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GOP delegates seek reassurance from Romney: 'He needs to lay out his plan' GOP delegates seek reassurance from Romney: 'He needs to lay out his plan'
(7 days later)
It is the moment the 35,000 Republican activists and 15,000 journalists have been waiting for: six years after launching his first bid to become the party's nominee for president, Mitt Romney will address the national convention on Thursday night in a primetime speech that has to both fire up the faithful and persuade undecided voters across the country that he is up to the job.It is the moment the 35,000 Republican activists and 15,000 journalists have been waiting for: six years after launching his first bid to become the party's nominee for president, Mitt Romney will address the national convention on Thursday night in a primetime speech that has to both fire up the faithful and persuade undecided voters across the country that he is up to the job.
So the Guardian asked some of the delegates in Tampa to tell us the one thing they would like to hear from Romney to make his big moment a triumph.So the Guardian asked some of the delegates in Tampa to tell us the one thing they would like to hear from Romney to make his big moment a triumph.
"Governor Romney needs to help everybody understand him a little bit better, and share with the people of Ohio what his plan is and how he's going to accomplish it," said Dimon McFerson, from Delaware County, near Columbus in Ohio."Governor Romney needs to help everybody understand him a little bit better, and share with the people of Ohio what his plan is and how he's going to accomplish it," said Dimon McFerson, from Delaware County, near Columbus in Ohio.
McFerson and his fellow delegates had centre-front seating, a reflection of their state's importance on 6 November. Ohio is perhaps the most crucial state in the election, its 18 electoral college votes fiercely contested by both parties who know those votes could be needed to squeeze past the 270 required for victory. No Republican has ever won a presidential election without taking the state, and McPherson was well aware of Romney's need to appeal to his fellow Ohioans.McFerson and his fellow delegates had centre-front seating, a reflection of their state's importance on 6 November. Ohio is perhaps the most crucial state in the election, its 18 electoral college votes fiercely contested by both parties who know those votes could be needed to squeeze past the 270 required for victory. No Republican has ever won a presidential election without taking the state, and McPherson was well aware of Romney's need to appeal to his fellow Ohioans.
"I want to hear Governor Romney continue to talk about what he's been talking about for this past year and a half," he said. "And that is how he is going to turn this country around and create jobs and strengthen this economy so that America can return to the glory that it has possessed for so many centuries.""I want to hear Governor Romney continue to talk about what he's been talking about for this past year and a half," he said. "And that is how he is going to turn this country around and create jobs and strengthen this economy so that America can return to the glory that it has possessed for so many centuries."
It is expected to be close in Colorado, too. The Centennial State went to George W Bush in 2000 and 2004 but swung to the Democrats in 2008, with Obama winning by almost 9%.It is expected to be close in Colorado, too. The Centennial State went to George W Bush in 2000 and 2004 but swung to the Democrats in 2008, with Obama winning by almost 9%.
Bob Beauprez knows as much as anyone about the politics of the state – the Colorado delegate, and former congressman, was the Republican nominee for governor in 2006, losing out to Democrat rival Bill Ritter.Bob Beauprez knows as much as anyone about the politics of the state – the Colorado delegate, and former congressman, was the Republican nominee for governor in 2006, losing out to Democrat rival Bill Ritter.
"Mitt Romney has got to make the connection with people that he can not only be our nominee and be a credible candidate, but that he can fix our economy that's been struggling so badly," Beauprez said."Mitt Romney has got to make the connection with people that he can not only be our nominee and be a credible candidate, but that he can fix our economy that's been struggling so badly," Beauprez said.
"I like Mitt Romney because of his practical experience. Everywhere he's been in life he's been a fix-it kind of guy. He's turned around the Olympics, he turned around Massachusetts, he did it in the private sector when he was at Bain Capital.""I like Mitt Romney because of his practical experience. Everywhere he's been in life he's been a fix-it kind of guy. He's turned around the Olympics, he turned around Massachusetts, he did it in the private sector when he was at Bain Capital."
Beauprez said he knows Romney personally, and said he is a "remarkably humble man".Beauprez said he knows Romney personally, and said he is a "remarkably humble man".
"That's his background, that's the family that he came from, that's the way he's lived his life. Sometimes people see that humbleness as a detachment. I think it's a misread of Mitt and Ann Romney and I think you're going to see some of that more human side, the warmer side, at this convention.""That's his background, that's the family that he came from, that's the way he's lived his life. Sometimes people see that humbleness as a detachment. I think it's a misread of Mitt and Ann Romney and I think you're going to see some of that more human side, the warmer side, at this convention."
DeLena May, from Gainesville, Florida – "we have 50,000 students there, most of them liberal, unfortunately" – is another delegate from a crucial swing state. Obama won Florida by 2.82% in 2008, and it is no coincidence that Republicans chose the state for the convention.DeLena May, from Gainesville, Florida – "we have 50,000 students there, most of them liberal, unfortunately" – is another delegate from a crucial swing state. Obama won Florida by 2.82% in 2008, and it is no coincidence that Republicans chose the state for the convention.
"What I want to hear from Mitt Romney is 'We're gonna straighten this crap out,'" May said. "I'm a business person, I'm a person who lived the American dream and my children have no chance to live the American dream in this socialised mess that has evolved in the last 20 years or so. I know that Mitt Romney will be able to straighten it out because he's as conservative as I am. And he understands what it takes to fix things that are broken – primarily national healthcare.""What I want to hear from Mitt Romney is 'We're gonna straighten this crap out,'" May said. "I'm a business person, I'm a person who lived the American dream and my children have no chance to live the American dream in this socialised mess that has evolved in the last 20 years or so. I know that Mitt Romney will be able to straighten it out because he's as conservative as I am. And he understands what it takes to fix things that are broken – primarily national healthcare."
Pennsylvania has been Democrat territory in all recent elections, but is seen as having an outside chance of swinging for Romney given that the vote there tends to be close to the national average. For Margo Hunt, from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Romney needs to describe how he will "help our economy, keep our armed forces strong, and reverse what's going on in this country".Pennsylvania has been Democrat territory in all recent elections, but is seen as having an outside chance of swinging for Romney given that the vote there tends to be close to the national average. For Margo Hunt, from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Romney needs to describe how he will "help our economy, keep our armed forces strong, and reverse what's going on in this country".
"We have got to save our country," Hunt added, with scrapping "Obamacare" high on her list. Romney has pledged to repeal it on the first day of his presidency."We have got to save our country," Hunt added, with scrapping "Obamacare" high on her list. Romney has pledged to repeal it on the first day of his presidency.
In addition to persuading independents in swing states, however, Romney must also use his speech to appeal to Republicans in GOP strongholds for help with campaigning and, crucially, donations.In addition to persuading independents in swing states, however, Romney must also use his speech to appeal to Republicans in GOP strongholds for help with campaigning and, crucially, donations.
"I want to hear from Governor Romney the good things he's going to do for our country to bring us back to less government and to have the great leadership that I know he can do," said Lisa Ritchie, from Witchita, Kansas – one of those strongholds. Ritchie, who had dressed as a witch "to showcase our great state", runs two businesses, selling dancewear and providing "dinner theatre", making her exactly the kind of small business owner that Romney tries to appeal to when he talks of lower taxes and less government interference."I want to hear from Governor Romney the good things he's going to do for our country to bring us back to less government and to have the great leadership that I know he can do," said Lisa Ritchie, from Witchita, Kansas – one of those strongholds. Ritchie, who had dressed as a witch "to showcase our great state", runs two businesses, selling dancewear and providing "dinner theatre", making her exactly the kind of small business owner that Romney tries to appeal to when he talks of lower taxes and less government interference.
"The economy is just sorry right now," she said. "And I have a couple of small businesses and I don't want him to tell me that I have to pay so much if I have 50 employees … there's so many things.""The economy is just sorry right now," she said. "And I have a couple of small businesses and I don't want him to tell me that I have to pay so much if I have 50 employees … there's so many things."
Georgia delegate Ginger Howard, from Atlanta, campaigned for Rick Perry during the Iowa caucuses, but said she was "100%" behind Romney now, and looking forward to his address on Thursday night. "I think that he needs to really show the sharp contrast between his vision and the vision of the current president, and talk about how far even more in debt [we are] than we were four years ago."Georgia delegate Ginger Howard, from Atlanta, campaigned for Rick Perry during the Iowa caucuses, but said she was "100%" behind Romney now, and looking forward to his address on Thursday night. "I think that he needs to really show the sharp contrast between his vision and the vision of the current president, and talk about how far even more in debt [we are] than we were four years ago."
"He needs to lay out his plan, he needs to make it very clear, he needs to articulate it and he also needs to personalise himself.""He needs to lay out his plan, he needs to make it very clear, he needs to articulate it and he also needs to personalise himself."
Jerry Miller, from Kentucky, was roaming the convention floor on Wednesday night, looking to collect pin buttons from as many different states as possible as unnoticed luminaries took to the stage to heap praise on the 2012 nominee. "Mitt Romney has to show that he has a plan, that its not just rhetoric, or who do you like the most," Miller said. "The most important issue is jobs and the economy, without a doubt. Many of us are concerned about our debt."Jerry Miller, from Kentucky, was roaming the convention floor on Wednesday night, looking to collect pin buttons from as many different states as possible as unnoticed luminaries took to the stage to heap praise on the 2012 nominee. "Mitt Romney has to show that he has a plan, that its not just rhetoric, or who do you like the most," Miller said. "The most important issue is jobs and the economy, without a doubt. Many of us are concerned about our debt."
As for his button collection, Miller had pins from 12 of 50 states as of Wednesday evening. "I must have met people from about 24 states, but many people don't have buttons", he said. Mitt Romney will be hoping for a higher conversion rate come 6 November.As for his button collection, Miller had pins from 12 of 50 states as of Wednesday evening. "I must have met people from about 24 states, but many people don't have buttons", he said. Mitt Romney will be hoping for a higher conversion rate come 6 November.
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