[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.

[31] A committee, chaired by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, met in Tampa to draft a party platform.

[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.

[46] Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich formally released their delegates in the week before the convention and encouraged them to vote for Romney.

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).

[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.

[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.

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.

[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.

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".

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.

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.

[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.