Ian Duncan of The Vanderbilt Torch reviews the Republican convention and emphasizes the diversity that was on display.

In the midst of classes starting, work beginning, football opening and, of course, tailgating, it was easy for most Vanderbilt students to forget the Republican Nation Convention in Tampa this week. Fortunately, this publication found time to review and analyze the events that unfolded and we found three characteristics that really defined the week.

First, for all the criticism of Governor Romney as an out-of-touch, wealthy white American who has comparatively faced less adversity than others who have accepted the Republican nomination before him, the convention organizers selected a diverse group of speakers who varied in race, gender, affluence, and biography. Seemingly trying to reach out to voters to say “You may not be able to look in the mirror and see a Mr. Romney, but there will be people in his administration and in this party who are similar to you”. Time and again, from the young and humble Mr. Ryan to the Latino Senator Marco Rubio to all the many powerful republican women who spoke, this point was hammered in.

Second, there certainly was some surprises. No one thought Ann Romney would make such a profound speech, and no one thought Clint Eastwood would make such a bizarre one (Invisible Obama apparently is very feisty). The Hurricane wasn’t as bad as predicted, but Ron Paul supporters brought a storm and then some. Overall, everything, planned and unplanned, balanced itself out- and the small extra level of excitement may have helped ratings.