TAMPA, FLa. — The Republican National Convention of 2012 has some local visitors to help provide inside media coverage for the state of New Hampshire.

Eight of us students from Franklin Pierce University in Rindge have come to represent the Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communication in coverage of the 2012 RNC here in Tampa. Our group is the only college in New Hampshire to be here providing media coverage of the event.

Thanks to coverage we provided though our PoliticsFitzU group in the Marlin Fitzwater Center during the New Hampshire primary and the presidential debates held at Dartmouth College and St. Anslem College, we were able to obtain press passes to report from the floor of the convention.

So far, the convention has been nothing short of exciting. Being a college student thrown into the media world for a major event, it allows you to realize what it takes to be successful. Our team all understands this concept, and is eager to get everything under way and get ourselves in the midst of what is to be an action-packed national convention.

The threat of Hurricane Isaac has put a mark on the convention. The first day of activities was cancelled and events are being rescheduled. However, people have remained positive and are enjoying themselves.

We have even been advised by locals on different things to do in case the hurricane does show up. The two main things of note: stock up on water and go to an ATM to take money out.

Delegates from all over the country have gathered here. With us in our hotel are delegations from Vermont, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Maine, and the most fitting of all, New Hampshire. We have already been able to connect with most of the delegates from New Hampshire, which you will see in other articles by my fellow classmates.

Even though the convention hasn't officially started, there are plenty of fun things going on. For example, we were able to enjoy a Tampa Bay Rays baseball game as soon as we got down here. We have also been able to eat at a Waffle House and just experience the life here in Florida that you cannot get in New Hampshire.

So far we have had the time of our lives, and hope we can provide the people of New Hampshire with an in-depth look at what is going on here in the days to come.