Republican National Convention 2012 Schedule Of Events: Mitt Romney To Give Closing Speech Tonight
After a sometimes tumultuous week, in which Hurricane Issac almost threatened to stop the festivities, the 2012 Republican National Convention will come to a close tonight in Tampa, Fla.
The convention has hosted a number of high-profile Republican speakers already, including nominee Mitt Romney's wife Ann Romney, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the keynote speaker, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
Romney's vice presidential running mate, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, closed out Wednesday night in a speech that criticized President Barack Obama and his policies.
"College grads shouldn't have to live out their 20s in childhood bedrooms, staring up at fading Obama posters," Ryan said.
However, his speech is getting heat from news outlets like Slate and Salon, which claimed that it was rife with misrepresentation and inaccuracies.
For example, Ryan argued that Obama's stimulus "was a case of political patronage, corporate welfare, and cronyism at their worst," even though Ryan lobbied and won several stimulus grants that went to his congressional district.
Thursday is the convention's last day. Leading up to the main event - Romney's speech, of course - speakers will include Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Romney's former opponent for the nomination, Newt Gingrich, and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.
Romney will take the stage last and make a highly-anticipated speech to officially kick off his campaign as the Republican Party's nominee for the presidency.
See the full schedule of tonight's speakers below.
THURSDAY, AUG. 30
7 p.m.
- Rep. Connie Mack
- Newt and Callista Gingrich
- Craig Romney
8 p.m.
- Gov. Jeb Bush (FL)
- Bob White, chairman of Romney for President campaign
- Grant Bennett
- Tom Stemberg
9 p.m.
- Former Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey
- Jane Edmonds, former Massachusetts Secretary of Workforce
- Olympians Michael Eruzione, Derek Parra and Kim Rhode
10 p.m.
- Sen. Marco Rubio
- Presidential nominee Mitt Romney