Officials hope to lure visitors to Clearwater during the Republican National Convention, and they are counting on one of the area's most famous mammals to help them do it.
The Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce is launching a new effort that will capitalize on the success of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and its star dolphin, Winter.
Local artists will decorate six-foot-tall fiberglass dolphin statues and give them distinct looks. The statues will be displayed at a special art exhibit at Pier 60 that will run from Aug. 6 through Sept. 4.
The 38 statues are sponsored by local businesses.
The dolphin pod won't be the only art-covered animals showing up in the Bay area this summer. RNC visitors will also be greeted by the GOP mascot - a herd of elephants. The elephants will be displayed all over the Bay area.