Massachusetts delegates, the new GOP VIPs

(CBS News) This year at the GOP convention, delegates from Massachusetts get to experience a welcome status change from their status quo at previous conventions. Being a delegate from Massachusetts -- a state synonymous with Democrats -- has not typically been an esteemed position at the RNC.

This week in Tampa, Fla., however Republicans from Mitt Romney's home state are soaking up the perks. For one thing, they're enjoying front row seats with an unobstructed podium view of the marquee GOP speakers. The last time Massachusetts Republicans found themselves in the front row was 88 years ago, in 1924, when Massachusetts Gov. Calvin Coolidge got the Republican nomination for president.

The 79 members of the Massachusetts delegation are staying at the same high-end waterfront hotel, steps away from the convention center.

And it's not just their newly minted VIP status that is exciting Massachusetts delegates this week. In a report that aired Wednesday on "CBS This Morning," Mass. delegate Kevin Jourdain told CBS News White House Correspondent, Bill Plante that they're looking forward to the American people getting more familiar with Mitt Romney. 

"A third of the people don't know him certainly as well as we do so once they do get to know him you're going to see those polls really balloon for him," he said. 

The Romney campaign shares a similar sentiment, hoping that Ann Romney's speech Tuesday night will help humanize Romney in the eyes of voters.