You're hired: Trump to win award in Sarasota

Political bloggers nationwide went gaga recently over news that the Sarasota Republican Party will name Donald Trump Statesman of the Year at a dinner right before the Republican National Convention in Tampa.

“We're extremely lucky to be able to bring him here,” Sarasota GOP Chairman Joe Gruters tells Coffee Talk. “There are very few people in the country who have the ability to command the respect he can.”

Likewise, few people command such a high level of love-hate feelings. Indeed, Trump, a real estate and casino mogul-turned-reality TV star, seems to wear the controversy proudly. He briefly flirted with running for president, and now supports presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney. Trump also stirred up chatter earlier this year when he publicly pressed the case that President Barack Obama wasn't born in the United States.