2012 presidential election | |
Convention | |
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Date(s) | August 27–30, 2012 |
City | Tampa, Florida |
Venue | Tampa Bay Times Forum |
Keynote speaker | Chris Christie [1] |
Notable speakers | Rick Santorum Ann Romney Rand Paul John McCain Condoleezza Rice Susana Martinez Tim Pawlenty Rob Portman Jeb Bush Clint Eastwood Marco Rubio John Kasich Ted Cruz Mike Huckabee Newt Gingrich Scott Walker Mitch McConnell Nikki Haley John Boehner Artur Davis |
Candidates | |
Presidential nominee | Mitt Romney of Massachusetts |
Vice-presidential nominee | Paul Ryan of Wisconsin |
Voting | |
Total delegates | 2,286 [2] |
Votes needed for nomination | 1,144 (Absolute Majority) |
Results (president) | Romney (MA): 2,061 (90.16%) Paul (TX): 190 (8.31%) Santorum (PA): 9 (0.39%) |
Results (vice president) | Ryan (WI): 100% (Acclamation) |
Ballots | 1 |
2012 U.S. presidential election | |
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Democratic Party | |
Republican Party | |
Minor parties | |
Related races | |
| |
The 2012 Republican National Convention was a gathering held by the U.S. Republican Party during which delegates officially nominated former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin for president and vice president, respectively, for the 2012 election. Prominent members of the party delivered speeches and discussed the convention theme, "A Better Future." [3] The convention was held during the week of August 27, 2012, in Tampa, Florida [4] at the Tampa Bay Times Forum (now Amalie Arena). The city, which expected demonstrations and possible vandalism, used a federal grant to bolster its police force in preparation. Due to the approach of Hurricane Isaac, convention officials changed the convention schedule on August 26, 2012; the convention came to order on August 27, 2012, and then immediately recessed until the following afternoon because of the risk of Isaac hitting Tampa. [5]
On August 14, 2009, the Republican National Committee named an eight-member Site Selection Committee to start the process of selecting a host city for the 2012 convention. [6] News reports in early 2010 indicated that Tampa, as well as Salt Lake City, Utah and Phoenix, Arizona, had been selected as finalist candidates for the convention site. [4] [7] [8] The decision was announced on May 12, 2010, when Tampa was selected as the host city. [9]
The 2012 Tampa Bay Host Committee, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, was the official and federally designated presidential convention host committee for the convention, charged with the task of raising the necessary funds to hold the convention. [10] The Host Committee was composed of 10 prominent Florida business executives, civic leaders, and other community leaders. Al Austin was chairman and Ken Jones served as the president and chief executive officer. [11] [12] The Host Committee achieved its fundraising goal as of August 27, 2012, having raised more than $55,000,000 to host the 2012 Republican National Convention.
The convention theme was "A Better Future". [13] Each day also had its own theme: Monday's was "We Can Do Better"; Tuesday's was "We Built It"; Wednesday's was "We Can Change It"; and Thursday's was "We Believe in America." In addition to these daily themes, the Republican National Committee announced that it would present a series of policy workshops to be hosted by former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich called "Newt University". [14] A primary objective of the convention, described both as Romney's "biggest election hurdle" and as Romney's "most urgent task" of concern by top Republicans, was to counter efforts to portray him as an out-of-touch elitist and to rehabilitate the image of his business career. [15] The convention lasted from August 27–30, 2012. According to the convention website, it hosted 2,286 delegates, 2,125 alternates and 15,000 credentialed members of the media. The convention CEO was William D. Harris. [16] Several notable Republican figures chose not to attend the convention, including former presidents George W. Bush and George H. W. Bush, and former vice-president Dick Cheney. However, a video tribute to George W. Bush, who had stayed out of the political arena since leaving office three years earlier, was shown at the convention on Wednesday night, in which Bush's family members praised him. In the tribute, Bush's father, George H.W. Bush, said of George W. Bush: "There was never a taint of scandal around his presidency. And I think we forget the importance of that." [17]
The convention was designated as a National Special Security Event, which meant that ultimate authority over law enforcement went to the Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security. [18] The federal government provided $50 million for Convention security. [19] Much of the money went to deputizing additional police. Other expenses included expanded surveillance technology and an armored SWAT vehicle. [20] [21] Tampa Bay disclosed specifically that it had spent $1.18 M on video linkages between ground police and helicopters. [22] [23] [24] The city paid $16,500 to the Florida State Fairgrounds Authority in exchange for police use of local fairgrounds as a command center. [25]
Dani Doane of The Heritage Foundation described the police presence as "unnerving" and "like a police state". [26] [27] Others reported a quiet week with small protests and few arrests. [28] [29] Police handed out bottles of water during the event [30] and at one point served protestors a box lunch. [31]
A committee, chaired by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, met in Tampa to draft a party platform. On August 21, 2012, the committee released a 60-page document for approval at the convention. The platform was enthusiastically approved at the convention on August 28. [32] Policies include: [33]
According to Fox News [42] and Associated Press delegate projections, [43] Mitt Romney, former Governor of Massachusetts, clinched the Republican presidential nomination in the Texas primary on May 29, 2012, and became the party's presumptive nominee. [44] Two weeks before the convention, on August 11, Romney announced Paul Ryan as his running mate. [45] The decision made Ryan the first major party vice presidential candidate from Wisconsin. [46]
Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich formally released their delegates in the week before the convention and encouraged them to vote for Romney. Ron Paul retained his delegates, as part of an overall strategy to influence the party. The final composition of several delegations was subject to ruling of the Committee on Contests.
The traditional roll call of the states, which permits delegates to promote their home states, took place on Tuesday, August 28, 2012, the first full day of the convention.
Candidates | Mitt Romney | Ron Paul | Rick Santorum | Jon Huntsman | Michele Bachmann | Buddy Roemer | Abstain |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
States / Territories | 53 | 3 | |||||
Alabama (50 Delegates) | 50 | ||||||
Alaska (27 Delegates) | 18 | 9 | |||||
American Samoa (9 Delegates) | 9 | ||||||
Arizona (29 Delegates) | 26 | 3 | |||||
Arkansas (36 Delegates) | 36 | ||||||
California (172 Delegates) | 172 | ||||||
Colorado (36 Delegates) | 28 | 8 | |||||
Connecticut (28 Delegates) | 28 | ||||||
Delaware (17 Delegates) | 17 | ||||||
Washington, D.C. (19 Delegates) | 19 | ||||||
Florida (50 Delegates) | 50 | ||||||
Georgia (76 Delegates) | 72 | 3 | 1 | ||||
Guam (9 Delegates) | 9 | ||||||
Hawaii (20 Delegates) | 17 | 3 | |||||
Idaho (32 Delegates) | 32 | ||||||
Illinois (69 Delegates) | 69 | ||||||
Indiana (46 Delegates) | 46 | ||||||
Iowa (28 Delegates) | 6 | 22 | |||||
Kansas (40 Delegates) | 39 | 1 | |||||
Kentucky (45 Delegates) | 45 | ||||||
Louisiana (46 Delegates) | 32 | 12 | 2 | ||||
Maine (24 Delegates) | 14 | 10 | |||||
Maryland (37 Delegates) | 37 | ||||||
Massachusetts (41 Delegates) | 41 | ||||||
Michigan (30 Delegates) | 24 | 4 | 2 | ||||
Minnesota (40 Delegates) | 6 | 33 | 1 | ||||
Mississippi (40 Delegates) | 40 | ||||||
Missouri (52 Delegates) | 45 | 4 | 3 | ||||
Montana (26 Delegates) | 26 | ||||||
Nebraska (35 Delegates) | 33 | 2 | |||||
Nevada (28 Delegates) | 5 | 17 | 6 | ||||
New Hampshire (12 Delegates) | 9 | 3 | |||||
New Jersey (50 Delegates) | 50 | ||||||
New Mexico (23 Delegates) | 23 | ||||||
New York (95 Delegates) | 95 | ||||||
North Carolina (55 Delegates) | 48 | 7 | |||||
North Dakota (28 Delegates) | 23 | 5 | |||||
Northern Marianas (9 Delegates) | 9 | ||||||
Ohio (66 Delegates) | 66 | ||||||
Oklahoma (43 Delegates) | 34 | 6 | 3 | ||||
Oregon (28 Delegates) | 23 | 4 | 1 | ||||
Pennsylvania (72 Delegates) | 67 | 5 | |||||
Puerto Rico (23 Delegates) | 23 | ||||||
Rhode Island (19 Delegates) | 15 | 4 | |||||
South Carolina (25 Delegates) | 24 | 1 | |||||
South Dakota (28 Delegates) | 28 | ||||||
Tennessee (58 Delegates) | 58 | ||||||
Texas (155 Delegates) | 130 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Utah (40 Delegates) | 40 | ||||||
Vermont (17 Delegates) | 13 | 4 | |||||
Virgin Islands (9 Delegates) | 8 | 1 | |||||
Virginia (49 Delegates) | 46 | 3 | |||||
Virgin Islands (9 Delegates) | 8 | 1 | |||||
Washington (43 Delegates) | 38 | 5 | |||||
West Virginia (31 Delegates) | 31 | ||||||
Wisconsin (42 Delegates) | 41 | 1 | |||||
Wyoming (29 Delegates) | 28 | 1 | |||||
Total Votes: 2,286 | 2061 | 190 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 23 |
Paul Ryan was nominated for vice president by voice vote.
The original plan called for speeches on Monday, but due to Tropical Storm Isaac most of the Monday program was cancelled and all the main speakers were rescheduled to speak later at the convention. [47] [48]
Ron Paul was offered a speech slot, under the conditions that the Romney campaign could pre-review his remarks and that he would fully endorse Romney. [49] Paul declined the offer, saying that he remained an "undecided voter". [50] Paul explained that "It wouldn't be my speech. That would undo everything I've done in the last 30 years. I don't fully endorse him for president." [49] Instead, a tribute video to Paul was shown at the convention. [51]
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers served as the official convention host, speaking at the start of each night of the convention to provide the theme of the speeches for each evening. [52]
The most coveted speaking slot that was intended to close the Monday night program of the convention was scheduled to go to Ann Romney, Mitt Romney's wife. But since the major television networks had opted out on Monday's primetime coverage (prior to Monday's cancellation of activities), her speech was moved to Tuesday, August 28 after 10:00 pm EDT, when broadcast networks began coverage, with an introduction by Lucé Vela Fortuño, the First Lady of Puerto Rico. [53] Ann Romney's task in her speech was described by Lois Romano of Politico as "to try to accomplish what the sharpest minds in Republican politics have failed to do: present her stiff and awkward husband as a likable guy." [54]
Other August 28 speakers included Governors John Kasich (Ohio), Nikki Haley (South Carolina), Bob McDonnell (Virginia), and Mary Fallin (Oklahoma). [55]
Due to Tropical Storm Isaac, the scheduled activities on Monday were postponed or canceled; RNC Chairman Reince Priebus called the convention to order at 2:00 pm on Monday and started a debt clock in the arena, before putting the convention into recess at 2:10 pm. [56]
On Tuesday afternoon, the bulk of the Maine delegates walked out of the convention in protest of the decision to replace 10 Ron Paul delegates with 10 Romney delegates. [57] This action by the RNC came in response[ failed verification ] to a takeover of Maine's Republican State Convention by Paul supporters which resulted in Paul's percentage of delegates being doubled over the percentage of delegates to which he would have been entitled by the caucus vote count[ failed verification ]; the additional ten delegates came at the expense of Romney. [58]
Originally scheduled to speak at the closing of Monday night's program, Ann Romney spoke in front of the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, August 28, 2012. Romney started off by stating that her speech was not about politics or party, but about love. She spoke about her husband, Mitt Romney, in an attempt to present her husband as likeable and relatable, responding in part to his opponents' depiction of him as an out-of-touch elitist. [59]
The single dad who's working extra hours tonight so that his kids can buy some new clothes to go back to school, can take a school trip, or play a school sport, so his kids can feel, you know, just like other kids. [59]
-Ann Romney's 2012 RNC convention speech
The speakers for the day were:
Wednesday saw a speech from vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan. [60] The accuracy of some of Ryan's statements was widely challenged by the media, fact-checkers, and political opponents. [61] [62] The Associated Press criticized Ryan for taking "factual shortcuts", [63] and the speech was criticized in other outlets for being "misleading" [64] [65] and "dishonest". [66] [67] The most widely challenged portion of Ryan's speech occurred when Ryan criticized Obama for supposedly claiming, at a 2008 campaign appearance at a GM plant in Janesville, Wisconsin (which was slated for closure), that he (Obama) would keep that plant open if he became president. [68] GM began a phased plant closing for the Janesville facility during the 2008 presidential campaign, laying off nearly all of its 1,200 workers on December 23, 2008. 57 workers remained employed at the plant during final assembly and another 40 to 50 in the decommissioning of the plant. [69] [70] On September 19, 2011, GM reported that the Janesville plant was on standby status, as part of a contract between itself and the UAW. [71]
The speakers for the day were:
External videos | |
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Eastwood Speech at RNC |
Actor and director Clint Eastwood made a planned surprise appearance at the convention, speaking at the top of the final hour. He spent much of his speech time on a largely improvised routine addressing an empty chair representing President Obama. In at least two instances, Eastwood implied the President had uttered profanities directed both at Romney and Eastwood. [72] Eastwood's remarks were well-received within the convention hall, but responses were mixed in the media. [73] Film critic Roger Ebert commented "Clint, my hero, is coming across as sad and pathetic. He didn't need to do this to himself. It's unworthy of him". [74] Comedian Bob Newhart, who had popularized empty-chair interviews in the 1960s, tweeted in his deadpan humor style, "I heard that Clint Eastwood was channeling me at the RNC. My lawyers and I are drafting our lawsuit". [75]
External videos | |
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Romney acceptance speech at the 2012 Republican National Convention. (Transcript) |
Thursday night concluded with Romney's acceptance speech. He announced that if elected, a Romney administration energy policy would take "full advantage of our oil and coal and gas and nuclear and renewables". [76] Romney also joked about the Obama administration's policies on climate change, saying "President Obama promised to begin to slow the rise of the oceans and heal the planet", a line which elicited laughter from the convention audience. [77] By way of contrast, Romney continued "MY promise...is to help you and your family."
Thursday's speakers included:
Besides Rabbi Soloveichik, another five religious leaders were scheduled to provide blessings or invocations, including the Rev. Sammy Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference; Ishwar Singh of the Sikh Society of Central Florida; Archbishop Demetrios, primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; Ken and Priscilla Hutchins of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (to open [79] ); and Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York Timothy Dolan. [80] Dolan gave the closing prayer.
In October 2011, Tampa city officials began planning for anticipated protests, and discussions centered around small prior protests by the Occupy movement. According to former Tampa City Council member John Dingfelder, then the senior staff attorney for the mid-Florida office of the American Civil Liberties Union, the convention should expect to draw far more protestors and the city should plan on up to 10,000. Dingfelder encouraged the city to be proactive regarding where protests could occur and protestors could sleep. Tampa's Mayor Bob Buckhorn's response was "If they want a place to sleep, they can go home or to a hotel.... Just because they want to occupy something doesn't mean we are obligated to provide them with an opportunity to camp out in a public park or on a sidewalk." [81]
The city of Tampa has banned puppets from downtown during the convention, a decision which some puppet-makers say violates their civil liberties. Police claimed that puppets could be used to conceal weapons—at the 2000 RNC, police charged a group of puppet-makers in Philadelphia with conspiracy to resist arrest. [82]
On August 4, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) held a forum addressing what would be considered free speech during the Convention. [83] [84]
In early August, the city announced plans to provide delegates and protestors alike with water and portable toilets. [85]
Various groups began demonstrating on July 27 in Tampa and Tallahassee as part of a one-month countdown to the convention, calling for "good jobs, healthcare, affordable education, equality and peace." [86]
The 2008 Republican National Convention took place at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, from September 1, through September 4, 2008. The first day of the Republican Party's convention fell on Labor Day, the last day of the popular Minnesota State Fair, though because of Hurricane Gustav, this day was mostly a call for action to help victims and formal, required activities; most of the politicking and partying did not start until Tuesday, the second scheduled day.
The 2008 Louisiana Republican presidential caucuses were held on January 22 and the primary on February 9, 2008.
The following is a timeline of major events leading up to the United States presidential election of 2012. The election was the 57th quadrennial United States presidential election held on November 6, 2012.
Voters of the Republican Party elected state delegations to the 2012 Republican National Convention in presidential primaries. The national convention then selected its nominee to run for President of the United States in the 2012 presidential election. There were 2,286 delegates chosen, and a candidate needed to accumulate 1,144 delegate votes at the convention to win the nomination. The caucuses allocated delegates to the respective state delegations to the national convention, but the actual election of the delegates were, many times, at a later date. Delegates were elected in different ways that vary from state to state. They could be elected at local conventions, selected from slates submitted by the candidates, selected at committee meetings, or elected directly at the caucuses and primaries.
The 2012 United States presidential election in New Hampshire took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the 2012 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. New Hampshire voters chose four electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, against Republican challenger and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and his running mate, U.S. Representative Paul Ryan.
The 2012 Iowa Republican presidential caucuses took place on January 3, 2012.
The 2012 United States presidential election in Maine took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the 2012 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Maine voters chose four electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, against Republican challenger and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and his running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan. Obama and Biden carried Maine with 56.27% of the popular vote to Romney's and Ryan's 40.98%, thus winning the state's four electoral votes.
The 2012 United States presidential election in Minnesota took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the 2012 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. State voters chose ten electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent DFL President Barack Obama and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, against Republican challenger and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and his running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan.
The 2012 United States presidential election in Michigan took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the 2012 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Voters chose 16 electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, against Republican challenger and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and his running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan.
The 2012 United States presidential election in Louisiana took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the 2012 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Louisiana voters chose eight electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, against Republican challenger and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and his running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan.
The 2012 United States presidential election in Idaho took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the 2012 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Idaho voters chose four electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, against Republican challenger and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and his running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan. Prior to the election, 17 news organizations considered this a state Romney would win, or otherwise considered as a safe red state. Romney and Ryan carried Idaho with 64.09% of the popular vote to Obama's and Biden's 32.40%, thus winning the state's four electoral votes. Romney's victory in Idaho made it his fourth strongest state in the 2012 election after Utah, Wyoming and Oklahoma. He improved on McCain's performance in 2008, expanding his margin from 25.3% to 31.69% and flipping Teton County which had previously voted for Obama.
The 2012 United States presidential election in North Carolina took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the 2012 general election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. North Carolina voters chose 15 electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, against Republican challenger and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and his running mate, U.S. Representative Paul Ryan.
The 2012 United States presidential election in Oklahoma took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the 2012 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Voters chose seven electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, against Republican challenger and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and his running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan. For the third election in a row since 2004, no third parties were allowed on the ballot.
The 2012 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the 2012 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. The primary election to select the Democratic and Republican candidates had been held on April 24, 2012. Pennsylvania voters chose 20 electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, against Republican challenger and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and his running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan. Pennsylvania's electoral vote number was a reduction from the 2008 delegation, which had 21 electors. This change was due to reapportionment following the 2010 United States Census. Pennsylvania's 20 electoral votes are allotted on a winner-take-all basis.
The 2016 Republican National Convention, in which delegates of the United States Republican Party chose the party's nominees for president and vice president in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, was held July 18–21, 2016, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The event marked the third time Cleveland has hosted the Republican National Convention and the first since 1936. In addition to determining the party's national ticket, the convention ratified the party platform.
On Thursday, August 30, 2012, American actor and director Clint Eastwood gave a speech at the Republican National Convention. Eastwood had endorsed Mitt Romney for the 2012 United States presidential election earlier that month, and spent much of his speech's running time on a largely improvised routine in which he addressed an empty chair that represented President Barack Obama. The speech, broadcast in a prime time slot, was viewed live by around 30 million people. It generated many responses and much discussion.
The 2012 United States presidential election in Florida took place on November 6, as part of the 2012 U.S. presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Florida voters chose 29 electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, against Republican challenger and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and his running mate, U.S. Representative Paul Ryan.
Presidential primaries and caucuses of the Republican Party took place within all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories between February 1 and June 7, 2016. These elections selected the 2,472 delegates that were sent to the Republican National Convention. Businessman and reality television personality Donald Trump won the Republican nomination for president of the United States.
The 2018 United States Senate election in Utah took place on November 6, 2018, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Utah, concurrently with other elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. The primaries took place on June 26.
The 2012 Michigan Republican presidential primary took place on February 28, 2012, the same day as the Arizona Republican primary. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney won both of these elections.
"After four years of high unemployment and skyrocketing debt, we need America's 'Comeback Team' to get the country working again and protect the American Dream for our children and grandchildren," said Priebus. "During our convention, the American people will hear about the priorities, experience and knowhow of our nominees and their plans to secure a better future for our country.
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: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Preceded by 2008 Saint Paul, Minnesota | Republican National Convention | Succeeded by 2016 Cleveland, Ohio |