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| With Eye on Storm, G.O.P. Set to Anoint Romney | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| TAMPA, Fla. — Mitt Romney’s six-year quest for the Republican presidential nomination will culminate Tuesday afternoon when the 4,400 delegates gathered here officially make him their choice to reclaim the White House from President Obama and the Democrats. | TAMPA, Fla. — Mitt Romney’s six-year quest for the Republican presidential nomination will culminate Tuesday afternoon when the 4,400 delegates gathered here officially make him their choice to reclaim the White House from President Obama and the Democrats. |
| Mr. Romney arrived in Tampa late Tuesday morning, at least a day earlier than scheduled and just hours before Tropical Storm Isaac was expected to strike the Gulf Coast. | Mr. Romney arrived in Tampa late Tuesday morning, at least a day earlier than scheduled and just hours before Tropical Storm Isaac was expected to strike the Gulf Coast. |
| The Republican National Convention has hardly played out according to the script that Mr. Romney’s advisers had written. The storm scrambled the convention schedule, while the party’s leadership was dealing with still-simmering anger from grass-roots elements that continues to threaten the images of a party united. | The Republican National Convention has hardly played out according to the script that Mr. Romney’s advisers had written. The storm scrambled the convention schedule, while the party’s leadership was dealing with still-simmering anger from grass-roots elements that continues to threaten the images of a party united. |
| But the task at hand remains: to use the most-watched moment of the Republican presidential campaign to humanize Mr. Romney in the eyes of voters with personal testimonials from his friends, his colleagues and — perhaps most importantly — his wife. | But the task at hand remains: to use the most-watched moment of the Republican presidential campaign to humanize Mr. Romney in the eyes of voters with personal testimonials from his friends, his colleagues and — perhaps most importantly — his wife. |
| Barring last-minute schedule changes forced by the unpredictable weather, Ann Romney will appear on the stage in prime time Tuesday night, lending her broad appeal with voters to try and bolster her husband’s likability. That remains one of Mr. Romney’s primary challenges as he wages a pitched political battle against a well-liked incumbent. | Barring last-minute schedule changes forced by the unpredictable weather, Ann Romney will appear on the stage in prime time Tuesday night, lending her broad appeal with voters to try and bolster her husband’s likability. That remains one of Mr. Romney’s primary challenges as he wages a pitched political battle against a well-liked incumbent. |
| At the same time, Republicans will use Tuesday’s evening lineup of speakers to hammer Mr. Obama and his economic policies, which they argue have made the recession deeper and more painful. Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, blunt and sharp-tongued, will cap the evening with a 30-minute speech intended to forcefully make the case that the president’s policies have failed America. | At the same time, Republicans will use Tuesday’s evening lineup of speakers to hammer Mr. Obama and his economic policies, which they argue have made the recession deeper and more painful. Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, blunt and sharp-tongued, will cap the evening with a 30-minute speech intended to forcefully make the case that the president’s policies have failed America. |
| And, Mr. Romney’s advisers will try on Tuesday to reach out to female voters with a series of speakers who will fight back against Democratic accusations that the party is waging a war against women. Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina will speak to the convention in prime time. | And, Mr. Romney’s advisers will try on Tuesday to reach out to female voters with a series of speakers who will fight back against Democratic accusations that the party is waging a war against women. Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina will speak to the convention in prime time. |
| The evening of speeches will follow several hours of official business, including a debate over the party’s official platform and a potentially disruptive fight over the party rules that will govern future presidential primaries for the Republicans. | The evening of speeches will follow several hours of official business, including a debate over the party’s official platform and a potentially disruptive fight over the party rules that will govern future presidential primaries for the Republicans. |
| Aides to Mr. Romney said on Monday evening that they had reached a compromise with conservative activists who had rebelled against efforts by the Republican establishment to make it harder for candidates outside the mainstream to collect national delegates at the next convention. | Aides to Mr. Romney said on Monday evening that they had reached a compromise with conservative activists who had rebelled against efforts by the Republican establishment to make it harder for candidates outside the mainstream to collect national delegates at the next convention. |
| But grumblings persist among some delegates and other conservatives who say they do not trust Mr. Romney and organizers of the convention to have their interests at heart. | But grumblings persist among some delegates and other conservatives who say they do not trust Mr. Romney and organizers of the convention to have their interests at heart. |
| In an early-morning post on her Facebook page Tuesday, Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska, assailed “the controversial rule change” that was originally pushed by Mr. Romney’s team as a “direct attack on grass-roots activists by the G.O.P. establishment.” She said it “must be rejected.” | In an early-morning post on her Facebook page Tuesday, Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska, assailed “the controversial rule change” that was originally pushed by Mr. Romney’s team as a “direct attack on grass-roots activists by the G.O.P. establishment.” She said it “must be rejected.” |
| Fliers left under the doors of some hotel rooms where delegates were staying denounced “dangerous new party rules” and asserted that “the grass roots of your state are under attack.” | Fliers left under the doors of some hotel rooms where delegates were staying denounced “dangerous new party rules” and asserted that “the grass roots of your state are under attack.” |
| It was unclear whether Ms. Palin or the authors of the fliers were aware of the compromise reached Monday night. | It was unclear whether Ms. Palin or the authors of the fliers were aware of the compromise reached Monday night. |
| By midafternoon on Tuesday, organizers of the convention plan to begin the two roll-call votes that will culminate with Mr. Romney and his vice-presidential choice, Paul D. Ryan, officially becoming the Republican nominees. | By midafternoon on Tuesday, organizers of the convention plan to begin the two roll-call votes that will culminate with Mr. Romney and his vice-presidential choice, Paul D. Ryan, officially becoming the Republican nominees. |
| Delegations from each of the states and territories will cast their ballots in accordance with the primaries and caucuses that gave Mr. Romney victories over a slew of rivals that included Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Representative Ron Paul. | Delegations from each of the states and territories will cast their ballots in accordance with the primaries and caucuses that gave Mr. Romney victories over a slew of rivals that included Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Representative Ron Paul. |
| The outcome is not in doubt. But organizers are hoping that enough of the votes on behalf of Mr. Romney will have been cast by 6:30 p.m. — the start of the evening news broadcasts — for Mr. Romney to officially claim the title that he has sought for so many years. | The outcome is not in doubt. But organizers are hoping that enough of the votes on behalf of Mr. Romney will have been cast by 6:30 p.m. — the start of the evening news broadcasts — for Mr. Romney to officially claim the title that he has sought for so many years. |
| And yet even as Republicans moved forward on Tuesday to finally begin their convention, uncertainty remained the watchword for organizers. | And yet even as Republicans moved forward on Tuesday to finally begin their convention, uncertainty remained the watchword for organizers. |
| The storm in the gulf looked to become a hurricane by the time it strikes land, providing a compelling — and competing — news event for the journalists assembled here in Tampa. | The storm in the gulf looked to become a hurricane by the time it strikes land, providing a compelling — and competing — news event for the journalists assembled here in Tampa. |
| The morning television news programs all started their coverage in New Orleans — not in Tampa — with some of their biggest stars having been diverted to cover the storm instead of the political convention. | The morning television news programs all started their coverage in New Orleans — not in Tampa — with some of their biggest stars having been diverted to cover the storm instead of the political convention. |
| Convention planners were downplaying suggestions early Tuesday that their event might yet be reduced to a single night, saying that while they were keeping a close eye on the storm, they were continuing with their revised schedule full steam ahead. | Convention planners were downplaying suggestions early Tuesday that their event might yet be reduced to a single night, saying that while they were keeping a close eye on the storm, they were continuing with their revised schedule full steam ahead. |
| And with President Obama continuing to campaign on Tuesday following his televised statement on the storm, there was growing sentiment among Republicans here that they should not be prematurely hampered by their fears of looking insensitive during a possible hurricane. | And with President Obama continuing to campaign on Tuesday following his televised statement on the storm, there was growing sentiment among Republicans here that they should not be prematurely hampered by their fears of looking insensitive during a possible hurricane. |
Jim Rutenberg contributed reporting. | Jim Rutenberg contributed reporting. |