First-time N.J. delegate savors GOP National Convention experience

Not all of New Jersey’s 50 delegates to the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, have statewide name recognition.

Dennis Palmer, the treasurer of the Gloucester Township Republican Committee, is attending his first national convention.

While he’s not one of the leaders of New Jersey delegation, Palmer says just being a part of it is the event of a lifetime.

“We all have key roles in that we have to vote. We all have the opportunity to vote on things like the platform, opportunity to vote on other matters as we go into the convention,” he said. “It’s an inclusive process so every person has a vote which kind of brings everyone to a certain level of importance.”

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Palmer says he’s anxiously awaiting Gov. Chris Christie’s keynote speech Tuesday night. He wonders if it can produce the same kind of bipartisan praise former Gov. Tom Kean received after his keynote address in 1988. That’s when Democrat Bill Bradley called Kean to say he was proud of him.

“I’m just wondering if anyone across the aisle will reach out and do the same thing as Bill Bradley did to Tom Kean and say we’re so proud of what you did for New Jersey, partisanship aside, to bring this kind of light and the focus on New Jersey,” Palmer said.

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