Five U.S. cities are vying for the title Miami considers its trademark: Gateway to the Americas.
Atlanta first launched an upstart but well-funded bid to win the headquarters of a proposed trade zone for the Western Hemisphere -- an honor Miami insists it deserves for having so many ties to Latin America and the Caribbean.
Then Houston decided to try for the headquarters of the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas. Chicago is also pursuing the facility. Colorado Springs, Colo., recently applied for the prize -- a wintry candidate that surprised some following the hemispheric horse race.
''Colorado Springs?!'' said Terry McCoy, head of a Latin American business program at the University of Florida in Gainesville. ``Where did they come from?''
Even Colorado Springs considers itself a long shot suitor in the contest for the proposed FTAA secretariat. But its candidacy underscores the fact that before Miami can face off with rivals in Mexico, Panama and Trinidad, it faces a growing threat on the homefront.
''The greatest impediment that Miami faces now is the lack of it being the single U.S. candidate for the secretariat,'' said Hugh Simon, a former U.S. diplomat and an early backer of Miami winning the headquarters. Added McCoy: ``I think it muddies the waters having all these other cities involved.''
Only Mexico has rival cities competing for the headquarters -- Cancún and Puebla -- joining Panama City, Panama and Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, in the contest.
Cities have two more weeks before the Nov. 20 deadline to apply for the headquarters. The date coincides with the formal FTAA talks opening in Miami that day. But the actual winner won't be picked until at least 2004, assuming the trade agreement is even reached.
OTHERS NEW TO RACE
While Atlanta and Miami have emerged as high-profile contenders for the secretariat, sending delegations across the hemisphere to lobby leaders and raising millions for the effort, the other U.S. cities have little or no presence in the campaign. As recently as last week, Houston officials said they weren't sure they could manage an FTAA bid given the city's unfolding mayoral race, while Colorado Springs says it is waiting to hear if it has a chance.
''If I get an answer back from the FTAA saying great, then I will get together with the mayor'' and formulate a campaign, said George Boutin, director of international affairs for Colorado Springs. ``We're not going to expend resources unless the FTAA is going to seriously consider us.''
Miami is counting on the White House eventually nominating a U.S. city for the secretariat, and backers doubt President Bush would let his brother's state lose out to rivals, particularly since his re-election bid in 2004 may hinge on winning Florida. But with Bush's home state of Texas in the running and Illinois also considered a key battleground in the election, the political calculus surrounding the choice has gotten a bit fuzzier.
With every nation in the hemisphere but Cuba negotiating for an end to tariffs and other trade protections, experts say global politics will probably play a bigger role in determining the home of the FTAA. Some countries are complaining about the symbolism of housing the FTAA in the region's economic giant, while others say a country like Panama offers a more central location.
VARYING MOTIVES
In Chicago, Mayor Richard Daley told his aides to pursue the headquarters in an effort to boost the city's standing in Latin America, said Paul O'Connor, director of World Business Chicago, an economic development agency.
''He says he actually would have preferred to have the Summit of the Americas ... than the Democratic National Convention'' in 1996, O'Connor said. The 1994 summit in Coral Gables featured President Clinton and heads of state from the hemisphere.
Colorado Springs says it decided to join the fray largely because it wasn't much trouble to do so. U.S. trade officials sent out a letter to U.S. cities in September asking for candidates, and Colorado Springs -- home to the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Olympic Committee and the NORAD defense complex -- thought it pointless to pass up the opportunity, Boutin said.
''I thought it would be irresponsible to say no,'' he said.
FAIR USE NOTICE: This page contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. NoNonsense English offers this material non-commercially for research and educational purposes. I believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C § 107. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner, i.e. the media service or newspaper which first published the article online and which is indicated at the top of the article unless otherwise specified.