"Politico reached out to more than 50 prominent Republicans. Few said they plan to attend the convention in Cleveland, let alone speak." - Alex Isenstadt, "Hardly anybody wants to speak at Trump's convention," in Politco, June 27, 2016. Here is the article.
Among the bigwigs not planning to attend are U.S. Representatives Trey Gowdy, Mark Sanford and Carlos Curbelo.
Without brandnames for the cameras to pan in the audience and speeches by celebrity politicos, the media will be left to focus on the trouble-makers. They are certain to be milling outside in downtown Cleveland. Since everyone is media savvy these day the miscreants will know all the right moves to max attention. The theatre on the street could mirror the intensity and violence of what took place in Chicago in 1968 at the DNC.
The law firm representing the Trump campaign - Jones Day - will be closing its downtown Cleveland office during the RNC. Their lawyers will operate remotely. Does Jones Day expect to be a target because of its association with the controversial candidate?
Headquartered in Cleveland is Jones Day's long-term client Sherwin-Williams. Is it irked that its law firm is locked into the possible mayhem? Could it, as a major U.S. corporation, be a target for protestors?
Obviously, the action outside the RNC could doom the GOP to lose in 2016, just like the Chicago antics helped elect conservative Richard Nixon. Democrats were perceived to be out of control.