Romney Electrifies the Crowd at RNC

Amid thousands of falling balloons and what seemed like millions of pieces of red, white and blue confetti, Republicans in Tampa had Mitt Romney (with a little help from Clint Eastwood) make their day.

Marco Rubio told the heart warming story of an immigrant’s journey. As he phrased it, “My father worked years behind the counter of a bar so that I could stand before you today behind this podium." His powerful speech set just the right tone as the introduction to the video and appearance on stage of Mitt Romney, who right off the bat proclaimed, "I accept the Republican nomination for President!"

Last night was a message of promises which are intended to be kept, not just the "hope and change" promised and undelivered from four years ago. Mitt, the human part of him, was so very beautifully represented by a member of his faith community and two families who represented a narrow slice of the many who have received compassion and a helping outreach in times of trouble from Ann and Mitt Romney their entire married life. 

The four plus hour final night of the convention was like a tapestry woven of the themes of the three nights – We built it, We can change it, and last night, We believe in America! There were moving videos of Ronald Reagan, a video about Romney’s Massachusetts’s record as related by those who worked in the Massachusetts’s government, and a video about the start up of Bain and how they built it. Many of the subjects that have been fodder for attacks by the opposition were taken head on, each showing Romney as someone who worked hard, persevered, built it and became a success. The point was clearly made that we should not be a nation where success is seen as a bad thing.

There was no video of Romney’s success saving the Olympics when he took the reins, but there was a stage full of Olympians who came to talk about the importance of America, telling their stories and proclaiming  their support for Mitt Romney. The room went wild, especially when former Olympic hockey gold medalist Mike Eruzione told the story of having the honor of being one of eight people chosen to carry into Olympic Stadium a piece of the flag from the World Trade Center that had flown there on Sept. 11. There were many with wet eyes after his poignant story.

Was the crowd electrified? Yes. Did Mitt Romney “deliver” the right message with the right tone? Absolutely yes. And finally, was the path forward made clear and the promises made believed? Overwhelmingly, yes. There may have been some Republicans who came to Tampa still not thrilled with Romney’s selection, but they walked out of that hall last night totally committed and convinced that he is the right man at the right time.

And so the exodus begins, with Republicans heading home energized for the nine week sprint to the Nov. 6 election. Phone calls to be made, doors to be knocked on, and as former New Hampshire Gov. John H Sununu says, "TALK TALK TALK." The message of this convention will be spread far and wide on a one-on-one basis by those who lived the tapestry of Mitt Romney here in Tampa.

New Hampshire attendees will probably need the weekend to unpack, catch up on their sleep, and then they will hit the campaign trail. It’s been a week of going to interesting briefings on subjects like education, small business, energy, foreign policy, and health care given by some of the best experts in each field (and a lot of good food, too). The hotel New Hampshire was assigned to has two tall towers of M&Ms and Peanut M&Ms for the taking, and we all took a serving it seemed every time we walked through the lobby.

Several members of the delegation took the opportunity on the cancelled beginning day, compliments of Tropical Storm Isaac, to go to the movie theatre next door to see the "2016: Obama's America" movie based on the book by Dinesh D’Souza – who has New Hampshire ties, as a Dartmouth graduate.

In Thursday’s report, I mentioned that it is the Democrats turn in Charlotte next week, but that I wouldn’t be there. Ironically, I realized this morning that when I leave tomorrow, I WILL be going to Charlotte, albeit only for a couple of hours at the airport waiting for a flight connection

Fran Wendelboe is a former Republican state representative from New Hampton. She has been providing daily updates from the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida this week.