Mitt Romney heads to Republican National Convention

The storm-shortened Republican National Convention was due to begin in earnest today, a three-day coronation of Mitt Romney as the party's rival to US President Barack Obama.

Romney flew to Tampa yesterday to join fellow Republicans seeking to put their shortened convention back on track.

Romney's wife, Ann, was to be among the speakers, and her prime time speech was to show a more personal side of a candidate the Obama campaign has tried to paint as a big business titan out of touch with the struggles of average Americans.

Romney will attend his wife's speech, Ann Romney confirmed yesterday. "It's going to be fun for him to be there."

But even the most carefully crafted convention has surprises - such as the cancellation of the first day's activities because of Tropical Storm Isaac. Republican Party chairman Reince Priebus gavelled the session to order yesterday, then immediately recessed it.

Though the storm, which has turned into a hurricane by yesterday, no longer threatens Tampa, it could affect the convention. Republicans may have to scale down their celebration so they are not seen as partying as Isaac barrels towards land.

They recall how then president George W. Bush was roundly criticised for his handling of Hurricane Katrina in the same region. Bush is not attending the convention.

The Republican gathering will culminate with Romney's nationally televised acceptance speech tomorrow (Friday Hong Kong time), the biggest speaking engagement of his political life as he heads into a 10-week sprint to the November 6 election.

He spent the past few days rehearsing at his New Hampshire vacation home before boarding his campaign plane and heading for Tampa.

Running even with Obama or slightly behind him in most polls, Romney needs a bounce from the gathering, particularly in the 10 or so politically divided "swing states", including Florida itself, likely to decide the election.

Republicans had a line-up of speakers last night who were expected to rip into Obama for his economic policies.

Part of Republican officials' aim is to present Romney's biography - his years as a private equity executive, Massachusetts governor and leader of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics - in a flattering way that contrasts with the waves of attacks on him by the president and his allies.

"Romney just doesn't connect with people. His campaign needs to warm him up, if possible, using the infomercial we call a convention," said political analyst Larry Sabato.

David Carr of The New York Times put it more bluntly, asking: "Can Mitt Romney shake off his plastic, sitcom-dad persona and imitate a human being?"

The man Romney picked as his running mate, Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan, tops the bill today.

Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse