Former 2012 Presidential Candidate Jon Huntsman has announced that he will not be going to the GOP National Convention in August. The Former Utah Governor has attended every GOP Convention since 1984 when he was a delegate for Ronald Reagan. At the last Convention Huntsman announced the Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin.

Obama’s former ambassador to China told the Salt Lake Tribune: “I will not be attending this year’s convention, nor any Republican convention in the future, until the party focuses on a bigger, bolder, more confident future for the United States – a future based on problem solving, inclusiveness, and a willingness to address the trust deficit, which is every bit as corrosive as our fiscal and economic deficits.”

Huntsman left the presidential race in January of this year and endorsed Mitt Romney as the Republican candidate. Huntsman won three delegates during the race, two when he took third place in the New Hampshire primary and one from Texas. These three delegates would have guaranteed Huntsman a speaking part at the Convention.

Former New Hampshire GOP Chairman Fergus Cullen claims that Huntsman’s comments represent the independent nature of the former candidate.

This is not the first time Huntsman has butted heads with Republicans this year. In March of this year Huntsman was dropped from a Republican National Committee event that was being held in Palm Beach after comments he made about having a third party in America.

Huntsman stated, “I think we’re going to have problems politically until we get some sort of third party movement or some voice out there that can put forth new ideas. We might not win, but we can certainly influence the debate.” Huntsman was lined up to speak at the “Regents” event but was informed personally by the RNC Chairman Reince Preibus that he would not be allowed to attend.

Huntsman is not the only Republican who was invited and is not going to the Convention. Virginia Senate Candidate George Allen is also planning to not attend, but not for ideological reasons. Instead, the candidate claims that he wants to stay in state to talk to constituents and continue to campaign.

Similarly, many Democrats are skipping the Democratic Convention in September 2012 to try to garner more votes. Representative Steve Israel, the head of the House Campaign side of the Democratic Party, encouraged those who are running for election in 2012 to stay home because “if they want to win an election, they need to be in their district” he added “I don’t care if the president was at 122% favorability right now. I think [candidates] should be in their district.”

Missourian Senator Claire McCaskill agrees with Israel and was originally criticized for not going. McCaskill stated, “I’ve got a really hard election. If you had a really hard election and it was after Labor Day, would you go to North Carolina to a bunch of parties and glad-handing or would you stay home and work as hard as you know how to convince Missourians they should rehire you?” She also claims that she is not trying to distance herself from Obama.

Huntsman’s decision to stay home from the GOP Convention is unique in its ideological origins. Huntsman claims that the Republican party must “put our country before politics.” He also stated, “I encourage a return to the party we have been in the past from Lincoln right on through to Reagan, that was always willing to put our country before politics.”

Image Courtesy of  Gage Skidmore

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Tampa, U.S.A. – Veteran Republican spokesperson and strategist Kyle Downey has been named press secretary for the 2012 Republican National Convention.

“Kyle Downey is one of our party’s most effective and respected voices, and we couldn’t have found a better, more qualified communications professional to support the convention and our nominee, Mitt Romney,” said Committee on Arrangements Chief Executive Officer William Harris.

Downey is stepping down as communications director for the Senate Republican Conference, where he is responsible for directing overall communications strategy and developing day-to-day messaging tactics for all 47 Republican Senators.

Previously, he served as communications director for the Senate Republican Policy Committee. The Conference and the Policy Committee were each chaired by Sen. John Thune (R-SD), on whose staff Downey served as communications director since Thune’s election in 2004.

Prior to joining Sen. Thune’s staff, Downey was communications director for Rep. Rob Portman (R-OH) and press secretary to the House Budget Committee under the chairmanship of Rep. Jim Nussle (R-IA). He also served as press secretary to the House Republican Conference under the chairmanship of Rep. J.C. Watts (R-OK).

“Kyle brings savvy and broad experience to the table, and we’re honored to have him join our team,” said COA Communications Director James Davis.

A Wisconsin native, Downey began his political career in Florida as a volunteer in the 2000 Bush-Gore ballot recount, later helping organize press events in the Tampa Bay area for former Florida Governor Jeb Bush’s 2002 re-election campaign.

The 2012 Republican National Convention will be held at the Tampa Bay Times Forum August 27-30, 2012.  Nearly 50,000 visitors are expected to come to the Tampa Bay area for the event, including delegates, alternate delegates, media and other guests.  For more information about the 2012 Republican National Convention, become part of the virtual convention at www.ConventionWithoutWalls.com, visit our website www.GOPConvention2012.com and check out our official blog, Conventional Wisdom, at www.gopconvention2012.com/blog/.

Image Courtesy of  GOP Convention

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On March 28, the 2012 Republican National Convention unveiled its redesigned official website, www.GOPConvention2012.com.

The enhanced website provides a robust platform for expanded interactive and multimedia capabilities, including video and live-streaming broadcasts of convention proceedings. It fully integrates convention social media channels.

“We are planning an innovative, dynamic and informative convention,” said convention Chief Executive Officer William Harris. “One of our most vital assets in accomplishing this mission is our redesigned convention website and other digital assets such as Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.

“GOPConvention2012.com and our social media channels will provide a vibrant platform from which we communicate our nominee’s messages,” Harris said.  “Our goal is to tear down the convention walls and make the 2012 Republican National Convention open and accessible to anyone, anywhere.”

The site offers key features being deployed today and at critical junctures as convention planning continues, including the ability to login via social network platforms for a customized viewing experience and deep integration of Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and other social networks.

GOPConvention2012.com will also include live chats and historic photographs and videos of past Republican conventions. Other features will be added to the convention website in the coming weeks.

“The redesigned website will provide an interactive experience to our web visitors while helping us build a community and make history,” said Director of Communications James Davis.

The redesign effort was led by Alexandria, Va.-based Campaign Solutions, which created and maintained the 2008 and 2004 Republican Conventions’ websites and digital strategies. The company has been recognized for its work, including Pollie Awards for web design from the bi-partisan American Association of Political Consultants.

Campaign Solutions’ online strategy and website design efforts were also honored with the “Best of Show” award for the 2008 Republican National Convention website (Minneapolis-Saint Paul) and the “Best Website” award for the 2004 Republican National Convention website (New York).

Image Courtesy of   Gregory Johnston / Shutterstock.com

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