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Mitt Romney won’t attend GOP convention, and he’s not alone

Posted at 6:31 PM, May 05, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-05 20:31:51-04

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former GOP Presidential nominee and Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will not attend the Republican National Convention now that it’s all but certain Donald Trump will win the 2016 nomination.

Romney’s announcement ensures that four of the five living former nominees will not attend the nominating convention in Cleveland in July.

The others are Arizona Senator John McCain and former Presidents George H.W. and George W. Bush.

Only former Kansas Senator Bob Dole has said he will be present when Donald Trump wins the role of party standard-bearer.

Former Romney advisor Kirk Jowers says he understands and supports the decision.

“I would like to support the Republican nominee. I think it's important for the judiciary as well as for many policies for our country. But Trump has said some incredibly offensive things,” said Jowers, noting he would “never say never” and is open to a sincere turnaround on issues like banning all Muslims from entering the U.S.

The director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics, Jason Perry, says Trump's nomination has divided the Republican Party.

“There is no historical textbook on what we are seeing right now,” said Perry, adding, “It really shows there is a struggle right now to determine what the Republican Party is.”