http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/275999-top-republicans-consider-skipping-gop-conventionApril 12, 2016, 02:10 pm
Top Republicans may skip GOP convention: report
By Rebecca Savransky
Among the biggest names considering skipping are former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush — a former presidential candidate — and Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.), both of who are up for reelection this fall.
Some of those who are considering skipping the convention are instead focusing on campaigning at home, the report said. Others don't want to be tied too closely to a potentially messy presidential nomination fight.
Bush told CNN he doesn't plan to attend the convention, and Ayotte said it was "unlikely" she'd be in Cleveland.
"I've got a lot of work to do in New Hampshire, I have my own re-election and I'm going to be focusing on my voters in New Hampshire," she said.
Burr echoed Ayotte's sentiments.
"I'm up for re-election," he said. "I'm more valuable outside of Cleveland than inside of Cleveland."
Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.), a co-founder of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, said he talked to about 20 other conservatives, and about half have chosen not to attend the convention. He said activists and people should decide the nominee — not politicians.
"I've decided not to go to Cleveland," Mulvaney said. "I'm going to stay home and work."
A senior House Republican leadership aide told CNN that if someone is "in a competitive district," it's "smart" not to attend the convention.
"It's always been about fighting Washington and making sure it's local," the House Republican leadership aide told CNN. He said those people will "stay home and do the same thing they've been doing for last year and a half — not being a part of whatever chaos comes out of Cleveland."
A Senate leadership aide said he doesn't see "any reason for a candidate to go to any convention, unless it's in their home state."
"Their time is better spent at home talking to voters," he said.
Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), however, said he'll likely be at the convention and doesn't expect voters will be "surprised" by his decision.
"I probably will go to the convention. I've gone to past conventions; I don't think the voters will be surprised that I attended the Republican convention," he said.
Republicans face the potential for a contested convention if front-runner Donald Trump does not clinch the GOP presidential nomination before July.
Trump on Monday slammed the primary system as "rigged, disgusting" and "dirty." He's also in the past predicted riots if he does not secure the nomination.
