GOP delegates begin to arrive
By Marissa Lang and Patty Ryan, Times Staff
Writers
In Print: Sunday, August 26, 2012
TAMPA — The delegates
from Hawaii brought 400 purple orchid blossoms. The congressman from Arkansas
packed his Razorbacks necktie. The mayor of Tower City, Pa., wore a hat touting
his hometown beer.
Christine Heimburger of Humble,
Texas, lugged around a quilt, handmade for presidential hopeful Mitt Romney.
They showed up in Tampa on Saturday with the things — and
thoughts — that matter to them.
"We are 50 states," said the quiltmaker,
who also donned a Lone Star apron. "We are millions of people, coming
together with a single purpose of saving America."
With the threat of a possible hurricane looming in the Gulf
of Mexico, planeloads of Republicans touched down at Tampa International Airport.
They learned by nightfall that the storm would put their enthusiasm on hold for
a day, canceling Monday's convention sessions at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
Big deal.
"Hurricanes are kind of second nature," said Gary
Harkins, 70, of Brandon, Miss., who wore a lapel pin in the shape of his state.
"We're going to get wet, but it's not going to dampen
our fun," said Dan Daub, 46, the Pennsylvania mayor with a cowboy hat
crafted from a Yuengling beer box.
Visitors found a city that hoped to make up for puddles.
A crystal elephant reared its head at the airport's
Swarovski Crystal shop. The bookstore displayed Romney titles. Steel drums and
an accordion player made it a party.
More at http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/article1247801.ece
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