Republican leadership reportedly telling members to skip national convention
When asked Tuesday if he would be attending the Republican National Convention in Cleveland in July, former presidential candidate Jeb Bush gave CNN a resounding "No." He's not alone: Following a rough-and-tumble primary season, many top Republicans are thinking they would rather campaign at home than dive into what has the potential to become an all-out brawl in Ohio.
"I've got a lot of work to do in New Hampshire, I have my own re-election and I'm going to be focusing on my voters in New Hampshire," Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) said when asked if she would be packing her bags for Cleveland this summer.
"I'm up for re-election. I'm more valuable outside of Cleveland than inside of Cleveland," explained another Republican, Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina.
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But according to unnamed insiders who spoke with CNN, staying out of Ohio might just be the best strategy for establishment Republicans:
Even Tea Party conservatives are hesitant about leaving their posts for the convention. Rep. Mick Mulvaney, a co-founder of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, said he wanted "the activists... the people" to decide on the nominee in July.
"I've decided not to go to Cleveland," Mulvaney told CNN. "I'm going to stay home and work."
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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