TAMPA -- Mitt Romney's campaign on Sunday laid out an updated three-day Republican National Convention schedule that incorporated a number of speakers whose Monday sessions had been cancelled due to Tropical Storm Isaac.
Speaking on a conference call with reporters, Romney campaign strategist Russ Schriefer said the convention managed to fit all of Monday's "headliners" into the condensed schedule, including former Democrat-turned Republican Rep. Artur Davis (Ala.) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).
Schriefer said Monday's theme, "We Can Do Better," intended to highlight the "failed leadership" of President Barack Obama, "can easily be put into our entire program ... so that all becomes part of our overall theme [for the week]."
Schriefer did not elaborate on how that theme would be incorporated into the rest of the week. Romney campaign strategists had initially hoped to use Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to reintroduce their candidate and the party's platform to voters.
The message meld was only the latest headache resulting from Isaac, a tropical storm now threatening New Orleans with a potential Category 2 Hurricane later this week.
As the wind picked up Sunday in Tampa, shaking the palm fronds, questions remained about how Republicans intend to carry out a successful partisan celebration while millions of Americans remain in danger from the storm.
Schriefer deflected questions about how Isaac would affect the plans or tone of the convention going forward.
"Our concern is with the people in the path of the storm," he said. "As soon as we have any information it will be taken into consideration, but until we know [something new], we're going to continue with our Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday schedule."
Asked about a possible Friday session to make up for lost time, Schriefer said, "It's a hypothetical question and I don't want to answer it" that way.
Shriefer also unveiled plans to start a special "debt-clock" Monday, beginning at the official gavel set to open the convention at 2 p.m. The digital clock resembles a stop-watch and will log the growth of the national debt second by second. It will run until the convention ends, a move Republicans hope will help highlight how much the debt grows in just a four-day period.
See the revised convention schedule, below:
Monday, August 27, 2012
2:00 p.m. Chairman of the RNC Reince Priebus
Call to Order/Start Debt Clocks
2:10 p.m. Announcement of Recess
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
2:00 p.m. Chairman of the RNC Reince Priebus
Color Guard Knights of Columbus
Pledge of Allegiance by Former Governor Tim Babcock (MT)/ Tom Hogan (FL)
National Anthem sung by Philip Alongi
Invocation by Rabbi Meir Soloveichik
Opening procedural steps, appointment of convention committees
Welcoming remarks, and House and Senate candidates and RNC auxiliaries
RNC Chairman Priebus
RNC Co-Chairman Sharon Day
Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn
Convention Chief Executive Officer William Harris
Chairman of Tampa Bay Host Committee Al Austin
Republican Congressional Candidates
State Delegate Barbara Comstock (VA)
Representative Tim Griffin (AR)
Republican Senate Candidates
Republican National Committee auxiliaries
Consideration of convention committee reports
RNC Chairman Reince Priebus
Committee on Credentials Chairman Mike Duncan
Committee on Permanent Organization Chairwoman Zoraida Fonalledas
Convention Permanent Chairman Speaker John Boehner, Presiding
Official Convention Photograph
Committee on Rules Chairman John Sununu
Committee on Resolutions Chairman Governor Bob McDonnell
Committee on Resolutions Co-Chairman U.S. Senator John Hoeven
Committee on Resolutions Co-Chairman U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn
Roll Call for Nomination of President of the United States
Roll Call for Nomination of Vice President of the United States
6:40 p.m. Recess
7:00 p.m. Reconvene
Remarks by Speaker John Boehner
Remarks by RNC Chairman Reince Priebus
Video and remarks by Mayor Mia Love (Saratoga Springs, UT), U.S. congressional candidate
Remarks by Janine Turner
Remarks by former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum
Remarks by Host, U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers8:00 p.m. Remarks by U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (NH), accompanied by Jack Gilchrist
Remarks by Governor John Kasich (OH)
Remarks by Governor Mary Fallin (OK)
Remarks by Governor Bob McDonnell (VA), accompanied by Bev Gray
Remarks by Governor Scott Walker (WI)9:00 p.m. Remarks by Governor Brian Sandoval (NV)
Remarks by Sher Valenzuela (small business owner, candidate for DE Lt. Governor)
Remarks by Senate Republican Candidate Ted Cruz (TX)
Remarks by Artur Davis
Remarks by Governor Nikki Haley (SC)10:00 p.m. Remarks by Mrs. Luce' Vela Fortuño
Remarks by Mrs. Ann Romney
Remarks by Governor Chris Christie (NJ)
Benediction by Sammy Rodriguez
Adjournment
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
7:00 p.m. Convention convenes
Call to order
Introduction of Colors by Amputee Veterans of America Support Team (AVAST)
Pledge of Allegiance by Brigadier General Patrick E. Rea, US Army (Ret.)
National Anthem sung by Ayla Brown
Invocation by Ishwar Singh
Ron Paul Video
Remarks by Senate Republican Leader and Convention Temporary Chairman Mitch McConnell (KY)
Remarks by Senator Rand Paul (KY)
Remarks by Christopher Devlin-Young and Jeanine McDonnell8:00 p.m. Remarks by Senator John McCain (AZ)
Remarks by Attorney General Pam Bondi (FL) and Attorney General Sam Olens (GA)
Remarks by Governor Bobby Jindal (LA)
Remarks by Senator John Thune (SD)
Remarks by Senator Rob Portman (OH)9:00 p.m. Remarks by Governor Luis Fortuño (PR)
Remarks by Governor Tim Pawlenty (MN)
Bush 41, 43 Film
Remarks by Mike Huckabee10:00 p.m. Remarks by Condoleezza Rice
Remarks by Governor Susana Martinez (NM)
Remarks by vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan
Benediction by Archbishop Demetrios
Adjournment
Thursday, August 30, 2012
7:00 p.m. Convention convenesCall to order
Introduction of Colors US Central Command Joint Forces Color Guard Team
Pledge of Allegiance by Dylan Nonaka
National Anthem sung by SEVEN
Invocation by Ken and Priscilla Hutchins
Remarks by U.S. Rep. Connie Mack (FL)
Reagan Legacy Video
Remarks by Newt and Callista Gingrich
Remarks by Craig Romney
8:00 p.m. Remarks by Governor former Jeb Bush (FL)
Remarks by Bob White, chairman of Romney for President campaign
Remarks by Grant Bennett
Remarks by Tom Stemberg9:00 p.m. Remarks by former Massachusetts Lt. Governor Kerry Healey
Remarks by Jane Edmonds, former Massachusetts Secretary of Workforce
Remarks by Olympians Michael Eruzione, Derek Parra and Kim Rhode10:00 p.m. Remarks by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (FL)
Remarks by presidential nominee Mitt Romney
Benediction by Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan
Speaker Boehner declares convention adjourned
Before You Go
