TAMPA (FOX 13) -
It's the drive down
I-275 every delegate will travel to get from the airport to downtown.
When they do,
they'll see a full-size billboard welcoming them to Tampa.
Or is it?
"This doesn't
speak at all for unity and the things that we want to do, and the way that we
want to represent Tampa,"
said Robin Vosler of Adonai Communications.
The real message is
clear.
The billboard
states Tampa
"is a city where the mayor and all council members are Democrats."
It's not exactly
the welcome wagon for the GOP.
"It just
really undermines all the efforts from Democrats and Republicans that has been
from the residents of this city to put this on," Vosler said.
That's not true,
according to the co-founder of Ruth's List Florida.
That's the pro-women-in-politics
group that paid for the ad.
"It was done,
I think, politely and civically, and we certainly didn't mean anything mean
spirited but rather just a statement of fact," said Ellis Robinson.
It is a fact Tampa's top political
spot is held by a democrat who happens to be one of the biggest cheerleaders in
supporting the bipartisan benefit of hosting the RNC.
"This our
coming out party, we are going to make Tampa
proud, and we are going to shine," said Mayor Bob Buckhorn on Aug. 10.
The sign, sure to
be seen by thousands, may not be a bright spot for Republicans, but many say
all is fair in politics.
"We felt that
it was important that they realize they are clearly in the largest swing state
in the country and one good way to do that is to recognize the Democrats in Tampa are the ones in charge of making Tampa a wonderful town," Robinson said.
"There are
plenty of democrats helping put this thing together," said Mike Hammonds.
He's a Democrat
doing his part by actually volunteering at the Republican Convention.
"I
want to showcase what Tampa
has to offer and help establish something that maybe people are visiting us
have never experienced before," he said.
