New York Officials Confident DNC Will Be Held in the "Greatest City in the World"

The chair of the Democratic National Committee, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, was in New York City on Friday. She was scouting the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, which could hold the DNC's big event in 2016. 

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city has already put forward incredible efforts to prove it is the best location for the DNC. The city has $20 million in pledges to underwrite the event and over $6 million in the bank so far, and the mayor said he doesn't think the recent tensions between police and community will affect the DNC's decision.

"They are looking at the big picture," de Blasio said. "This is the finest police force in the country that can handle any and all events."

The other cities still in the running to host the convention are Columbus and Philadelphia. Schultz visited both earlier in the week.

Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) said he hopes Schultz's connection to New York City gives it an edge over the competing cities. The chair of the DNC was born in Forest Hills, Queens, and she went to high school on Long Island. 

"[Schultz] knows the excitement that New York City brings," Schumer said. "We know she'll be objective and fair, but I don't think it'll take much convincing in terms of showing her what a great place New York City is to hold the convention and in particular, Brooklyn."

Schumer and de Blasio are taking Schultz through Brooklyn on Friday to show off the borough.

Senator Schumer said he knows the competition is fierce between the three bidding cities, but said he believes the "greatest city in the world" will be selected.

"[You] can't go to Broadway and see a whole lot of shows if you're in Philadelphia or Columbus, Ohio. [You] can't see the Statue of Liberty and all the other great sites if you're in one of those cities."