WASHINGTON, DC — With the Republican National Convention less than two months away, The Ripon Society hosted a luncheon discussion yesterday afternoon to preview this year’s gathering.

“In exactly 56 days,” stated Ripon Society President & CEO Jim Conzelman in remarks to open the discussion, “Republicans from around the country will gather in Cleveland for the opening of the 2016 Republican National Convention.

“In attendance will be approximately 2,470 delegates and 2,300 alternate delegates from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five territories. Also in attendance will be approximately 15,000 credentialed media from around the world – a press corps second only in size to the Olympic Games this summer in Rio.

“In anticipation of this event, we thought it would be helpful to take a look at some of the rules the party may adopt on the convention floor, and the strategy the party’s candidate may pursue as he prepares to formally accept the Republican nomination for President.”

According to Conzelman, the discussion featured two speakers who know both of these subjects better than most. The speakers were: Mark Braden, one of the most respected experts on campaign rules and election law in Washington today who was named Republican Lawyer of the Year in 2014; and, Barry Bennett, who helped transform Ben Carson from a political newcomer to a presidential frontrunner as the manager of the renowned surgeon’s presidential campaign last year, and who today serves as a senior advisor to presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump.

“We thought it would be helpful to take a look at some of the rules the party may adopt on the convention floor, and the strategy the party’s candidate may pursue as he prepares to formally accept the Republican nomination for President.”

Conzelman noted that the discussion was attended by a crowd of just over 70 people. He added that yesterday’s Preview was one of two Convention-related events The Ripon Society will be holding leading up to the Convention in July. On the day the Convention starts, on the afternoon of July 18th, The Ripon Society will honor the leaders of its Honorary Congressional Advisory Board at a reception that will feature: U.S. Reps. Pat Tiberi (OH-12) and Renee Ellmers (NC-2), who serve as House Co-Chairs of the Society; U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), who serves as Senate Co-Chair of The Ripon Society; and, U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci (OH-16), who serves as Co-Chair of The Ripon Society’s partner organization, The Franklin Center for Global Policy Exchange.

The Ripon Society is a public policy organization that was founded in 1962 and takes its name from the town where the Republican Party was born in 1854 — Ripon, Wisconsin. One of the main goals of The Ripon Society is to promote the ideas and principles that have made America great and contributed to the GOP’s success. These ideas include keeping our nation secure, keeping taxes low and having a federal government that is smaller, smarter and more accountable to the people.