Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), unveiled on Tuesday the second round of speakers who will address the GOP convention in Tampa later this month -- a lineup that now includes former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
Priebus announced that besides Bush, Gov. Mary Fallin of Oklahoma, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania will speak to the convention.
Priebus insisted that all of the speakers will help rally the Republican faithful behind the partys presidential candidate, former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts.
I am thrilled to announce Governor Bush, Governor Fallin, Senator Paul and Senator Santorum will address our convention, said Priebus. As our party unites around Governor Romney, these four great leaders will lend their voices in support of his vision to get America back on track.
Bush, whose name had garnered some buzz about winding up as Romneys running mate, though it has quieted as of late, insisted that the former Massachusetts governors record on fiscal issues stands in stark contrast with that of President Barack Obamas.
This election comes down to a fundamental choice between Mitt Romneys commitment to business innovation and job growth, and the presidents record of government taxation and takeovers, Bush insisted. This choice comes at a critical time for our country. We are facing tremendous challenges and our response to them will determine the course of our nation for generations to come. There is a lot at stake for us in November and that is why I am proud to support Governor Mitt Romney as the next president of the United States and I look forward to being a part of his nomination at the Republican National Convention in my home state of Florida.
While Pauls father -- U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas -- is still running for the Republican presidential nomination, the junior senator from Kentucky has endorsed Romney. Though there has been some talk that Rand Paul could end up on the ticket, he is not considered by most national pundits as one of the leading vice presidential possibilities.
Like Bush, Paul played up fiscal issues on Tuesday.
In the past four years, we have seen the national debt soar at the hands of failed Democrat policies, Rand Paul insisted. We are nearing a fiscal cliff and are in desperate need of a change of direction. Whether it is Obamacare, Dodd-Frank or the EPAs war on coal, American jobs and growth are being stifled by the current policies. I believe Governor Romney would help our country start a new path, where job creators are encouraged not punished, and where the size and scope of government are brought under control. I am honored to speak about our Republican vision for the future at the national convention in Tampa.
While he had engaged in an often heated fight with Romney for the Republican nomination, on Tuesday Santorum urged the GOP to rally behind Mitt Romney since the core principles of our country are at stake in November.
The Republican National Convention is an important time for us to aid his vision to put our country back on track, Santorum maintained. We need a leader in the White House who is committed to reforming government. Republicans believe that removing the incentive to work will destroy welfare reform as we know it, costing taxpayers millions and leading the poor to a life of dependency. The contrast between President Obama and Mitt Romney could not be greater. Conservatives from across the country are rallying together and we will make our voices heard in a few weeks in Tampa.
On Monday, the RNC unveiled the first round of convention speakers which included U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, former U.S. Secretary of State Condi Rice, Gov. John Kasich of Ohio, Gov. Rick Scott of Florida and former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
