Schwarzenegger, Other Top Republicans Won't Attend RNC

By: Scott Conroy
Topics: Republican National Convention

When The White House announced this morning that President Bush and Vice President Cheney will not be attending the Republican National Convention on Monday, as previously scheduled, the president and vice president joined a long list of Republican leaders who will be conspicuously absent in St. Paul.

Bush and Cheney are skipping the big event because of the serious threat to the Gulf Coast that Hurricane Gustav poses, but many other prominent GOPers never planned on making the trip to Minnesota, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Perhaps the biggest name of all other Republican non-attendees—California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger—had vowed that he wouldn't attend if a state budget dispute wasn't settled. The budget is still in limbo, and Schwarzenegger remains in California.

The Times reports that at least 10 incumbent senators won't attend the RNC, and only three incumbents in tight reelection races planned to be there.

Even Minnesota's own Republican Senator Norm Coleman—who is locked in a tough reelection battle against former comedian Al Franken—admitted to Minnesota Public Radio, "If the convention wasn't in St. Paul, I wouldn't be at the convention."

Though most of the senators who aren't attending cited scheduling conflicts, it's clear that many decided it was better to stay home than to be branded so prominently with the Republican Party affiliation, which remains unpopular nationally.

Scott Conroy
Scott Conroy is a National Political Reporter for RealClearPolitics and a contributor for CBS News.
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by vetforobama September 1, 2008 7:16 PM EDT: twixcon, Republicans are smart distancing themselves from McSame. They just can''t say that''s why their not going to be there. Most of us when we are invited to a party we would rather not attend look for a polite excuse. Go to republicansforobama.org; Reply to this comment


by vetforobama September 1, 2008 7:12 PM EDT: truthmatterz, You couldn''t be more right when you say "Even Republicans are ashamed to be associatied with Republicans these days."

The best republicans no that the party is in need of an overhall. They also understand that McCain is not capable of such an overhall.

Go to republicansforobama.org; Reply to this comment


by babooph September 1, 2008 1:22 PM EDT: Ahnold was the better choice-he cannot display that at the party !; Reply to this comment


by duffer520 September 1, 2008 4:40 AM EDT: It has been hard for Congress to get anything done with an incompetent President and still too many conservatives standing in the way. President Obama and more democrats and this Country will finally be moving forward again.; Reply to this comment


by dnsallday September 1, 2008 2:53 AM EDT: Even Republicans are ashamed to be associatied with Republicans these days.; Reply to this comment


by twixcon August 31, 2008 8:00 PM EDT: Each of these Republicans is too busy tending to the needs of their constituency to be grandstanding for the television cameras.

With Democrats, of course, its the other way around. They''d rather be grandstanding and demagogue-building because they could care less about getting anything done. Witness the lack of productivity of the congress they''ve controlled for nearly 2 yrs.

This will not be lost on the American electorate.; Reply to this comment