The 2,066 delegates assembled at the convention nominated Texas Governor George W. Bush for president and former U.S. Secretary of Defense Richard B.

early as the party establishment's frontrunner and turned back a strong primary challenge from John McCain, a Vietnam War veteran and U.S.

At the convention, the party and campaign sought to showcase Bush's slogan of compassionate conservatism to persuade undecided voters.

(This was part of the Bush campaign's strategy to "change the tone" in national politics by moving beyond the division and bitterness of recent partisan discourse.)

The protesters felt that both political parties for the most part, ignored the needs and issues surrounding the LGBT community.