I had the opportunity to be a part of the GCJPR team at this year’s Republican National Convention. Our work encompassed the needs of several clients in a prepared media and operations blitz that went off with phenomenal success.

With the threat of Hurricane Gustav along the Gulf Coast, the Republican National Convention began with a focus on hurricane relief efforts.  First Lady Laura Bush and Cindy McCain jointly addressed delegates with a message directed to Gulf Coast states threatened by Hurricane Gustav, appealing to the importance of providing aid to those displaced by the storm.

Later in the week, delegates gathered at the Minneapolis Convention Center to assemble 400,000 relief kits for displaced citizens and victims of Hurricane Gustav.  Target and FedEx pitched in to donate the supplies and ship the kits to those in need.

Throughout the week,  Gordon and I had the opportunity to escort Sharon Lechter, member of the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy, to the convention hall and several forums on financial literacy in Minneapolis. The forums featured a presentation by fellow advisory councilman John Hope Bryant and brought together some of the brightest minds in both the financial and government sectors dealing with the nation’s economy. The economy has been an increasing spotlight in the 2008 elections amidst a national credit crisis, a struggling mortgage industry and an overall economic slow-down. The work Sharon and others do on the council will help shape the information our next President will receive and act upon to ensure a future bolstered and expanding U.S. economy.

Along with Gordon and Ed, I advanced former Speaker Newt Gingrich throughout the convention.  Whether it was radio interviews, television tapings or visits to the convention floor, our GCJPR team ensured Mr. Gingrich met with all the national media and had the opportunity to convey his message.

The convention was a virtual who’s who of political celebrities: Karl Rove, Fox New’s Sean Hannity and Alan Colmes, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Mary Matalin and Arizona’s own former Congressman J.D. Hayworth. Needless to say, it was a political enthusiast’s dream.

The convention revved up Wednesday with a rock star line up of speakers including Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Fred Thompson and Rudy Giuliani.  The highlight of the evening, however, was the speech by Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, John McCain’s vice presidential pick. Delegates waived signs of support and American flags while cheering Governor Palin through her speech. The room was unmistakably energized!

Delegates gathered Thursday evening for the culmination of the convention, eagerly awaiting remarks by Cindy McCain and John McCain’s acceptance speech of his party’s nomination for president.  With a resounding roar of support following John McCain’s speech, thousands of balloons accompanied by confetti fell from the sky of the Xcel Center as delegates celebrated and danced on the floor.

There is no doubt that the convention was a success and a truly unforgettable experience for each of us.