Although it's true that Republican front-runner Donald Trump
knows business better than anyone, companies are growing more concerned with whether associating the Trump brand to their brands with a Trump-led Republican National Convention in Cleveland this summer could not only hurt their own reputations, but also turn away customers.
According to
Politico, some company representatives and association heads have begun discussing with their D.C.-based consultants about whether they should rethink their convention plans if the real estate mogul wins the GOP nomination.
"If it is him, many will scale down activity," said one Republican lobbyist, according to Politico.
While many companies and trade group representatives have announced that they will be proceeding as planned no matter who the nominee is, several Republican lobbyists told Politico that the issue has "come up regularly in meetings during this past week alone."
"Do you want your company logo underneath Trump's name?" a GOP consultant said. "Publicly traded companies guard their brand reputation first and there could be a risk if they align with a Trump convention."
Emily Lauer, a spokesman for Destination Cleveland, however, has noted that the group has been able to "drive sponsorship by focusing on excitement surrounding the convention as opposed to the politics of any nominee."
And, although the names of companies who have contributed have not been released, the committee has already raised $64 million toward the event.
"We have seen a growing interest from both donors and media with regards to the 2016 Convention," said GOP convention spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski. "Donors are certainly looking at the marketing opportunity a convention will provide and this convention promises to be a great opportunity regardless of the nominee."
Doug Davenport, who has been involved on official and unofficial event planning at several conventions added, "Everyone is freaking out and it's fun to watch. It's the most upside down, bizarre cycle I've seen in 25 years. But at the end of the day, people are going to have to figure out how to work on either side of the political equation."
Politico notes that Harbinger Outreach, The Townsend Group, Shamrock Capital Advisors, Gravatt Entertainment and Rose Strategies are hosting the concert series at Jacobs Pavilion with performers including Big and Rich, Pat Green and Lee Brice.
And, according to a Facebook spokeswoman, who is listed as an "anchor sponsor," the company will "have a presence at both conventions no matter who the nominees are."
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