Donald Trump to Be Honored by Sarasota GOP

Businessman Donald Trump, who flirted with running for the Republican presidential nomination, will be honored by a county Republican Party in Florida on the eve of the GOP convention in Tampa.

On Monday, the Republican Party of Sarasota County announced that Trump, who had also been open to running as the Reform Partys presidential candidate back in the 2000 election cycle, would be honored as the 2012 Statesman of the Year at a dinner on Aug. 26 -- the day before the GOP convention opens.

Joe Gruters, the chairman of the Sarasota County GOP, explained why Trump was being honored in an email sent out on Monday.

A statesman is a sage, skilled and seasoned political leader. Importantly, a great statesman will have demonstrated great vision and perspective, Gruters wrote supporters. Our past honorees, such as Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour in 2011, have demonstrated these attributes throughout their business and political careers. Donald Trump has clearly done so with unquestioned success.

As a conservative and a champion of free enterprise, Donald Trump is a keynote leader in this country who commands attention and serious consideration from people of all partisan persuasions. He does not shy away from controversy and is courageous in promoting the fundamental principles that conservatives endorse and strive to achieve, Gruters continued. With the electoral currents swirling from now through November, his support of our presidential nominee, Governor Mitt Romney, is an essential contribution to taking back our country and returning to the path of limited, constitutional government.