ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. – The Republican National Convention welcome party brought California Republicans together with delegations from all corners of the country.
So what do those other Republicans think about the home state of the convention's largest delegation? "You don't want my honest opinion," Ann Sullivan, a delegate from North Carolina, said as she swayed to music blasting through the speakers at St. Petersburg's Tropicana Field.
"They're very liberal and you just don't know what they're going to do," said Christine Pilozzi, a delegate from New York. "That's scary."
Other impressions included "surfers," "ganja" and "hyper-environmental."
"If you want to do something odd and weird, go to California," Pilozzi said, offering that, on the plus side, the state produces "great wine."
– Torey Van Oot
LAWMAKERS STAY HOME – With the final week of California's legislative session under way, most of the state's GOP legislators can be found on the floor of their respective legislative chambers in Sacramento instead of the floor of the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
Just two Republican legislators are confirmed attendees of this week's convention in Tampa. Sen. Mark Wyland, R-Solana Beach, is serving as a delegate, and Sen. Sharon Runner, R-Lancaster, is in Tampa with her husband, Board of Equalization member George Runner, another Romney delegate. A spokeswoman said she is ready to fly back to California if needed.
Senate GOP leader Bob Huff, whose wife is a delegate, spent the weekend with the delegation but returned home in time for Monday's floor session.
A spokeswoman for Assembly GOP leader Connie Conway said she was unaware of any Assembly Republicans planning to attend the convention.
– Torey Van Oot
A VIEW OF GUAM – California delegates won't have the worst seats in the house when they arrive at the Tampa Bay Times Forum for the delayed start of the Republican National Convention today, but they certainly don't have the best.
The bulk of California's 172-member delegation is seated in a section center-left of the podium in the main hall, filling the chairs behind Republicans from Florida, Massachusetts and Guam.
– Torey Van Oot
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