RNC speakers announced 8/14 UPDATE: Christie to keynote; Rubio to introduce Mitt

[Donerail]

Great list. But why Scott and Kasich? It just doesn't seem very... practical. They are both pretty unpopular in their home states.

Scott is kind of a formality.  They kind of have to give him a speaking slot, as he's the governor of the state the convention is being held in.  If they didn't, it would be insulting.  But there's no indication of when his speaking time would be, or how long it would be.  It might just be 10 min. at the beginning, in which he gives a generic "welcome to Florida".

Let him talk for ten minutes at three in the morning and let him say nothing political. If Floridians associate Romney with Rick Scott, Obama just got 29 free EVs.

[riceowl]

Maybe they didn't say Santorum to make his supporters think he might be in the running for veep.  I don't see Gingrich on the list either.

[Torie]

Where's Rubio? Surely he will be speaking no?

[RogueBeaver]

Where's Rubio? Surely he will be speaking no?

This is just the first batch. Anyone in the Veep Top 5 or 6 won't be announced soon, and while Rubio's probably on the long list, highly unlikely he's a finalist. He'll get a big primetime slot.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Santorum wasn't runner up. Ron Paul was and where's our speaking slot? Snubbing Paul would be worse Phil. Rick forfeited second place when he withdrew while Ron Paul stayed in the race.

[You kip if you want to...]

Palin?

[Keystone Phil]

Santorum wasn't runner up. Ron Paul was and where's our speaking slot? Snubbing Paul would be worse Phil. Rick forfeited second place when he withdrew while Ron Paul stayed in the race.

Here we go again! Rick Santorum won more states, votes and delegates even after withdrawing from the race. Now that's proof that you're a loser, Ron!

Get over it.

[RI]

Rick Scott? I'm sorry Republicans.

[MorningInAmerica]

Santorum wasn't runner up. Ron Paul was and where's our speaking slot? Snubbing Paul would be worse Phil. Rick forfeited second place when he withdrew while Ron Paul stayed in the race.

Simply remaining in the race well past you have any chance of winning does not make you the runner-up. Santorum won over 21% of the popular vote, to Ron Paul's 11%. Santorum won 10% of the delegates to Ron Paul's 4%. By almost any measure, Santorum outperformed Ron Paul. I would think that certainly puts him in the runner-up position.

Now whether he should speak or not is another question. He's divisive, and much like Palin, while party faithful may like him, he could be a turn-off to the general electorate.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Rick Santorum has made Romney look skeevy to female voters.

I hope Sen. Santorum does not speak at the convention.

[Negusa Nagast 🚀]

Santorum wasn't runner up. Ron Paul was and where's our speaking slot? Snubbing Paul would be worse Phil. Rick forfeited second place when he withdrew while Ron Paul stayed in the race.

They wouldn't give him the speech even if he was the runner up. The bulk of his speeches are the same thing: a rambling old man who can't get his point across because of his inability to structure his speeches.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Palin?

Maybe she'll help build the speakers' podium.  After all don't some call her Nailin' Paylin?

[Oldiesfreak1854]

I guess Romney is paying back Haley for her early support, even if she wasn't able to deliver South Carolina.  Perhaps Haley will seek DeMint's seat in 2016 since all indications are he will not be running again.

I thought Haley didn't endorse Romney until after the SC primary.  And even then, she's a high-profile Republican governor, so she deserves some time for a speech.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

I guess Romney is paying back Haley for her early support, even if she wasn't able to deliver South Carolina.  Perhaps Haley will seek DeMint's seat in 2016 since all indications are he will not be running again.

I thought Haley didn't endorse Romney until after the SC primary.  And even then, she's a high-profile Republican governor, so she deserves some time for a speech.

I remember her and McCain campaigning with him in New Hampshire.

[RogueBeaver]

She endorsed him last August and got HELL for it from the base.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

She endorsed him last August and got HELL for it from the base.

Her endorsement made sense tho.  Romney endorsed her fairly early in the gubernatorial race back in 2010 before her campaign had really taken off.  While he probably was seeking to pick up some conservative cred on the cheap without risking giving offense to the eventual winner by picking their main opponent over them.  Instead he got licky and ended up backing the eventual winner and she paid him back for the favor.

I'm not a fan of either Haley or Romney, but she handled the endorsement game in a classy manner.

[Napoleon]

Republicans, please let Santorum speak.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Rick Santorum was the clear runner up in the 2012 primaries. To exclude him is a disgusting, inexcusable snub of epic proportions.

Well, Pat Buchanan is the only runner up to be robbed of the nomination in the modern primary system. Every other Republican nomination besides 2000 has gone to the incumbent President, and if there's no incumbent Republican, it's gone to the runner up from the previous competitive primary.

[pepper11]

Rick Santorum has made Romney look skeevy to female voters.

I hope Sen. Santorum does not speak at the convention.

Same here. Unfortunately it just came out that he has a fairly prominent spot.

[Averroës Nix]

Jeb Bush, Rand Paul, and Mary Fallin will also be speaking:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/06/rick-santorum-rnc-speech-convention_n_1749911.html?utm_hp_ref=elections-2012

[tmthforu94]

Congratulations, Phil!

[Averroës Nix]

Mary Fallin seems a bit out of nowhere. Can anyone who's more plugged-in to the right wing media sphere provide some insight?

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Well, at least one Paul is speaking...

[RI]

Rand is a pretty awful speaker...

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Rand is a pretty awful speaker...

He has his ups and downs. Ron is great in a rally type speech, but does poorly in debates. Ron would be better for this occasion. Rand is...meh...