2012 Republican National Convention

Chris Morris / Las Vegas Sun

Sure, Vegas could host a political convention, but do we want to?

Sep 14, 2012 (2 a.m.)

As throngs of convention-goers in Florida and North Carolina contended with hurricane warnings, snarled bus transportation and thick air, many found themselves wishing for the same thing: a dry heat. “I was thinking this morning it’s too bad we’re not in Las Vegas,” Obama’s top adviser, Robert Gibbs, said as he made a beeline from the outdoor security gate toward the air conditioning beckoning from Charlotte, N.C.’s Time Warner Cable Arena last week. “It might be 10,000 degrees, but at least it would be dry.”

Delegates don’t run the convention show

September 9, 2012

By Anjeanette Damon

Nevada’s delegates to both the Republican and Democratic national conventions had some hope they could influence the proceedings.
Political parties start building their farm teams

September 9, 2012

By Karoun Demirjian

Political conventions are primarily a vehicle to galvanize the party faithful to get out the vote for their current candidate. But they are also an opportunity to start searching for the party’s future leaders. Eight years ago, the country inadvertently witnessed the birth of a president when Barack Obama spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Boston. Now, Democrats are holding open auditions for his heir apparent.
Democrats go after Mitt Romney for failing to mention veterans in acceptance speech

September 9, 2012

By Karoun Demirjian

Foreign policy wasn’t supposed to matter in this election. But then Mitt Romney neglected to talk about the military or veterans in his acceptance speech. That has opened a new front for Democrats to play offense and reclaim strength on an issue Republicans have considered part of their political fiefdom for decades.
Ron Paul says Romney’s convention speech leaves him ‘skeptical’

September 2, 2012

By Kevin Cirilli, Politico

Rep. Ron Paul said GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s convention speech left him “very skeptical” that the country’s economic policies will change.
Romney ends event with bid to boost likability, appeal to independents

August 31, 2012

By Anjeanette Damon

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney faced a high bar as he officially accepted his party’s nomination Thursday. In a half hour speech, he had to appeal to the varying factions that competed in the Republican primary fight, hopefully finding a string with which to unify them.
Romney makes his case: ‘Need jobs, lots of jobs’

August 30, 2012

Kasie Hunt and Steve Peoples, Associated Press

Mitt Romney launched his fall campaign for the White House Thursday night with a rousing, remarkably personal speech to the Republican National convention and a prime-time TV audience, proclaiming that America needs "jobs, lots of jobs."
Nevada Republicans laud Ryan as perfect complement to Romney

August 30, 2012

By Anjeanette Damon

On their convention's second night, Republicans turned to a man who has spent almost his entire career in Washington to be the one to dismantle the policies of President Obama’s administration.
Delegation’s RNC vote further erodes Nevada party’s reputation

August 30, 2012

By Karoun Demirjian

The Nevada delegation’s demonstration for Ron Paul during the Republican National Committee roll call vote Tuesday was its way of demanding respect from the GOP.
Great divide: Hey, you jerk — can’t we have a civil discourse?

August 29, 2012

Associated Press

Addressing the Republican National Convention, Gov. Chris Christie bemoaned the lack of civility in American politics. "We are demanding that our leaders stop tearing each other down, and work together to take action on the big things facing America," Christie said. Then he proceeded to tear Barack Obama down.
My bathroom conversation with Sharron Angle

August 29, 2012

By Karoun Demirjian

Running around after these Republican National Convention delegates can get to be so time-consuming that you can barely find a second to visit the little girls’ room.
Rand Paul wows some, disappoints others in his father’s ‘liberty movement’

August 29, 2012

By Anjeanette Damon

For some Ron Paul Republicans, the Texas congressman’s son Rand Paul is the most promising candidate to carry on his “message of liberty.” For others he's a typical politician.
Nevada Paul supporters try to regroup after defeat

August 29, 2012

By Anjeanette Damon

One day after a gut-wrenching slap down at the Republican National Convention, Ron Paul’s supporters spent Wednesday trying to regroup. The overriding question for all of them: What now?
The subtle message behind Sandoval’s speech

August 29, 2012

By Karoun Demirjian

When Brian Sandoval spoke to the Republican National Convention, he used his personal American story to make a pitch for the country to vote for Mitt Romney.
Ron Paul supporters jettison the rules in final stand

August 29, 2012

By Anjeanette Damon

As Ron Paul’s supporters doggedly pursued every last, pie-in-the-sky option for putting their candidate up for nomination at the Republican National Convention, they repeated one mantra: We’re here to follow the rules. But they ended up breaking them.