RNC Chairman Reince Priebus Announces Six Republican Convention Headliners

TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus today announced six headliners addressing the Republican National Convention August 27-30. Additional convention speakers will be announced in the coming days and weeks. The speakers are:

• U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte, United States Senator from New Hampshire and former New Hampshire Attorney General.

• Former Democratic National Convention Speaker Artur Davis, former Alabama congressman from the 7^th District (2003-2011) who was the first member of Congress not from Illinois to endorse President Obama in 2008. Davis, then a Democrat, seconded the official nomination of Obama at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. He recently announced he is joining the Republican Party and supporting Mitt Romney.

• Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, 55^th Governor of Louisiana, winning election in 2007 and winning reelection in all of the state's 64 parishes in 2011; former U.S. Congressman; led the state's response to the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf in 2010.

• Congressman Connie Mack won the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in Florida on August 14^th and was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in November 2004.

• Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, chairman of the Republican Governors Association and chairman of the Republican National Convention Committee on Resolutions, commonly known as the Platform Committee.

• U.S. Senator Rob Portman, U.S. Senator from Ohio who won election in 2010 by 18 points, winning 82 of Ohio's 88 counties, and former Congressman from Ohio's 2^nd  district.  He is also a former U.S. Trade Representative and former Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

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"This exciting group of headliners includes two successful governors, two outstanding senators, the next senator from our convention state, and a former Co-Chairman of the 2008 Obama campaign.  The perspectives and ideas they bring to the convention stage will show all Americans that Romney and Ryan are the ticket to a better future. Former Congressman Davis especially will give voice to the frustration and disappointment felt among those who supported President Obama in 2008 and are now hungry for a new direction," Chairman Priebus said.

Republican National Convention Chief Executive Officer William Harris said, "These speakers will offer a variety of insights into why we need new leadership in Washington, D.C. and how important it is for us to stand unified as we nominate Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan."

U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte
"Our country is facing great challenges, and the nomination of Mitt Romney to be our next president at the Republican National Convention will be a critical step for us to begin cleaning up the mess in Washington.  With 42 straight months of over eight percent unemployment, it's clear that the policies of the last three and a half years have failed.  Governor Romney is committed to making us stronger both here at home and throughout the world, and he will start by getting America's fiscal house in order and putting us on a path to a brighter economic future."

Former Democratic National Convention Speaker Artur Davis
"The talk and inspiration moved so many of us four years ago, but unfortunately we haven't seen the action to back it up. We were promised jobs and we got job-killing mandates and regulations. We were promised a fiscally responsible government, and we got trillion dollar deficits, debt that has never been seen, and small business burdened with new taxes, and threatened with more taxes. The time for talk is over. At the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Republicans take a step to undo the mismanagement and support Mitt Romney as the next president of the United States."

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal
"The American people are smart. We know that if we don't change leadership soon, our country will continue on a path toward Europe and away from the principles of free market and limited government that have made this country the greatest nation in the world. I look forward to talking about the important choice facing our nation. We can either go the way of Europe, grow the public sector and make Americans more dependent on government or we can support Mitt Romney, reinvigorate the private sector and get our people back to work."

U.S. Congressman Connie Mack
"I am proud to be able to represent Florida and be a part of officially nominating Mitt Romney as the next President of the United States. We will come together as a party and a country at the convention to demand a change of leadership in Washington, D.C. Our voices have been ignored long enough. For nearly four years, Washington's Lockstep Liberals have forced the government takeover of healthcare and saddled us with job-killing regulations, more taxes, more spending and more debt.  That ends this year. The American people are demanding change, and change is on its way."

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell
"It is time for a change in America. President Obama's policies have failed to get our economy turned around and our nation out of debt. I am excited to be a part of the Republican National Convention that will help send Mitt Romney to the White House. Governor Romney is a proven job-creator who knows that in order to grow our national economy, government has to be run like a business – we need to cut spending, demand accountability and results, and live within our means. It has worked in Virginia and it will work for America. Mitt Romney will get America back on track and Americans back to work."

U.S. Senator Rob Portman
"I am looking forward to speaking at the convention in Tampa. Nominating Mitt Romney to be our next president will be a momentous occasion for our party and our country. We are facing tremendous challenges that demand bold action and decisive leadership. Mitt Romney is not just a friend, he is the experienced leader we need at this critical point in our nation's history."

About the 2012 Republican National Convention
The 2012 Republican National Convention will be held at the Tampa Bay Times Forum August 27-30, 2012.  Nearly 50,000 visitors are expected to come to the Tampa Bay area for the event, including delegates, alternate delegates, media and other guests.  For more information about the 2012 Republican National Convention, become part of the virtual convention at www.ConventionWithoutWalls.com, visit our website www.GOPConvention2012.com and check out our official blog, Conventional Wisdom, at www.gopconvention2012.com/blog/.

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SOURCE 2012 Republican National Convention