Night Two from the RNC

It is hard to believe that tonight wraps up the Republican Convention here in Tampa. While there was the rocky start of the week with a very uninvited guest, Storm Isaac, schedules got rearranged and it all came together.

Wednesday saw New Hampshire delegates share a joint breakfast with Pennsylvania Republicans and then off they went to events like the American Energy Alliance forum, Newt Gingrich's Academy or the Foreign Policy Initiative, with Bill Kristol and Gov. Tim Pawlenty discussing America’s role in foreign policy.

Last night, the buzz was all about the appearance of Condi Rice and the acceptance of the VP slot by Congressman Paul Ryan. I will tell, four hours is a long time. It does give the party hours to highlight new up and comers – as the Democrats did eight years ago with Barack Obama – but it makes for a lot of sitting, especially if you are in the nose bleed sections of the forum.  

The only food available seemed to be your usual stadium fare of fried chicken wings, nachos and soda. If someone had come in with a classy bistro, they would probably have cleaned house. But receptions and events are plentiful. On Tuesday and Wednesday, I literally had food events from dawn to late night without having to pay a dime.

Who will emerge as the shining star for Republicans in 2016 or 2020? Many were very impressed by our own Kelly Ayotte. I watched her being approached for autographs, people stopping to take her picture and came across her being interviewed by NPR and a London journalist – the OLD London, as in Great Britain, not the New London of New Hampshire. Of course there wouldn’t be press from New Hampshire to interview her, as there ARE NONE. Not one major TV, print or radio station from New Hampshire bothered to spend the money to send a reporter here. Only Rich Girard of Manchester, who has an independent radio show, is here on Radio Row. That is pretty sad considering how much media comes to New Hampshire to cover our primary.

Tuesday night’s opening session was capped by what I called the “bus hell” of three hours, in some cases to go to a hotel five miles away. Last night, they had come up with a new system and most of the New Hampshire folks made it back to the hotel in a little over an hour. I had driven downtown and was able to be at the hotel in under a half hour, but everything just went smoothly for me.

So who were the winners last night? There seemed to be great cheers for Condoleezza Rice, almost as much as for Chris Christie on Tuesday night. But when Paul Ryan took the stage, the busy din of the hall dropped to silence as everyone listened with rapt attention. A little timid slow start, but then he came in with one great point after another. I particularly liked the statement that it is time to stop the run around and to make a turn around.

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, like Ayotte, Utah's Mia Love, and Wisconsin's Rebecca Kleefisch, are all bright future leaders in the GOP who were featured here in Tampa. Women have been prominent at the podium and have been in much demand for interviews and appearances both by the media and other state GOP events here in Tampa.

But enough of the future – the present is tonight with Mitt Romney’s appearance to accept the Republican nomination for the Presidency. The speaking lineup features a number of heavy hitters, with Florida’s Marco Rubio slated to do the introduction of Romney. While the early couple of days have seemed a little flat, look for tonight to be electrified.

I am confident that Mitt will hit it out of the ballpark with his speech. After all, he has been preparing for almost 8 years now. Add to that the specter of a “mystery speaker” who is likely to be Clint Eastwood making our day. Already the bets are being placed on how much “bump” the Romney campaign will come out of the convention with. The wishful thinkers are up at 10, the naysayers at two, and the middle line is where it will probably fall. It doesn’t matter the size of the bump, what matters is that the bump stays and doesn’t go down afterward.

Friday morning will see a mass exodus out of Tampa, although some of the New Hampshire delegation headed back Thursday morning. Congressman Charles Bass was here for just 36 hours and is now back in New Hampshire on the campaign trail. Downtown businesses can get back in business. Hotels and restaurants and the hospitality and destination locations here will all take a deep breath, catch up on their inventory, and prepare for business as usual at a much more relaxed pace. And then it all starts again, this time for the Democrats in Charlotte.

I won't be there!