Formally accepting his nomination, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney took the stage Thursday night to address millions of voters on why he should be chosen to lead the country.
Romney’s remarks focused on unfulfilled promises of the Obama administration, religion, jobs and the economy. “Hope and change had a powerful appeal,” Romney said. “But tonight I’d ask a simple question: If you felt that excitement when you voted for Barack Obama, shouldn’t you feel that way now that he’s President Obama? You know there’s something wrong with the kind of job he’s done as president when the best feeling you had was the day you voted for him.”
The last night of the convention also saw mystery surprise guest Clint Eastwood who delivered an ad-lib speech in support of Romney, speaking to an Invisible Obama sitting on a chair. The remark launched the @InvisibleObama Twitter account (which ballooned to 26k+ followers by the end of the convention) and spawned countless #Eastwooding memes.
Other final day events highlights came from Jeb Bush, past Olympians Scott Hamilton, Mike Eruzione and Kim Rhode, musical performances by Taylor Hicks and Bebe Winans & choir, a massive balloon drop and prayer.
Romney appeals to voters disillusioned with Obama
John Whitesides and Steve Holland Reuters
12:56 a.m. EDT, August 31, 2012
TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) – Republican Mitt Romney urged voters on Thursday to help him rebuild the U.S. economy and create millions of new jobs, asking them to overcome their disappointment in President Barack Obama and join him in restoring the promise of America.
In a high-stakes speech accepting the Republican presidential nomination, Romney said he would work to unify a divided country that believed Obama’s lofty campaign promises but had lost hope they would be fulfilled.
“What is needed in our country today is not complicated or profound. It doesn’t take a special government commission to tell us what America needs. What America needs is jobs. Lots of jobs,” the former Massachusetts governor told a cheering crowd on the final night of the Republican National Convention in Tampa.
The speech was somewhat overshadowed by a bizarre performance on stage by Hollywood star Clint Eastwood, who addressed an imaginary Obama in an empty chair.
A surprise guest who appeared shortly before Romney during TV prime time, Eastwood made a rambling speech that puzzled viewers and interrupted a carefully crafted evening that told the story of Romney’s life and why he should lead the country.
Earlier in the evening, the convention heard from a series of Romney’s friends and relatives who painted a picture of a humane, compassionate man – part of a three-day effort to humanize a candidate often accused of being cold and formal.
Romney’s speech, which launches a two-month dash to the November 6 election, was seen by tens of millions of television viewers and gave some their first extended look at the multimillionaire ex-businessman.
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HUFFINGTONPOST: Transcript of Mitt Romney remarks
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