Delegate and guests celebrate at Tropicanna Field

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - After months of planning, a week of worrying about bad weather and an afternoon of traffic headaches and security checks, thousands of people finally converged on Tropicana Field to kick off the 2012 Republican National Convention.
The baseball stadium transformed into more of a concert arena as performer after performer took to the stage to entertain the crowd.
Doors opened at 5 p.m. after an afternoon of sound checks and final rehearsals.
For Tampa Bay Host committee Ken Jones, the festivities come as a big relief.
"See my fingernails? They're all shorter," he laughed. "The weather, you can't control it, you gotta wait and see and watch and hope for the best. It's been nerve wracking but we're here and the convention is happening."
A sea of people mixed and mingled on the field while music blared through the stadium.
One of the first performers was American Idol contestant Shannon Magrane, who is from here in the Bay Area. Her voice filled the stadium as she belted out Flo Rida's "Good Feeling" and Journey's "Open Arms."
"I feel like I got their attention and it feels good to be up there," she said.
Magrane said she was glad to be a part of showing off her hometown.
"I'm so glad we get to show the world what Tampa Bay is like," she said.
Other performers included Cirque Dreams, a fire dancer, and performers from Busch Gardens.
The night closed with a performance by country star Rodney Atkins.
Bill Drout is a delegate who flew here from Houston after several days of keeping a close eye on the weather. He said he was determined to make it here.
"We were gonna come unless they shut the airport down," he said.
He has a busy week ahead building and ratifying the party platform, but Sunday night, for him and thousands of others, it was all about the party.
"It's great, this a great field. It's a neat experience for us," he said.

Update 2012 Convention

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Republican officials abruptly announced plans Saturday night to scrap the first day of their national convention, bowing to the threat of Tropical Storm Isaac as it bore down menacingly on Florida.

"The safety of those in Isaac's path is of the utmost importance," tweeted Mitt Romney, his formal nomination as presidential candidate pushed back by a minimum of 24 hours from Monday night to Tuesday.

The announcement was made as delegates and other convention-goers flocked to the Tampa Bay area by the planeload for what had been scripted as four days of political pageantry and speechmaking with a purpose - to propel Romney into the fall campaign against President Barack Obama.

SEE YOU ON TUESDAY.........KEEPING YOU UPDATED ON THE CONVENTION.

Rose Ann Gaetano for Delegate

Gaetano announces candidacy for Delegate and Alternate in the 17th

Dunmore- Rose Ann Gaetano, Dunmore, PA announces her candidacy for Delegate and Alternate to the Republican National Convention in the new 17th Congressional District in the upcoming primary election, April 24, 2012.

Rose is a resident of Dunmore PA and has been active in Republican Politics for over 30 years. She serves as the current Republican Committee Women representing Lackawanna County, member of the Margery Scranton Council of Republican Women, member of the PA Federation of Republican Women. Rose attended the Republican National Conventions in 2002, 2004 and 2008. In 2008, she was elected as delegate and alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention where she was the top voter getter for both delegate and alternate delegate in the 11^th Congressional District. The Pennsylvania Convention Delegation appointed her to serve on the Rules Committee for the 2008 Convention.

Rose has been active in the local community, where she is an active member of UNICO National Scranton Chapter and recently services as co-chairperson of the group’s community service day. Rose is also a member of the Dunmore Lions, Operation Honduras, Family to Family, Daffodils Days for America Cancer Society, member of Century Club in Scranton and a former board member of Pennsylvania for Human Life Scranton Chapter. Graduate from Dunmore High School, Lackawanna Beauty School and is retired from HarperCollins Publishers, Dunmore, PA.

Gaetano has never taken her role in the republican party lightly, and always taken the opportunity to speaks out for what she truly believe in. Rose continually strive to be a role model to increase the effectiveness of women in the cause for responsible government through political participation and activism. In the current economic climate, it is extremely important, for men and women alike to become involved.

Rose looks forward to attending National Convention in Tampa, Florida representing the people of the new 17th Congressional District.

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Media Contact: Rose Ann Gaetano 570.466.6763