Scenes from the RNC, Thursday, Aug. 30.

Politicians, journalists and celebrities -- sometimes they are all one in the same -- were busy Thursday afternoon taking their places in preparation for the big finale at the Republican National Commission in Tampa. Here's some of who I saw, at either the Tampa Convention Center or the Tampa Bay Times Forum:

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell  

U.S. Allen West, R-Fla. (right)  

Talk show host and former presidential candidate Herman Cain  

Wolf Blitzer and fans  

Former "American Idol" winner Taylor Hicks rehearses "Taking It to the Streets" ... over and over and over again.   -- Marc R. Masferrer