RNC 2012 presidential primary schedule Tampa 2012 GOP convention

KANSAS CITY, MO. -- Friday, August 6, 2010, The Republican National Committee voted by the necessary two-thirds of the committee's 168 members to adopt the new schedule worked out with Democrats for the 2012 presidential primaries.

The hope is to delay the early start of the campaign season making it more difficult for a candidate to gain an insurmountable lead in delegates to soon in the process and before all states are heard from. No state will hold a primary or caucus before the first Tuesday in February 2012.

Iowa and New Hampshire will retain their status as the nation's first, held in February, joined by South Carolina and Nevada.

Following primaries would be held in April or later. States would have the option of holding votes in March, if delegates were awarded in proportion to the percentage of the vote, rather than in a winner-take-all system.

• (1) No primary, caucus, or convention to elect, select, allocate, or bind delegates to the national convention shall occur prior to [Tuesday March 6, 2012]. Except New Hampshire, South Carolina, Iowa and Nevada may begin their processes at any time on or after [Wednesday] February 1 [2012].
• (2) Any presidential primary, caucus, convention, or other meeting held for the purpose of selecting delegates to the national convention which occurs prior to [Sunday April 1, 2012], shall provide for the allocation of the delegates selected on a proportional basis.

The Republican National committee's 168 members unanimously approved Tampa's selection as host city for the 2012 GOP Convention The convention will take place the week of Aug. 27, 2012.

The St. Pete Times Forum will host the 2012 Republican National Convention

Convention officials and the host committee estimate the GOP gathering will attract at least 45,000 delegates, politicians and media, adding about $170 million to the economy, based on the 2008 Minneapolis-St. Paul convention.