Republicans have descended on Tampa, Florida as they prepare to officially nominate Mitt Romney as their party's presidential nominee.
The 2012 Republican National Convention Begins
![The Republican National Convention main stage at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, August 27, 2012. (B. Allen/VOA)](https://gdb.voanews.com/7ea30dc2-f127-436a-a5a6-2c0804fee112_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
១
The Republican National Convention main stage at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, August 27, 2012. (B. Allen/VOA)
![Dona Poelman from Racine, Wisconsin accessorizes her shirt at the RNC.](https://gdb.voanews.com/3ee287f9-fc4e-41d6-a6d7-fc702ac30d5d_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
២
Dona Poelman from Racine, Wisconsin accessorizes her shirt at the RNC.
![Delegates cheer as an image of Mitt Romney is displayed during the opening session, August 27, 2012.](https://gdb.voanews.com/86887a13-e977-472a-804c-b296b9efc32a_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
៣
Delegates cheer as an image of Mitt Romney is displayed during the opening session, August 27, 2012.
![Texas delegate Clint Moore and the rest of Texas delegates fashion their cowboy hats on the floor.](https://gdb.voanews.com/06c12b36-08fa-4299-a8bf-3d34f10e23a5_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
៤
Texas delegate Clint Moore and the rest of Texas delegates fashion their cowboy hats on the floor.
![Rigger Omar Acebedo climbs down to the floor of the convention center after adjusting a light fixture.](https://gdb.voanews.com/addda631-fc56-44bb-b4bd-f7eb0129326f_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
៥
Rigger Omar Acebedo climbs down to the floor of the convention center after adjusting a light fixture.
![Convention goers enjoy their pizza lunch in front of a large video screen showing Mitt Romney and his wife Ann at the second session of the RNC.](https://gdb.voanews.com/30bc6d57-3733-4fda-9afd-ce16eb50db52_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
៦
Convention goers enjoy their pizza lunch in front of a large video screen showing Mitt Romney and his wife Ann at the second session of the RNC.
![Men prepare food in a protest camp called "Romneyville," August 28, 2012.](https://gdb.voanews.com/b40233cd-610b-4432-b42d-8ac3a41d784d_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
៧
Men prepare food in a protest camp called "Romneyville," August 28, 2012.
![Vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, center, works on the speech he will deliver at the Republican National Convention, with senior adviser Dan Senor, left, and senior aid Conor Sweeney.](https://gdb.voanews.com/b2ceba8c-d959-49b6-b36d-bbc4933403b8_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
៨
Vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, center, works on the speech he will deliver at the Republican National Convention, with senior adviser Dan Senor, left, and senior aid Conor Sweeney.
![Mitt Romney and his wife Ann leave Wolfeboro, New Hampshire August 27, 2012 after preparing their speeches for the RNC.](https://gdb.voanews.com/e4c9a251-6966-4960-8a8f-7c9d69cbb058_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
៩
Mitt Romney and his wife Ann leave Wolfeboro, New Hampshire August 27, 2012 after preparing their speeches for the RNC.
![Delegates on the floor watch speakers during the second session. (J. Featherly/VOA)](https://gdb.voanews.com/b331faae-92de-4d71-a416-5872cc942abf_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
១០
Delegates on the floor watch speakers during the second session. (J. Featherly/VOA)
![Signs for different states' delegations on the floor of the RNC. (B. Allen/VOA)](https://gdb.voanews.com/2a6a05bc-c490-4fff-bc58-7097c1e0e3bf_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
១១
Signs for different states' delegations on the floor of the RNC. (B. Allen/VOA)
![Delegate Sol Grosskopf from Shawano, Wisconisin wears cheesehead hat on the convention floor.](https://gdb.voanews.com/fc961725-c6f6-4aa7-beda-c5676865b29a_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
១២
Delegate Sol Grosskopf from Shawano, Wisconisin wears cheesehead hat on the convention floor.
![Convention goers pause in the prayer room.](https://gdb.voanews.com/65f7ff59-5fcc-455c-9009-1b0ce0f4a4e4_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
១៣
Convention goers pause in the prayer room.
![A man reads The Washington Post before the start of the second session of the RNC.](https://gdb.voanews.com/10d82283-f7c7-4cfa-817d-d9e4ebaeff75_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
១៤
A man reads The Washington Post before the start of the second session of the RNC.
![A sudden, heavy rainstorm surprises protesters outside near the convention center.](https://gdb.voanews.com/a5ce52e4-99b8-413e-92f0-8df4776114e8_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
១៥
A sudden, heavy rainstorm surprises protesters outside near the convention center.
![The stage backdrop changes to show images from the home state of the current speaker at the convention. (J. Featherly/VOA)](https://gdb.voanews.com/2b2abc23-405f-4042-96f4-d6a8228fe30b_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
១៦
The stage backdrop changes to show images from the home state of the current speaker at the convention. (J. Featherly/VOA)
![Delegates hold up signs reading "We Built It" while listening to speakers at the Republican National Convention, Tampa, Florida, August 28, 2012. (J. Featherly/VOA)](https://gdb.voanews.com/f5960369-bc93-460c-ab0f-9a6fcc9c38e9_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
១៧
Delegates hold up signs reading "We Built It" while listening to speakers at the Republican National Convention, Tampa, Florida, August 28, 2012. (J. Featherly/VOA)
![Delegates on the first night of the Republican National Convention, Tampa, Florida, August 28, 2012. (J. Featherly/VOA)](https://gdb.voanews.com/0a627d6f-e626-45d2-a7b5-d4a6e91a648c_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
១៨
Delegates on the first night of the Republican National Convention, Tampa, Florida, August 28, 2012. (J. Featherly/VOA)