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Pictured below: Rick Santorum at DeWine Luncheon; and Mike DeWine with
(left in front) Betty Montgomery, (right front) Jo Ann Davidson and
(behind center) Cheryl Grossman. Photos by Lyn Bliss and (Alternates
pix) Jen Thrasher.
Republican National Convention
Living the
Dream, Day 3
By Lyn Bliss
Day three – starts with a bang, ends with a whimper….
The day began with an Ohio delegation breakfast sponsored by Attorney
General Mike DeWine, with a fantastic speech by Rick Santorum. Great
way to start the day!
Since all Monday events were cancelled and combined with those already
scheduled for Tuesday – it was one very busy day!! This convention was
set up with a “theme” for each day. Monday: “We Can Do Better.”
Tuesday: “We Built It.” Wednesday will be “We Can Change It” and
Thursday will be “We Believe In America.” The goal being to “…help
Americans of every background learn more about Mitt Romney and how he
is uniquely qualified with the experience and determination to lead
this country and help everyone realize the American Dream.”
The trip to the forum was outstanding, because we had been warned that
we would have to do a lot of walking and to be prepared to stand in
line. We boarded the buses outside the hotel, drove directly to the
Times Forum, sat on the bus for about 10 minutes, and walked right up
to the security desks and inside within a matter of minutes!!
Delegates were seated in the Ohio floor section and alternates were
seated in the first level of stadium “theater style” seats – drink
holder included. My seat is on the aisle, three rows from the floor –
about 35 yards from the podium – my eyes are about level with the stage
surface. Great view!
RNC Chairman Reince Priebus opened the session. The meeting was gaveled
by Speaker John
Boehner, Permanent Chairman of the Convention.
What a surprise when Chairman Bob Bennett and Romney Ohio Campaign
Chair Scott Jennings came back and escorted me down to the floor for
the roll call report on state delegates. Speaker Boehner conducted the
Roll Call of the States, with all states/territories reporting the
outcome of their primary election. Romney received the necessary number
of delegates shortly before Governor John Kasich reported all of Ohio’s
66 delegates for Romney. Our OFRW President Jean Turner was called to
stand directly behind the Governor as he gave his report. I was lucky
enough to be about four seats away!
Romney was declared to have received the Republican nomination of the
states. After that, Paul Ryan was nominated and approved to be the
nominee for Vice-presidential Candidate.
The following were among those giving “remarks”… Sharon Day (Co-chair
of the Republican National Committee), William D. Harris (CEO 2012 RNC
Convention), Representative Pete Sessions (Chairman of the Republican
Congressional Committee), Rae Lynne Chornenky (President of the
National Federation of Republican Women), Alex Schriver (Chairman of
the College Republican National Committee), Lisa Sticken (Chairman of
the Young Republicans), Governor John Sununu (former New Hampshire
Governor), Senator Mitch McConnell (Senate Republican Leader), Mia Love
(Mayor of Saratoga Springs and candidate in Utah), Cathy McMorris
Rodgers (Representative from Washington State), Kelly Ayotte (U. S.
Senator from New Hampshire), John Kasich (Governor of Ohio), Mary
Fallin (Governor of Oklahoma), Bob McDonnell (Governor of Virginia),
Scott Walker (Governor of Wisconsin), Brian Sandoval (Governor of
Nevada), Rick Santorum (Former Presidential Candidate), Artur Davis
(former Alabama Representative), Nikki Haley (Governor of South
Carolina), Luce Fortuno (Puerto Rico’s First Lady), Ann Romney
(Governor Mitt Romney’s wife), Chris Christie (Governor of New Jersey).
These speakers were joined by a number of small businessmen who spoke
and presented videos about their businesses and how they and their
families had built those businesses.
Talk about a star studded line-up of inspirational and informative
speakers!
After Mrs. Romney, the largest ovations were received by Scott Walker,
Chris Christie and John Kasich. These three governors talked about how
they had turned things around in their states and did so in good
common, down to earth terms. When Governor Kasich took the stage, each
person in one row of the Ohio Delegates, and one row of the Alternates,
held a bright red letter spelling out, “Ohio loves Kasich” (with
“loves” being represented by a heart). The Ohio Delegation remained
standing during Kasich’s speech.
Mrs. Romney was the star of the evening!! She was a major topic of
conversation on the trip back to the hotel. The general consensus, and
oft repeated opinion, was that she is Romney’s “secret weapon.”
She spoke from the heart and brought a very personal viewpoint
regarding Mitt’s values, beliefs and morals to the audience. She was
herself, talking about those she loves. It was a very moving
presentation, given with a backdrop of family pictures over the years.
This morning, when we heard from Romney’s son Tag, we learned that this
was Mrs. Romney’s first speech to such an audience.
Prior to closing of the session, we had been texted that we were to
board any bus to take us to Raymond James Stadium.
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllllllllllll …… you are about to hear the
“whimper” part of the first sentence of this report!
With all the attendees exiting the Forum at the same time, it took a
while to get outside and find a bus that still had room--then a long
time to drive approximately six miles to Raymond James. Once there, it
was a very large field full of buses… with no one really knowing where
we were supposed to find the one that would take us back to our hotel.
After a walk across a grassy field, we were finally on board a bus
supposedly taking us to our hotel. At about 2 a.m., and a few wrong
turns later, we were home – almost three hours after departing the
Forum! First thing this morning, we were assured that this will
not be a repeat performance. We had to sleep really fast last night in
order to be up in time for breakfast this morning! But, it was worth it
– more to follow in my next installment.
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