2012 Presidential Campaign Blog

Republican Party Of Florida Celebrates Tampa's Official Designation As The Site Of The 2012 Republican National Convention

Republican Party Of Florida Celebrates Tampa's Official Designation As The Site Of The 2012 Republican National Convention

RPOF Chairman John Thrasher, RNC Secretary and Florida National Committeewoman Sharon Day, Florida National Committeeman Paul Senft, and RPOF Vice Chairman and Hillsborough County Republican Executive Committee Chairman Debbie Cox-Roush on hand for historic vote.
Kansas City–Republican Party of Florida officials today marked the official designation of Tampa Bay as the site of the 2012 Republican National Convention during the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) Summer Meeting.

“I was honored to join National Committeewoman Day and National Committeeman Senft to cast my vote in favor of bringing the 2012 Republican National Convention to Tampa Bay,” said RPOF Chairman John Thrasher. “It’s a great day for Florida, and I couldn’t be more proud of the hard work our Vice Chairman Debbie-Cox Roush, Al Austin and his team, the Republican grassroots community of Tampa Bay and so many others put into making this day possible.”

The RNC Site Selection Committee presented its recommendation to hold the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa Bay in May during the RNC’s State Chairman’s Meeting in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Today, the full RNC voted to confirm that recommendation. Florida’s National Committeewoman Sharon Day, who serves as the Secretary of the RNC, represents Florida on the Site Selection Committee.

Earlier this year, the Site Selection Committee visited each of the three final cities prior to making a recommendation. The Hillsborough County Republican Party (HCRP) organized thousands of Republican volunteers to welcome the Site Selection Committee to Tampa Bay for a two-day site visit packed with a detailed tour of the city, multiple options for event space, and a grassroots event at Channelside Bay Plaza.

Vice Chairman Cox-Roush, who serves as Chairman of the HCRP, led a team of grassroots volunteers who participated in the site selection visit and has worked tirelessly both at the local level and across the state to increase awareness and energy surrounding Tampa’s bid for the convention.

Florida has previously hosted two Republican National Conventions. The convention was held in Miami in both 1968 and 1972.

California Republican Party Statement Concerning Adoption Of New Rules Governing The 2012 Presidential Primaries

California Republican Party Statement Concerning Adoption Of New Rules Governing The 2012 Presidential Primaries

KANSAS CITY, MO – California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring today issued the following statement from the Republican National Committee meeting in Kansas City concerning the adoption of new rules concerning the 2012 Republican presidential primaries:

"Today the Republican National Committee took historic action to stop and reverse the trend to a national primary day.  A national primary day, the result of more than 30 states - including California - moving their 2012 presidential primary to early February, would produce a nationalized primary contest that is television-centric, bypasses grassroots campaigning, and denies voters the proper vetting offered by a longer process.

"I'm pleased that California's National Committeeman Shawn Steel and National Committeewoman Linda Ackerman joined me in supporting this historic reform.

"Under the rule just adopted, the California legislature will need to move the 2012 California presidential primary from the first Tuesday in February to no sooner than the first Tuesday in March.  Because the California Republican Party and the California Democratic Party both allocate their national delegates by proportional representation, California will not need to move its primary to April or later, which would be the case if either party awarded delegates by winner-take-all."

2012 Tampa Republican National Convention Committee Website Launched

New RNC Rules Keep Iowa First, Exemption Slates Iowa Caucuses February 2012

New RNC Rules Keep Iowa First
Exemption slates Iowa caucuses February 2012

KANSAS CITY – Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn announced that the Republican National Committee (RNC) today adopted new rules that recognize and protect Iowa's First-in-the-Nation presidential caucus. The vote came during the RNC’s summer meeting in Kansas City.

Under the rules adopted today, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada may hold their delegate preference events in February 2012. Any remaining state that holds their primary or caucus in March must allocate their delegates proportionally. The new rules offer an incentive for states to wait until April, so they can award delegates in a winner-take-all system.

Strawn said, “The new rules recognize Iowa’s unique and traditional ‘First-in-the-Nation’ status in the presidential selection process. Presidential candidates have long asked for some stability in the nominating process, and the rule enacted today provides that stability. Also, this allows Iowa to hold its caucuses in February, instead of right after the holidays. That makes it easier for candidates, their volunteers, and voters.”

Strawn noted the new rule is designed to avoid the push for a so-called national primary day and encouraging candidates to travel to more states during the presidential primary process.

The Democratic National Committee is working on a similar plan, to be finalized at their meeting later this month.

Strawn and Iowa's other two members of the RNC, Kim Lehman and Steve Scheffler, also thanked former Iowa GOP Chairman Brian Kennedy, who was a member of the temporary RNC committee charged with drafting the recently adopted rules.

Pawlenty, Weighing Presidential Run, Campaigns in Iowa - NYTimes.com

 

“The scene had all the makings of an American Gothic painting from Iowa’s own Grant Wood. A red and white barn served as the backdrop. A cornfield was in the distance. And a politician spoke of making the country great again.” Jeff Zeleny,New York times

Pawlenty, Weighing Presidential Run, Campaigns in Iowa - NYTimes.com

10 Questions for Gov. Tim Pawlenty - The Caucus Blog - NYTimes.com

 

“Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota concluded a three-day visit to Iowa on Monday, his latest trip to the state that traditionally opens the presidential nominating contest. The Republican was campaigning for local party candidates, but said he planned to decide by early next year whether to run for president in 2012.” by Jeff Zeleny, The Caucus, New York Times

10 Questions for Gov. Tim Pawlenty - The Caucus Blog - NYTimes.com

Analyzing Pawlenty’s visit : O.KayHenderson.com

Analyzing Pawlenty’s visit : O.KayHenderson.com

“Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has been in Iowa for over 30 hours by now, helping Iowa Republicans raise money.  The strategic decisions illustrated by the trip, thus far, are interesting for a potential presidential candidate.  (Pawlenty, of course, did not say he’s running for president.  That’s a decision he’ll make “early next year.”) O. Kay Henderson, Radio Iowa

Pawlenty gets a few moos during trek through Iowa in possible 2012 presidential preview | StarTribune.com

 

Pawlenty gets a few moos during trek through Iowa in possible 2012 presidential preview | StarTribune.com

“Even though he hasn't declared a run for president — a decision he says won't come until 2011 — Pawlenty has been honing his delivery and attempting to connect with opinion leaders in Iowa. The three-day foray that began Saturday was something of a dress rehearsal for next year's run-up to the 2012 caucus, the first step in the nominating process.” By Brian Bakst , Associated Press

List of potential 2012 candidates who’ve visited Iowa : O.KayHenderson.com

O. Kay Henderson compiled a list of Republicans who’ve visited Iowa since November 4, 2008 (Election Day) and are/have been considered potential presidential candidates in 2012.

List of potential 2012 candidates who’ve visited Iowa : O.KayHenderson.com

Gingrich expects Palin to run in 2012 - The Hill's Blog Briefing Room

Gingrich expects Palin to run in 2012 - The Hill's Blog Briefing Room

“The field Gingrich listed included: former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Palin, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Sen. John Thune (S.D.), and Rep. Ron Paul (Texas).” Michael O'Brien, The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room