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                     Republicans Descend on Tampa, Florida

   by Suzanne Presto

   The thousands of Republican Party members descending on the city of
   Tampa are joined by an unwanted visitor - a tropical storm that
   threatens to reach hurricane strength.
   This week, Republicans will nominate a former state governor, Mitt
   Romney, as their candidate for U.S. president at the Republican
   National Convention. The party chose to hold its convention in Florida,
   a hurricane-prone southeastern state that most analysts say Romney must
   win if he is to defeat President Barack Obama in November.
   Barbara Denti Pool is decorating the historic Italian Club of Tampa
   with red elephants, the color and symbol of the Republican Party.
   "We're thrilled, absolutely thrilled, to have everyone here," she said.
   Denti Pool says Republican candidate Mitt Romney is the best choice to
   help the economy rebound.
   "We all want a good, honest life, and we want to prosper like we saw
   our immigrant parents and grandparents [do]. They built this town," she
   said.
   "This town" is Tampa, Florida, known for its water views, sultry
   climate and, for these few weeks, elephants aplenty.
   "For somebody who is really into politics, we've got the elephant,"
   said Jon Brovold, who sells assorted Republican-themed souvenirs near
   the site of the Republican National Convention.
   "We've got Mitt Romney here, the puppet, and this has been very
   popular," he said.
   But former Massachusetts governor Romney isn't popular with everyone.
   Rallies against the Republican candidate are planned here.
   Florida is known as a "swing state" because neither political party can
   count on winning over its voters in the American state-by-state
   winner-take-all system. In 2008, Florida's electoral bounty went to
   Democratic President Barack Obama. In 2004, it went to Republican
   George W. Bush.
   It's also impossible to rely on the weather in the so-called Sunshine
   State. Tropical Storm Isaac approached Florida, forcing airlines to
   cancel flights and the Republican Party to delay the start of the
   convention.
   Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency Saturday.
   "I've made the decision based on the fact that we know we are going to
   have a very strong tropical storm and possibly a hurricane - I'm going
   to withdraw from all our RNC [Republican National Committee] activities
   on Monday," he said.
   In Tampa's Latin Quarter, Ybor City, Cuban heritage is served up with
   fried plantains and Cuban sandwiches at Gaspar's Grotto. Nearly a
   quarter of Florida's residents are of Hispanic origin, and the
   Republicans need their votes. Romney campaigned in Miami, Florida,
   earlier this month with his son, Craig.
   Long before Romney secured the Republican nomination and chose Paul
   Ryan to be his vice presidential running mate, the Republican party
   picked Tampa to be the site of its convention.
   "Initially, I thought it was a smart move. It's an obvious swing state.
   It's a way to appeal to Latino voters," said Professor Jennifer
   Lawless, who teaches politics at American University in Washington
   D.C.  "But now I think they also have a lot of making up to do because
   they need to demonstrate to the Florida voters that a Romney/Ryan
   administration would not ultimately throw seniors off a cliff."
   Ryan wants to make controversial changes to Medicare, the government
   healthcare plan for elderly Americans, which is sure to be a big issue
   in a state whose warm climate makes it a favorite place for retirees.
   The convention, held at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, runs until August
   30.
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   1496130.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/republicans-convention-tampa-florida/1496130.html