Workers prepare for the Republican National Convention inside the Tampa Bay Times Forum, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012, in Tampa, Fla.
John Thune
You know him because: He's a senator from South Dakota.
He doesn't want you to remember: He included language in a senate bill which allowed a railroad company he was previously employed by as a lobbyist to apply for a $2.5 billion project loan.
Republicans love him because: He is a fiscal conservative who voted against stimulus bills in Congress, and he distributes a document to his colleagues each week outlining how the economy has worsened under Obama.
Democrats don't like him because: He strongly supports an amendment to the U.S. Constitution barring same-sex marriage.
Rob Portman
You know him because: He's a senator from Ohio and former director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Republicans love him because: He's skeptical of big government, and was selected as part of the "super committee" tasked with solving the debt ceiling crisis, a bipartisan effort which ultimately failed.
Democrats don't like him because: He's closely tied to the Bush family, serving multiple posts under both Bush 41 and Bush 43.
Luis Fortuño
You know him because: He's the governor of Puerto Rico.
Republicans love him because: He cut both the corporate and individual tax rates in Puerto Rico, lowering the territory's deficit from $3.3. billion to $600 million.
Democrats don't like him because: In July he signed a law that criminalizes many forms of protest and restricts freedom of assembly, and the American Civil Liberties Union has filed a suit to prevent the law from taking effect September 1.
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Tim Pawlenty
You know him because: He's the former governor of Minnesota.
He doesn't want you to remember: During a recent debate on CNN with anchor Soledad O'Brien over Obama's Medicare financing, Pawlenty suggested in the midst of their disagreement on whether there were actual cuts to the entitlement program that the Latina didn't understand the intricacies of his argument because of a language barrier: "Do you know what that is in English?" Pawlenty asked her.
Republicans love him because: He successfully eliminated a $2.7 billion state budget deficit in his 2010-2011 budget, marking the first time since 1960 Minnesota's net government growth went down.
Democrats don't like him because: Despite eliminating Minnesota's budget deficit, his methods are suspect because he borrowed money from healthcare and educations programs, resulting in predictions that the state's next two-year budget will be $4.4 billion short.
Mike Huckabee
You know him because: He is the former governor of Arkansas, ran for president in 2008, and has a radio and a TV show.
He doesn't want you to remember: In 2011, Huckabee made repeated references to Obama's "having grown up in Kenya," when in fact the president spent his childhood in Hawaii and Indonesia. Huckabee was referencing the conspiracy theory that Obama wasn't born in the United States and isn't eligible for the presidency.
Why Republicans love him: An ordained Southern Baptist minister, Huckabee holds extremely conservative social views and appeals to ultra conservatives. He opposes abortion and rejects the theory of evolution.
Democrats don't like him because: After fast food chain Chick-Fil-A CEO Dan Cathy caused controversy by publicly announcing his support of "traditional" marriage, Huckabee called on those who agree with his stance to show their support on "Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day." The chicken sandwich chain had record-setting sales on the designated day, August 1.
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