Small business played a major role during the Republican convention this week.
The Internet was made for moments like these.
Anyone can turn on a TV, scan their newsfeeds or fire up a laptop to quickly get a sense of the important topics being discussed at the Republican National Convention.
Want an inside view of the Republican National Convention? CNN staff on the ground in Tampa are sharing behind-the-scenes happenings from the GOP convention floor and CNN Grill. Check out their photo highlights via social media sites like Instagram and Twitter below, or click here to see them all.
The success of any tightly scripted, live event is certainly measured in ratings, ticket sales, buzz, and -- with regard to quadrennial political nominating conventions -- voting returns. But the real yardstick for any major pop-culture event comes down to one simple element: The surprise celebrity cameo. Recent examples include James Bond and Queen Elizabeth skydiving into the London Olympics Opening Ceremonies; Tupac Shakur's hologram at Coachella; and when Jon Hamm popped up to say goodbye to Kristen Wiig on "SNL."
Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin looks at some of the most memorable campaign songs.
A Catholic priest, a rabbi, an evangelical minister, a Sikh, a Greek Orthodox archbishop and two Mormon leaders walk into the Republican National Convention.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie delivers the keynote address at the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie built his keynote address to the Republican National Convention on the theme of telling tough truths to the nation. "We have become paralyzed by our desire to be loved," announced Christie, showing off the gruff, no-nonsense style that catapulted him into the governor's mansion.
Rick Santorum evoked the homespun values of hard work, education and family in his speech to the Republican National Convention on Tuesday night, but his math needs improvement.
Rick Santorum addresses GOP delegates at the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida.
This is the second-straight Republican National Convention disrupted by storms. Four years ago, Republicans gathering in Minneapolis delayed the political revelry to focus on disaster relief from Hurricane Gustav, which hit Louisiana. This year, the event was closer to the weather action also targeting Gulf Coast states. Tropical Storm Isaac skirted western Florida on Monday but was expected to strengthen into a hurricane. Headliners at the Tampa convention were pushed back a day to Tuesday with the nomination of Mitt Romney still on schedule for Thursday.
With Republicans gathering in Tampa, Florida, for their party's convention, here are a few facts about the Grand Old Party's party:
Presidential historian Doris K. Goodwin examines the changing role of political conventions in American society.
When the Republican National Convention kicks off this week in Tampa, Florida, the nation will notice one thing before anything else: This is not your father's or grandfather's Republican Party. Rather, it's a party with leaders as diverse as the country it intends to represent.
CNN's Hala Gorani talks to Candy Crowley about the politics behind the Republican convention.
Next week, 15,000 journalists will join thousands of delegates, operatives, lobbyists and party activists for the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, to be followed a week later by the Democrats' convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.
If you're landing in the middle of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, or the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, you'll probably spend much of your time inside the convention hall cheering and voting for your candidate and collecting all those colorful hats and buttons delegates like to wear.
With up to 50,000 people expected to descend on Tampa for next week's Republican convention, airlines and the city's airport handling those flying into the city are closely following the track and strength of Tropical Storm Isaac.
Officials are on alert as anarchists threaten to shut down both National Conventions. CNN's Jill Dougherty reports.
Law enforcement officials are concerned about possible violence by anarchist extremists at the upcoming Republican and Democratic national conventions, according to an intelligence bulletin prepared by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security.
Tampa, Florida, strip clubs welcome this year's Republican National Convention.
Why wait for the election in November? The political convention host cities are already going head-to-head as part of our Destination USA project pitting rival cities against each other. Tampa, Florida, will host the Republican National Convention August 27-30, while Charlotte, North Carolina, will host the Democratic National Convention September 3-6.
Mitt Romney spoke this weekend to the students at Liberty University, a hotbed of conservative studies,and he has been forced to think about his ties to the right. He is facing a difficult challenge in determining what his relationship should be with the tea party Republicans who helped revitalize the GOP after the doldrums of 2008.
Mitt Romney thinks a Wisconsin/Maryland/D.C. sweep Tuesday night will set him sailing to the nomination long before the August Republican convention.
Authorities are looking for the suspect who threw a Molotov cocktail at the Texas governor's mansion.
Public safety officials in Texas Thursday released a video of a man throwing a Molotov cocktail at the governor's mansion in 2008, hoping it and a suspect sketch will lead to his identification.
In one spot, a moderate Republican congressman is portrayed as a demon sheep -- a threat to the Republican flock. In another ad, a candidate for governor declares to viewers, "I'm one tough nerd!" And, of course, there's the now-infamous "I am not a witch" spot.
Fred Davis is the man behind Christine O'Donnell's "Not a witch" ad.
Just a few days ago, two potential Republican presidential candidates traveled to this Midwestern hub and in a span of 24 hours addressed some of the most powerful GOP conservative activists in the country.
Why the Republican VP candidate's designer shopping spree has left some fashionistas cold
Thank God we are not talking about Sarah Palin being a "woman" today and dissecting whether Joe Biden acted appropriately toward her.
Democrat-turned-independent Sen. Joe Lieberman is once again annoying Senate Democrats, just two weeks after he angered them with his speech at the Republican National Convention.
Sen. Joseph Lieberman says the McCain - Palin ticket is the 'real ticket for change.'
My son is 7 now. He was just about 7 weeks old when his grandmother, Ann McGovern, my mother, died in the World Trade Center attacks.
One of the most intriguing conversations I had at either the Democratic or Republican convention was with a white labor leader from Ohio.
During her speech at the Republican National Convention, vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin said she tried to slash Alaska's budget by putting the state jet up for sale on eBay.
A new national poll taken entirely after the end of the Republican convention suggests the race for the White House between John McCain and Barack Obama is dead even.
Mary Snow reports on McCain and Palin's sweep through the West and how they are trying to make the case for change.
Were a biopic to be made, should it star Annette Bening, Tina Fey or Patricia Heaton?
The View co-host meets delegates and designs McCain T-shirts
"I will reach out my hand to anyone to help me get this country moving again," he vows
Gov. Sarah Palin will need to flesh out the image of the "hockey mom" she presented to the Republican National Convention and start to educate voters on what she believes about the issues they care about.
CNN's Deborah Feyerick reports on Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin's position on some of the hot-button issues.
Watch part 1 of Sen. John McCain's acceptance speech to the Republican National Convention.
Levi Johnston has his fiancée's name inked where a wedding band will go
The people of Alaska boast that they have the coldest state in the U.S. and "the hottest governor."
Police faced off with crowds of protesters outside the Republican National Convention, arresting 396 people after using tear gas and percussion grenades to turn them back.
Protesters march on the final day of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota.
RNC super wrap
updated: Fri Sep 05 2008 09:34:00
CNN's Jonathan Mann has all the highlights from the Republican National Convention.
John McCain spoke to the Republican National Convention on Thursday night. Here is the text of that speech:
Police arrested an estimated 200 anti-war protesters Thursday night after using tear gas and percussion grenades to disperse a crowd near the State Capitol, about a mile from the Republican National Convention.
Cindy McCain, wife of Republican presidential candidate John McCain, spoke at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Thursday night. What follows is the transcript of her speech.
Cindy McCain describes her husband as a 'source of strength and inspriation' with 'great personal character.'
Sex columnist Dan Savage and author of the popular syndicated sex advice column "Savage Love," made his way to St. Paul, Minnesota, to attend the Republican National Convention where he is filming a piece for HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher."
Plus: Levi Johnston, boyfriend of Palin's pregnant 17-year-old daughter Bristol, sat in the family's VIP box
Authorities in Minnesota's Twin Cities have created "a climate of intense police intimidation," protesters at the Republican National Convention contend, but officials say they're merely preserving the peace.
Police attempt to control demonstrators in St. Paul using tear gas and pepper spray.
Now it's the Republicans' turn.
For the second consecutive night, a lot of the rhetoric at the Republican convention Wednesday evening seemed left over from the last cycle when the fight against terrorism dominated the race.
Watching delegates file into the Republican National Convention, it's easy to see one big challenge facing their party: Fewer than 2 percent of the delegates are black.
Time.com: Call Of the Wildupdated: Thu Sep 04 2008 04:00:00
Plucked from obscurity by John McCain, Sarah Palin has scrambled the presidential race. An intimate look at how a frontier mom learned to play the political game
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee spoke Wednesday night at the 2008 Republican National Convention. Here is the text of that speech.
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican Party's vice presidential nominee, on Wednesday night addressed the 2008 Republican National Convention. Here is the text of the speech:
Gov. Sarah Palin says she will accept the party nomination for Republican Vice Presidential nominee.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani addressed the Republican National Convention on Wednesday. Here is the text of that speech:
After rubbing shoulders with Susan Sarandon, Danny Glover, Charlize Theron and Charles Barkley at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, New York Post celebrity gossip columnist Cindy Adams jetted off to "one of the dullest towns in America," according to her latest column, to sniff out politically-inclined celebs in St. Paul.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney addressed the Republican National Convention on Wednesday. Here is the text of that speech:
Mitt Romney says that Sen. John McCain is the right person to turn around the economy.
Plus: A Palin relative tells PEOPLE that Levi Johnston and Bristol "will be good together"
The First Lady defends President Bush's eight-year record in the White House
Democrats accused fellow lawmaker Sen. Joe Lieberman of misleading the Republican National Convention when he addressed them in a speech Tuesday night.
The Republican National Convention got under way in earnest on Tuesday after a day spent nervously watching the Gulf Coast and Hurricane Gustav.
Democrats take note: the Republican convention was resolutely on-message Tuesday night, sounding old themes and buzzwords that have worked for the GOP in the past.
The first full night of the Republican convention's hurricane-interrupted proceedings had the unintentional feel of a valedictory.
Former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee spoke to the Republican National Convention on Tuesday night. Here is the text of the speech:
President Bush spoke live via satellite to the Republican National Convention Tuesday night. Here is the text of the speech:
Independent Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman spoke to the Republican National Convention Tuesday night. Here is the text of the speech:
Police use pepper spray on protestors in St. Paul, Minnesota.
St. Paul police fired chemical agents and projectiles into a large crowd of protesters outside the Republican National Convention on Tuesday night.
The Republican National Convention is kicking off in full force Tuesday in the Twin Cities -- the first time the GOP has held a presidential convention there since 1892.
As the hurricane rages, the Republican National Convention gets off to a subdued start
The gatherings are smaller than expected and the marches mostly peaceful, but breakaway radicals are causing trouble
RNC chairman Mike Duncan calls the 2008 Republican National Convention to order.
At least 56 people were arrested Monday after police fired projectiles and used pepper spray and tear gas to disperse a crowd demonstrating near the site of the Republican National Convention.
The Republican National Convention officially opens with the national anthem and invocation.
Convention-goers pushed politics aside Monday as Hurricane Gustav altered their plans from 1,000 miles away.
First lady Laura Bush appealed Monday to the nation to put aside partisan interests and donate generously to charities to help Gulf Coast residents affected by Hurricane Gustav.
Police Sunday saw little disruption prior to a Republican National Convention greatly scaled back due to Hurricane Gustav.
Sen. John McCain announces a change of direction for activities related to the Republican National Convention.
The Republican National Convention will cut back most of its activities Monday because of Hurricane Gustav, Sen. John McCain said Sunday.
Television networks rapidly shifted focus and personnel away from the Republican national convention to Gulf Coast communities in the path of Hurricane Gustav on Sunday
President Bush, Vice President Cheney and prominent governors decided on Sunday to skip the Republican National Convention
Recorded: a raid on the building used by a group planning to protest at the Republican National Convention.
Police raided a rental hall used by a group organizing protests at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Friday.
In the electoral college of rock, Joel Stein reports from Denver, the Democrats hold a commanding lead
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