All eyes on Mitt Romney after rousing speech from Paul Ryan on Day 3 of the Republican National Convention
Tonight, the Republican National Convention will conclude with the formal nomination of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan as the 2012 Republican presidential and vice presidential candidates.
And in what might be the most important speech of Mitt Romney’s life, Romney will take the stage in a defining moment for both his base and millions of Americans tuning in. His speech comes on the heels of Ryan’s energizing address, which criticized President Obama’s policies on the economy, health care and jobs.
“President Obama is the kind of politician who puts promises on the record, and then calls that the record,” Ryan said. “But we are four years into this presidency. The issue is not the economy as Barack Obama inherited it, not the economy as he envisions it, but this economy as we are living it.”
Other Day 3 speakers included 2008 presidential candidate John McCain, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Senator Rand Paul and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.
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- Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan, his sons Sam and Charlie, daughter Liza, wife Janna and mother Betty Ryan Douglas wave at the end of his speech at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 29, 2012 during the Republican National Convention (RNC). (Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)
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- Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan waves as he takes the stage to accept the nomination during the third session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, August 29, 2012. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)
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- Republican vice presidential candidate, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) waves after speaking during the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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- Republican vice presidential candidate, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) speaks during the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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- Pages react to a video show presented about the the two Bush Presidents during the third day of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, August 29, 2012. (Jason Reed/Reuters)
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- Romney supporters on the floor at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 29, 2012 during the Republican National Convention (RNC). (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)
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- A convention goer holds up a sign at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 29, 2012 during the Republican National Convention (RNC). (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)
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- Video of former presidents George Bush, father and son, is on display on the multiple giant screens at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 29, 2012 during the Republican National Convention (RNC). (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)
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- Oscar Poole from Georgia poses with a red, white and blue top hat at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 29, 2012 ahead of the day’s Republican National Convention (RNC) events. (Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)
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- A law enforcement mediator (2ndR) prepares to negotiate a standoff between a group of protesters and law enforcement officers that shut down traffic in downtown during the Republican National Convention on August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
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- Protesters speak with Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor while marching during the Republican National Convention on August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. The marchers remained peaceful and were allowed to make their own route through downtown. (Edward Linsmier/Getty Images)
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- A demonstrator signs a banner promoting workers’ rights during a pro-union rally outside the site of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida August 29, 2012. (Adrees Latif/Reuters)
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- Protesters lie in a group during the Republican National Convention on August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. The marchers remained peaceful and were allowed to make their own route through downtown. (Edward Linsmier/Getty Images)
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- Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speaks to the crowd at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 29, 2012 during the Republican National Convention (RNC). (Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)
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- A man cheers as Republican vice presidential candidate, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) speaks during the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
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- U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) addresses the third session of the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida August 29, 2012. (Joe Skipper/Reuters)
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- U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) waves as he speaks during the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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- Texas delegates cheer as New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez says she carried a gun when she was young at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 29, 2012 during the Republican National Convention (RNC). (Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)
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- Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty speaks at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 29, 2012 during the Republican National Convention (RNC). (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)
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- U.S. Senator and 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain (R-AZ) acknnowledges applause at the start of his speech during the third session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida August 29, 2012. (Eric Thayer/Reuters)
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- U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) waves during the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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- Senate Republican Leader and Convention Temporary Chairman from Kentucky Mitch McConnell waves to the crowd at the Florida, on August 29, 2012 during the Republican National Convention (RNC). (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)
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- Ishwar Singh, head of the Sikh Society of Central Florida, gives the invocation to start the third session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, August 29, 2012. (Mike Segar/Reuters)
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- Former presidential candidate Newt Gingrich is seen in the crowd at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 29, 2012 during the Republican National Convention (RNC). (Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)
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- Arthur Cooper of Scottsdale, AZ wears a tri-corner hat during the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
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- A supporter of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) holds a sign during the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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- Protesters walk together during a march that was put on by West Central Florida Federation of Labor to, in their words, “demonstrate the reality of Mitt Romney’s America” as the Republican National Convention continues at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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- Protesters walk together during a march that was put on by West Central Florida Federation of Labor to, in their words, “demonstrate the reality of Mitt Romney’s America” as the Republican National Convention continues at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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- David Karst of Milwaukee, WI holds headshots of Republican vice presidential candidate, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) during the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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- A delegate wears a hat with party pins at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 29, 2012 ahead of the day’s Republican National Convention (RNC) events. (Mladen Antonov/AFP/Getty Images)
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- A man holds a cut-out headshot of Republican vice presidential candidate, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) during the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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- GOP Vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan points at something during a sound check at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 29, 2012 before the day’s Republican National Convention (RNC) events. (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)
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- GOP Vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan (C) stands underneath the giant screen displaying the call number for the Red Cross during a sound check at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 29, 2012 before the day’s Republican National Convention (RNC) events. (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)
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- GOP Vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan’s son Sam looks up at the ceiling where hundreds of balloons are kept in nets during a sound check at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 29, 2012 before the day’s Republican National Convention (RNC) events. (Steve Honda/AFP/Getty Images)
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- U.S. Congressman and Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan (R-W) visits the stage ahead of his address to the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, August 29, 2012. With Ryan are his children Liza (C) Charlie (L) and Sam. (Mike Segar/Reuters)
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- Campagin pins are on display for sale in the GOP gift shop during the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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- Workers setup for the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
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- Supporters of Planned Parenthood attend a rally near the Republican National Convention in downtown Tampa, Florida, August 29, 2012. (Steve Nesius/Reuters)
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- Storm clouds roll in as supporters of Planned Parenthood attend a rally near the Republican National Convention in downtown Tampa, Florida, August 29, 2012. (Steve Nesius/Reuters)
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- Republican Senator and former Presidential nominee John McCain arrives at the Republican National Convention, Wednesday, August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT)
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- Bradley Thompson (L) and Laura Bowman (R) hug after Thompson proposed to Bowman on the stage as large background screens show his question at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 29, 2012 during the Republican National Convention. Thompson is production manager and Bowman is a production coordinator for the convention. (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)
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- Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (R) is interviewed by a television reporter at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 29, 2012 during the Republican National Convention. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)
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- Treb Heining, a balloon consultant with the GlassHouse Balloon Company, demonstrates inflating a balloon before the third day of the 2012 Republican National Convention. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)
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- A woman holds a cutout of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney before the third day of the 2012 Republican national Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)
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- Marc Sobas removes a “We Built It” sign before the third day of the 2012 Republican national Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)
Republicans count down to Romney’s big speech
Steve Holland and Matt Spetalnick | Reuters
4:32 p.m. EDT, August 30, 2012
TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) – Mitt Romney faces the biggest test of his White House bid on Thursday when he addresses the Republican convention, a chance to convince America he can forge a path to economic rebirth and provide stronger leadership than President Barack Obama.
Romney will be seen by a television audience numbering in the tens of millions, with some voters getting their first extended look at the 65-year-old former Massachusetts governor, who unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination in 2008.
Romney, who can often come across as stiff and robotic, must inspire fellow Republicans, many of whom have shown little passion for him, and make the broader U.S. electorate feel more comfortable with him. Paying a brief visit to the convention hall on Thursday afternoon, Romney smiled and waved from the podium as he did a walk-through for his speech.
As portrayed by Democrats, Romney is alternately a heartless corporate raider, wealthy elitist, tax evader and policy flip-flopper who should not be trusted with the keys to the White House.
Despite the attacks, Romney is running even with Obama in polls in a race that is too close to call. A Reuters/Ipsos poll on Wednesday showed the two men tied at 43 percent each.
But Obama has the advantage over Romney in likability, an important trait that may mask other problems that the Democratic incumbent has in persuading voters to give him four more years as a weak economy continues to dog the country.
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Jeff Burdick
Aug 30, 2012 @ 13:36:39
Boy, don’t the Republican speeches just get more and more electrifying? Must be a convention planners dream scenario to finish with an over-the-top speaker like Mitt. Sure hopes he flashes all that “fun” that Ann Romney promised us. After all, isn’t that all we look for in a president? Until then, enjoy these 10 funny photos and captions from Tampa: http://bit.ly/RsZRS5
Michael
Aug 30, 2012 @ 11:12:54
All Ryan did was lie and repeat GOP talking points, he was pathetic.