Red Palmetto: SCGOP Looking for Romney's 'Fire,' 'Conviction'

For the second time in a row, the Republican National Convention is disrupted by a hurricane. 

Hurricane Isaac has caused most of Monday's opening day schedule to be canceled (the revised schedule is posted below). In 2008, Minneapolis-St. Paul was struck by Hurricane Gustav, which led to a shortened schedule.

But the wet weather has done little to dampen South Carolina Republicans’ enthusiasm for the event.

More than 80 percent of the 41 Red Palmetto survey of GOP insiders said late last week they plan on following the convention regularly or 24/7.

The enthusiasm for presumptive nominee Mitt Romney is another matter, however. While Romney is , there is an excitement gap. That gap is in evidence by the fact that just as many of our insiders are excited about hearing speeches from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Vice Presidential Candidate Paul Ryan, as they are in hearing from Romney himself. Marco Rubio, the Florida senator who was the , had only two respondents name him as the speaker they were most interested in hearing.

The majority of those polled want to see Romney demonstrate the fire and passion that has largely been absent from the campaign trail. They also want to see Romney go on the attack, as the first phase of the general election campaign has seen the former Massachusetts governor explaining gaffes, responding to criticism of his time in charge of Bain Capital and answering questions about his tax returns.

As far as what specifically our insiders would like to hear Romney talk about, their answers are not surprising. Respondents could choose as many topics as they wish and nine of them mentioned the economy and/or the job outlook and nine more mentioned the debt and/or the budget. Five more mentioned entitlement reform.

Of scant interest were gun control, education, foreign policy, energy and social issues—all of those received one vote each. Three respondents wanted to hear Romney talk about immigration.

As mentioned, the most anticipated speakers are Ryan, Christie and Romney, who received nine, eight and eight votes each. The next most intriguing speaker is Gov. Nikki Haley as seven insiders were most interested in hearing from her.

• Rep. Ron Paul
• Sen. Jim DeMint
• Former vice-presidential nomimee Sarah Palin

The revised schedule for the Republican National Convention:

Monday, August 27, 2012 

2:00 p.m.

• Chairman of the RNC Reince Priebus 
• Call to Order/Start Debt Clocks 

2:10 p.m.

• Announcement of Recess 

Tuesday, August 28, 2012 

2:00 p.m.

• Chairman of the RNC Reince Priebus 
• Color Guard Knights of Columbus 
• Pledge of Allegiance by Former Governor Tim Babcock (MT)/ Tom Hogan (FL) 
• National Anthem sung by Philip Alongi 
• Invocation by Rabbi Meir Soloveichik 
• 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 U.S. Senator John Hoeven 
• Committee on Resolutions Co-Chairman U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn 
• Roll Call for Nomination of President of the United States 
• Roll Call for Nomination of Vice President of the United States 

6:40 p.m. Recess 

7:00 p.m. Reconvene 

• Remarks by Speaker John Boehner 
• Remarks by RNC Chairman Reince Priebus 
• Video and remarks by Mayor Mia Love (Saratoga Springs, UT), U.S. congressional candidate 
• Remarks by Janine Turner 
• Remarks by former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum 
• Remarks by Host, U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers 

8:00 p.m.

• Remarks by U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (NH), accompanied by Jack Gilchrist 
• Remarks by Governor John Kasich (OH) 
• Remarks by Governor Mary Fallin (OK) 
• Remarks by Governor Bob McDonnell (VA), accompanied by Bev Gray 
• Remarks by Governor Scott Walker (WI) 

9:00 p.m.

• Remarks by Governor Brian Sandoval (NV) 
• Remarks by Sher Valenzuela (small business owner, candidate for DE Lt. Governor) 
• Remarks by Senate Republican Candidate Ted Cruz (TX) 
• Remarks by Artur Davis 
• Remarks by Governor Nikki Haley (SC) 

10:00 p.m.

• Remarks by Mrs. Luce' Vela Fortuño 
• Remarks by Mrs. Ann Romney 
• Remarks by Governor Chris Christie (NJ) 
• Benediction by Sammy Rodriguez 

Adjournment 

Wednesday, August 29, 2012 

7:00 p.m. Convention convenes 

• Call to order 
• Introduction of Colors by Amputee Veterans of America Support Team (AVAST) 
• Pledge of Allegiance by Brigadier General Patrick E. Rea, US Army (Ret.) 
• National Anthem sung by Ayla Brown 
• Invocation by Ishwar Singh 
• Ron Paul Video 
• Remarks by Senate Republican Leader and Convention Temporary Chairman Mitch McConnell (KY) 
• Remarks by Senator Rand Paul (KY) 
• Remarks by Christopher Devlin-Young and Jeanine McDonnell 
• 8:00 p.m. Remarks by Senator John McCain (AZ) 
• Remarks by Attorney General Pam Bondi (FL) and Attorney General Sam Olens (GA) 
• Remarks by Governor Bobby Jindal (LA) 
• Remarks by Senator John Thune (SD) 
• Remarks by Senator Rob Portman (OH) 
• 9:00 p.m. Remarks by Governor Luis Fortuño (PR) 
• Remarks by Governor Tim Pawlenty (MN) 
• Bush 41, 43 Film 
• Remarks by Mike Huckabee 

10:00 p.m.

• Remarks by Condoleezza Rice 
• Remarks by Governor Susana Martinez (NM) 
• Remarks by vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan 
• Benediction by Archbishop Demetrios 

Adjournment 

Thursday, August 30, 2012 

7:00 p.m. Convention convenes 

• Call to order 
• Introduction of Colors US Central Command Joint Forces Color Guard Team 
• Pledge of Allegiance by Dylan Nonaka 
• National Anthem sung by SEVEN 
• Invocation by Ken and Priscilla Hutchins 
• Remarks by U.S. Rep. Connie Mack (FL) 
• Reagan Legacy Video 
• Remarks by Newt and Callista Gingrich 
• Remarks by Craig Romney 

8:00 p.m.

• Remarks by Governor former Jeb Bush (FL) 
• Remarks by Bob White, chairman of Romney for President campaign 
• Remarks by Grant Bennett 
• Remarks by Tom Stemberg 

9:00 p.m.

• Remarks by former Massachusetts Lt. Governor Kerry Healey 
• Remarks by Jane Edmonds, former Massachusetts Secretary of Workforce 
• Remarks by Olympians Michael Eruzione, Derek Parra and Kim Rhode 

10:00 p.m.

• Remarks by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (FL) 
• Remarks by presidential nominee Mitt Romney 
• Benediction by Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan 
• Speaker Boehner declares convention adjourned 

The Red Palmetto Survey

Our surveys are not a scientific random sample of any larger population but rather an effort to listen to a swath of influential local Republican activists, party leaders and elected officials in South Carolina. All of these individuals have agreed to participate in the surveys, although not all responded to this week's questions. Surveys were conducted between Aug. 23 and June 25, 2012.

Patch will be conducting Red Palmetto and Blue Palmetto surveys throughout 2012 in hopes of determining the true sentiment of conservatives and liberals on the ground in South Carolina. If you are an activist, party leader or elected official and would like to take part in a weekly surveys that lasts just a few minutes, please email Regional Editor Chris Winston at chris.winston@patch.com.

Red Palmetto Roster: Aubry Alexander (Charleston City Council-District 9), Thomas Alexander (State Senator), Dean Allen (Tea Party Activist), Charm Altman (President Sea Island Republican Women), Todd Atwater (S.C. Rep. Dist. 87), Preston Baines (conservative activist), Rep. Nathan Ballentine (SC House Dist. 71), Bill Banning, Sr. (Vice-chair, Lexington County Council), Bob Barnwell (Richland Co. GOP Spring Valley), Joseph Bates, Jr. (Committeeman/ Richland Co. GOP Dutch Fork), Gresham Barrett (Former U.S. Congressman, current consultant), Eric Bedingfield (State Rep/Congressional Staffer), Rick Beltram (Former Spartanburg GOP Chair), Lin Bennett (Chair, Charleston County GOP), Rich Bolen (Chair, Lexington County GOP), Andrew Boucher (Business consultant and political advisor), Phillip Bowers (Chairman, Pickens County Republican Party), Dan Bracken (President, The Auction Co. & Real Estate Inc.), Edward Britt (Engineer), Joe Bustos (Former town councilman), Jay Byars (Dorchester County councilman), Bob Call (Berkeley County Councilman), Tim Callanan (Berkeley County GOP Chairman), Earl Capps (Blogger), Ed Carter (Small business owner), Erica Christian (Chairwoman of Young Upstate Republicans) Ben Coakley (Investment adviser), Edward Cousar (Executive Director, Black Republican PAC), M. Todd Cullum (Lexington County Council member), Rep. Joe Daning (Statehouse rep.), Patrick Donlon (Chair, Northern District, Lexington County Republican County), Dana Eiser (Lowcountry 9.12 president), Linda Eiser (9/12 conservative), Scott Farmer (Richland County GOP Committeeman), Chip Felkel (Political Consultant), Will Folks (Editor, fitsnews.com; spokesman for former Gov. Mark Sanford), Leland Glen (Author), Chris Godbey (Political Consultant), Susan Grady (Republican activist), Randy Halfacre (Mayor of Lexington), Dan Hamilton (State Representative), Larry Hargett (Dorchester County Council chairman), Gaye Holt (4th District Director for the SC Federation of Republican Women), Kathy Hughes (President of Mt. Pleasant 912), Val Hutchinson (Richland County Council), Johnny Jeffcoat (Town of Lexington Economic and Community Catalyst; Lexington County Council member), Debbie Jones (9.12 Board Member), Joanne Jones (Republican activist), Grayson Kelly (Fundraiser), James Kinard (Banker, Chair, Lexington County Council), Todd Kincannon (Lawyer/former executive director of SC Republican Party), Bob Kouvolo (President/ MaxPt), Jim Lee (S.C. Senate candidate), Mickey Lindler (Chairwoman for Republicans of Lexington and Richland Counties), Chris Mann (City Councilman), Karen Martin (Organizer/Spartanburg Tea Party), Larry Martin (State Senator), Taft Matney (Conservative Political Consultant), James Metts (Lexington County Sheriff), Matt Moore (Executive Director for SC GOP), Susan Morris (Nonprofit executive director), Mike Murphee (Charleston Tea Party chairman), Deborah Myers (Political activist), Brent Nelsen (Professor of Political Science/former candidate for Supt. of Education), Don Nye (Bank employee), Allen Olson (Former Chairman of Columbia TEA Party), Walt Owens (University Professor), Randy Page (President,South Carolinians for Responsible Government), Gregory Pearce (Richland Co. Councilman), Kathy Perry (Charleston County Republican Women), Adam Piper (SC GOP 3rd Vice Chairman & political director for Huntsman campaign), Zach Pippin (GOP Media Consultant), Barbara Pulicicchio (Political activist), Rick Quinn (S.C. Rep. Dist. 69), Jeff Reuer (Vice Chair Goose Creek 9-12), DeLinda Ridings (SC GOP State Secretary/Huntsman campaign), Robby Robbins (Lawyer), Emily Rudolph (Sea Island Republican Women), LaDonna Ryggs (Spartanburg GOP Chair), Michael Sally (Hanahan City Councilman), Dennis Saylor (Chair, Aiken GOP), Lanneau Siegling (State Executive Committeeman), Billy Simons (Conservative activist), Garry Smith (State Rep), John Steinberger (Fair Tax activist), Alex Stroman (SCGOP Political Director), Shell Suber (VP for Public Affairs and Business Development at The Felkel Group, a political public relations company), Mary Ann Taylor (Charleston County Republican Women/Charleston County School Board), Hope Walker (Member Services Director, SCGOP), September Wellborn (State GOP Delegate), Jennifer Willis (County Councilwoman/ V.P. One Tree Hill), Henry Wilson (conservative political activist), Kerry Wood (Consultant, former SC Campaign manager for Rick Santorum) Cheryl Woods-Flowers (Former mayor, Republican official), James David Woodard (Professor of Political Science, Clemson University).