The countdown to the Republican National Convention can now be measured in hours. GOP leaders are working to generate enough excitement to last party faithful through the Democratic National Convention, held the next week, and election day.
Beltway Buzz recently sat down with two speakers party leaders believe will help them achieve their goal and turn the heads of some independents and Democrats.
Mia Love
She has a name destined to make headlines and if she's successful in her bid to represent Utah in the U.S. House of Representatives, she'll make history as the first female black Republican elected to the House. She's a wife, mom, daughter of Haitian immigrants and Mormon.
She's running against incumbent conservative Democrat Jim Matheson who represents the most Republican district in America. It's a race to watch this November and Love will be a speaker lots of people will be watching in Tampa next week.
CBN Congressional Correspondent John Jessup talked to Love about what's driving her to Washington.
Artur Davis
Four years ago, no one would have thought we'd be talking about Artur Davis attending the Republican National Convention, let alone speaking! By the way, this isn't a typo. His name is Artur, no 'h' please.
The former Congressman represented Alabama for eight years as a Blue Dog Democrat. He ran for governor of Alabama as a Democrat and four years ago served as co-chair of Barack Obama's campaign for president.
Yep, it's true! Today, he lives in Virginia and spends most of his time stumping for Mitt Romney. That's right, in the past few years Artur Davis has done a political 180 and joined the Republican Party. ;He says he can't point to one moment when he changed his mind, but blames President Obama for pushing his former party too far to the left.
CBN's White House Correspondent Jennifer Wishon talked to Davis about why the GOP is his new home.