The Republican National Committee's Site Selection Committee is recommending the party hold its presidential nominating convention in Tampa-St.Petersburg in 2012, the RNC announced this afternoon.

Tampa beat out Phoenix and Salt Lake City for the event. Minneapolis-St. Paul hosted the 2008 event.

"We are honored and privileged to accept the bid from Tampa, Florida to host the Republican National Convention in 2012. ...The Tampa area boasts state-of-the-art facilities, exciting and vibrant downtowns, and a clear enthusiasm from the community to host our convention. We look forward to joining our compatriots in the Sunshine State for our convention in 2012," RNC Chairman Michael Steele said in a released statement.

Mike Allen first reported the news this morning.

Florida is an important swing state in every election, and Republicans hope holding their convention there could provide somewhat of a boost to their nominee. However, Republicans have not carried their convention's host state since 1992, when George H.W. Bush won Texas.

Democrats, who were in Denver in 2008, have won every convention-hosting state since Michael Dukakis lost Georgia in 1988.