First Night of the Republican Convention Will Feature Paul, Cruz, Huckabee, Arturo Davis and Anne Romney

Future First Lady Anne Romney

   On Monday, the Republican National Committee released the official schedule for the first day of the Republican National Convention which will kickoff on Monday, August 27th, at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, in Tampa Bay, Florida (see the itinerary below this post). The schedule includes more than 34 speakers that span both the afternoon and evening sessions, but the most coveted speaking slot that closes out the first night of the convention will go to Mitt Romney’s wife Anne.Leading up to the future First Lady will be a host of high profile stars, rising stars, and even a former Democrat, Congressman Artur Davis.

Before running for the Democrat nomination for Governor of Alabama in 2009, Davis represented Alabama’s 7th Congressional District from 2007 to 2011, and was one of President Obama’s earliest supporters. In fact he was the first politician outside of Illinois to endorse Obama’s run for President.

Three years later, Davis, an African-American, is now a Republican and probably one of the best examples of the current popular sentiments of disappointment that most Americans have with President Obama, a point that will dovetail quite well with the the theme for the first night of the G.O.P. convention……”We Can Do Better”.

Also speaking on Monday night will be conservative stars such as Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, T.E.A. movement sweetheart, Texas Republican U.S. Senate nominee Ted Cruz, and the ever popular former Governor of Arkansas and 2008 candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, Mike Huckabee.

Interspersed within that list of high profile leaders are other powerful but less known speakers such as Barbara Comstock and Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers.

Luce’ Vela Fortuno

Perhaps one of the most intriguing orators scheduled for Monday though is Luce’ Vela Fortuno, the First Lady of Puerto Rico.  In what seems to be a decision to have Luce’ Fortuno introduce Anne Romney, the G.O.P. is obviously trying to appeal to Hispanics and specificall Hispanic women.

The Party could have easily had a more widely known and politically established female Republican figure such as Condoleezza Rice introduce Anne Romney to the American people.  Instead they chose to go with the lesser know First Lady of Puerto Rico, whose husband, Luis Fortuno, will be making a prime time speech to the convention in one of the two nights following Luce’s prime time remarks.  But the decision to go with Luce Fortuno is a good one.   As most of us know  by now, first impressions are lasting impressions, and by having Luce Fortuno introduce Anne Romney, many Hispanic Americans men and women alike will be left with a first impression of Anne Romney that at least has a positive subliminal connection to one of their own, A Hispanic woman who is a leading figure in Puerto Rico. `

While many similar, not so subtle, political strategies will play out throughout the night, expect each one of those who speak to bring home the overriding theme of the evening……. “We Can Do Better”.    ``

According to R.N.C. Chairman Reince Priebus, “Republicans reject the notion that America’s ‘new normal’ consists of 42 months of deep unemployment and greater debt, Americans know we can do better than joblessness, poverty and debt, and this convention will present our vision for a brighter, better future and it will lay out an optimistic, achievable plan to make it happen.“   ``

“Probably no four words could better sum up the conclusion that is shared by millions of Americans as they look back on the past four years,” said Convention CEO William Harris. “We can do better than this, and the country knows it.”   ``The convention will host 2,286 delegates and 2,125 alternate delegates from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five territories. It will also include approximately 15,000 credentialed media—an international press corps second only in size to this summer’s London Olympic Games—as well as a global audience that will witness a “convention without walls” thanks to the G.O.P.’s  Internet and social media efforts.“

Schedule for Monday, August 27, 2012

*As part of its “convention without walls” program to make the convention open and accessible, Republican officials also released today the convention schedule for Monday, August 27 through the convention’s mobile app – Tampa 2012 (http://connect.gopconvention2012.com).

2:00 pm

• Chairman of the RNC Reince Priebus
• Color Guard
• Pledge of Allegiance
• National Anthem:  The Oak Ridge Boys
• Invocation
• Opening procedural steps, appointment of convention committees
• Welcoming remarks, and House and Senate candidates and RNC auxiliaries
• RNC Chairman Priebus
• RNC Co-Chairman Sharon Day
• Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn
• Convention Chief Executive Officer William Harris
• Chairman of Tampa Bay Host Committee Al Austin
• Republican Congressional Candidates
• State Delegate Barbara Comstock (VA)
• Representative Tim Griffin (AR)
• Republican Senate Candidates
• Republican National Committee auxiliaries
• Consideration of convention committee reports
• RNC Chairman Reince Priebus
• Committee on Credentials Chairman Mike Duncan
• Committee on Permanent Organization Chairwoman Zoraida Fonalledas
• Convention Permanent Chairman Speaker John Boehner, Presiding
• Official Convention Photograph
• Committee on Rules Chairman John Sununu
• Committee on Resolutions Chairman Governor Bob McDonnell
• Committee on Resolutions Co-Chairman Senator John Hoeven
• Committee on Resolutions Co-Chairman Rep. Marsha Blackburn
• Roll Call for Nomination of President of the United States
• Roll Call for Nomination of Vice President of the United States

7:15 p.m. Recess

7:45 p.m.  Reconvene

• Remarks by Speaker John Boehner
• Remarks by Governor Rick Scott (FL)
• Remarks by RNC Chairman Reince Priebus
• Video
• Remarks by Senator Rand Paul (KY)
• Various Speakers
• Remarks by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA)
• To Be Announced
• Remarks by Artur Davis and video
• Remarks by Senate Republican Candidate Ted Cruz (TX)
• Musical Act
• Remarks by Governor Nikki Haley (SC)
• Remarks by Mike Huckabee
• Remarks by Mrs. Luce’ Vela Fortuno
• Remarks by Mrs. Ann Romney
• Benediction by Sammy Rodriguez and adjournment.

About the 2012 Republican National Convention

The 2012 Republican National Convention will be held at the Tampa Bay Times Forum August 27-30, 2012.  Nearly 50,000 visitors are expected to come to the Tampa Bay area for the event, including delegates, alternate delegates, media and other guests.  For more information about the 2012 Republican National Convention, become part of the virtual convention at www.ConventionWithoutWalls.com, visit our website www.GOPConvention2012.com and check out our official blog, Conventional Wisdom, at www.gopconvention2012.com/blog/.