TAMPA – Mitt Romney arrived at his coronation party Tuesday, hours before the Republican National Convention's roll call of states that will formally nominate him as the GOP candidate for president.
Mitt and Ann Romney prepare to board their plane in Bedford, Mass., on Tuesday en route to Tampa for the Republican National Convention.
Tuesday marks the true beginning of the three-day love fest, save for a minutes-long session held for technical reasons Monday. That day's full session was canceled because of Tropical Storm Isaac, now a hurricane, which ultimately swept well wide of Tampa and is headed for landfall at or near New Orleans tonight or early tomorrow.
So, at least for now, it's full speed ahead for the Grand Old Party.
Other Republican rock stars were making morning rounds, energizing the delegate base ahead of the day's proceedings.
Sen. Marco Rubio addressed a breakfast for Florida delegates, hitting themes of freedom and free enterprise, when his speech was disrupted by a handful of protesters who shouted out that they represented working-class Floridians and demanded Rubio "pay his fair share."
The crowd of about 150 delegates and guests shouted them down before the protesters were led from the Innisbrook Golf Resort by law enforcement.
"Well I guess he's not happy with the hotel assignment," Rubio said to laughter.
Romney senior adviser Ron Kaufman said at a breakfast sponsored by Politico he wasn't worried about the abbreviated convention.
"I think we took four days, we put them into three, and you'll feel like they are four when it is all said and done. … I think people will walk away thinking, 'that was a good show.' "
When the national TV spotlight is turned on tonight, Ann Romney will attempt to show delegates and millions of TV viewers a softer side of her husband, who has been hammered by Democrats for his ties to Bain Capital amid claims that some of the firm's investments resulted in layoffs.
The Romney camp did not say whether Romney the candidate would attend his wife's speech or show up at all before his address Thursday.
Christie is a populist favorite who ignored pleas to run for president this year. He told USA TODAY he plans to "tell some very direct and hard truths to people in the country about the trouble that we're in."
Since Christie defeated Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine in 2009, the former federal prosecutor has become a national political figure best known for his combative style and straight talk. His YouTube videos — calling a law student an "idiot" or telling people to "get the hell off the beach" as Hurricane Irene approached last summer — have contributed to his popularity.
More than one-third of Americans, or 34%, say they have a favorable impression of Christie, according to a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll. About a quarter of adults said they had an unfavorable opinion of Christie.
Rick Santorum emerged as the conservative alternative to Romney during the GOP primaries. He fell short, but the ex-Pennsylvania senator gets to tell his story about being the son of immigrants and the fight in Congress during the mid-1990s to overhaul welfare.
Haley, speaking to USA TODAY, said she hopes her speech will appeal to women and help strengthen Romney's popularity among women, a group that heavily favors President Obama in polling.
"I think Gov. Romney is right for the country," Haley said. "He needs to talk about what he has done. Show what he has done to run a successful business.
"The idea that governors need to be able to govern the states without federal intrusion is very important."
Four years ago, Davis was in Denver nominating Barack Obama for president. Now, Davis is a Republican supporting Romney, and he's got some strong things to say about the Democratic Party he left behind.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal was forced to cancel his speech scheduled for Wednesday, saying he will remain in Louisiana to deal with Hurricane Isaac. But unless the storm forces more changes to the convention schedule, all other major speakers will be accommodated in the three-day plan.
Kaufman said, while Romney's grand-finale address will be important, it might not immediately endear him to Americans who remain on the fence about him.
"I don't think he grows that fast," he said. "I think it's part of the narrative."
Kaufman said there are three important events during the general election that will help define Romney: the vice presidential pick of Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., his convention speech and the presidential debates.
"It won't change overnight," he said.
Contributing: Jackie Kucinich; Paul Fleming of the Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat
By Jewel Samad, AFP/Getty Images
Mitt and Ann Romney prepare to board their plane in Bedford, Mass., on Tuesday en route to Tampa for the Republican National Convention.
Mitt and Ann Romney prepare to board their plane in Bedford, Mass., on Tuesday en route to Tampa for the Republican National Convention.
Tuesday marks the true beginning of the three-day love fest, save for a minutes-long session held for technical reasons Monday. That day's full session was canceled because of Tropical Storm Isaac, now a hurricane, which ultimately swept well wide of Tampa and is headed for landfall at or near New Orleans tonight or early tomorrow.
So, at least for now, it's full speed ahead for the Grand Old Party.
- [h=3]MORE: Full coverage of the 2012 Republican National Convention[/h]
- [h=3]INTERACTIVE: USA TODAY/Twitter Election Meter[/h]
- [h=3]STORY: Years of campaigning shape, sharpen Romney[/h]
Other Republican rock stars were making morning rounds, energizing the delegate base ahead of the day's proceedings.
Sen. Marco Rubio addressed a breakfast for Florida delegates, hitting themes of freedom and free enterprise, when his speech was disrupted by a handful of protesters who shouted out that they represented working-class Floridians and demanded Rubio "pay his fair share."
The crowd of about 150 delegates and guests shouted them down before the protesters were led from the Innisbrook Golf Resort by law enforcement.
"Well I guess he's not happy with the hotel assignment," Rubio said to laughter.
Romney senior adviser Ron Kaufman said at a breakfast sponsored by Politico he wasn't worried about the abbreviated convention.
"I think we took four days, we put them into three, and you'll feel like they are four when it is all said and done. … I think people will walk away thinking, 'that was a good show.' "
When the national TV spotlight is turned on tonight, Ann Romney will attempt to show delegates and millions of TV viewers a softer side of her husband, who has been hammered by Democrats for his ties to Bain Capital amid claims that some of the firm's investments resulted in layoffs.
The Romney camp did not say whether Romney the candidate would attend his wife's speech or show up at all before his address Thursday.
Christie is a populist favorite who ignored pleas to run for president this year. He told USA TODAY he plans to "tell some very direct and hard truths to people in the country about the trouble that we're in."
Since Christie defeated Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine in 2009, the former federal prosecutor has become a national political figure best known for his combative style and straight talk. His YouTube videos — calling a law student an "idiot" or telling people to "get the hell off the beach" as Hurricane Irene approached last summer — have contributed to his popularity.
More than one-third of Americans, or 34%, say they have a favorable impression of Christie, according to a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll. About a quarter of adults said they had an unfavorable opinion of Christie.
Rick Santorum emerged as the conservative alternative to Romney during the GOP primaries. He fell short, but the ex-Pennsylvania senator gets to tell his story about being the son of immigrants and the fight in Congress during the mid-1990s to overhaul welfare.
Haley, speaking to USA TODAY, said she hopes her speech will appeal to women and help strengthen Romney's popularity among women, a group that heavily favors President Obama in polling.
"I think Gov. Romney is right for the country," Haley said. "He needs to talk about what he has done. Show what he has done to run a successful business.
"The idea that governors need to be able to govern the states without federal intrusion is very important."
Four years ago, Davis was in Denver nominating Barack Obama for president. Now, Davis is a Republican supporting Romney, and he's got some strong things to say about the Democratic Party he left behind.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal was forced to cancel his speech scheduled for Wednesday, saying he will remain in Louisiana to deal with Hurricane Isaac. But unless the storm forces more changes to the convention schedule, all other major speakers will be accommodated in the three-day plan.
Kaufman said, while Romney's grand-finale address will be important, it might not immediately endear him to Americans who remain on the fence about him.
"I don't think he grows that fast," he said. "I think it's part of the narrative."
Kaufman said there are three important events during the general election that will help define Romney: the vice presidential pick of Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., his convention speech and the presidential debates.
"It won't change overnight," he said.
Contributing: Jackie Kucinich; Paul Fleming of the Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat