GOP CONVENTION – DAY 1

As Hurricane Isaac made landfall with winds upward of 70 MPH and the world remembered the 7th anniversary of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Republicans danced in the aisles of the Tampa Bay Times Forum yesterday at the official first full day of the Republican National Convention.

Donald Trump and a variety of miscellaneous Republican speakers were bumped from yesterday’s canceled schedule, so as to adhere to the newly revamped 3 day GOP celebration.  With Hurricane Isaac currently barreling down on the Gulf states, Republicans will be hard pressed to find a balance between partying for Mitt and praying for those being hit by the unpredictable Category 1 storm.

Here are the highlights from Day 1:

ROMNEY-RYAN OFFICIALLY NOMINATED –
After spending 5 years and countless of his own millions toward a run for the White House, Mitt Romney officially clinched the GOP presidential nomination on Tuesday.  The New Jersey delegation put Romney over the required 1,144-delegate count, ensuring he will be the GOP challenger to President Obama in November.

Romney and his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, will be formally nominated on Thursday, and Romney will deliver his acceptance speech that night. Their official nomination means Romney-Ryan will now have immediate access to the Republican Party financial war chest. They are no longer limited to spending primary funds, but may begin to spend from the party’s general election fund.

REPUBLICAN PLATFORM PASSES –
The 2,200-plus Republican delegates in attendance approved a radically conservative platform that calls for less government, opposes same-sex marriage and endorses a “human life amendment” to ban abortion without exceptions for cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is threatened.

Romney-Ryan will almost certainly have trouble increasing their support among women voters with the newly adopted Republican platform and limitations on a woman’s right to choose.

GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE and RICK SANTORUM –
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie delivered an electrifying “red meat” speech to the RNC, only hours after denying reports that he was Mitt Romney’s first choice for the VP slot but turned it down because he doesn’t believe Romney can win in November.  Christie adamantly denied the report, saying he has been a fervent supporter of Romney from the start.  However, that didn’t stop chatter that Christie was using his prime speaking slot at the 2012 convention as an early launch of his own presidential bid in 2016.

Former presidential candidate Rick Santorum also spoke and offered a tepid endorsement of Mitt Romney for president.  Santorum and Romney proved they weren’t very fond of each other through their bitter battles during the GOP primary.  That could be why Santorum spent a majority of his speech speaking on the social issue of abortion and his “Right to Life” beliefs, which is a topic Mitt Romney had specifically asked him to avoid.

ANN ROMNEY SPEAKS –

Ann Romney was given a prime time speaking slot and a monumental task —to make America like her husband. It was a tough challenge, but Mrs. Romney set out to remove doubts from voters that her husband is stiff, aloof, out of touch with the common American and just not all that likable.

Mrs. Romney delivered stories and anecdotes meant to humanize the new Republican nominee. She portrayed him as a loving husband, father, grandfather and man of faith.

Unlike her husband, Ann Romney is a very likable and warm person.  Although initial reaction to her speech was positive, early word is she made America fall in love with her, but barely moved the needle at all to make America suddenly warm up to Mitt or his Mormon faith.

COMING UP TOMORROW:  former Republican presidential nominee John McCain and Vice-Presidential nominee Paul Ryan will speak.