pretty strict."

"Portland is looking at this and seeing if they meet the requirement," he said.

Brian McCartin, POVA's executive vice president of sales and marketing, said in order to come up with the 1 million square feet of space needed they'd have to use the Rose Garden and convention center. Like the mayor's office, he's skeptical if the city can make it work.

"It would be the largest convention we've ever had in Portland," he said. "I know we've clearly we've done a lot to establish ourselves as a meeting destination. We're not an Orlando or Chicago, but we're a good second tier city."

But what about the DNC? Is there still time to get in on that?

(hatip: b!x)