Originally published: August 30, 2012 7:57 PM
Updated: August 30, 2012 11:36 PM
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney addresses the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla. (Aug. 30, 2012)
TAMPA, Fla. - Mitt Romney launched his fall campaign for the White House Thursday night with a rousing, remarkably personal speech to the Republican National convention and a prime-time TV audience, proclaiming that America needs "jobs, lots of jobs" and promising to create 12 million of them in perilous economic times.
"Now is the time to restore the promise of America," Romney said to a nation struggling with 8.3 percent unemployment and the slowest economic recovery in decades.
Often viewed as a distant politician, Romney made a press-the-flesh entrance into the hall, walking slowly down one of the convention aisles and shaking hands with dozens of delegates. The hall erupted in cheers when he reached the stage and waved to his cheering, chanting supporters before beginning to speak.
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"I accept your nomination for president," he said, to more cheers. Then he pivoted into personal details of family life, recounting his youth as a Mormon, the son of parents devoted to one another, then a married man with five rambunctious sons.
He choked up at least twice, including when he recalled how he and wife Ann would awake to find "a pile of kids asleep in our room."
He was unstinting in his criticism of President Barack Obama, his Democratic quarry in a close and uncertain race for the White House, and drew cheers when he vowed to repeal Obama's signature health care law.
"This president can tell us it was someone else's fault. This president can tell us that the next four years he'll get it right. But this president cannot tell us that you are better off today than when he took office," Romney declared.
"I will begin my presidency with a jobs tour. President Obama began his presidency with an apology tour," he said, then accusing the incumbent of failing to support Israel while exercising patience with its arch-enemy, Iran.
Clint Eastwood, legendary Hollywood tough guy, put the case for ousting Obama plainly moments before Romney made his entrance. "When somebody does not do the job, you've got to let 'em go," he said to the cheers of thousands in the packed convention hall.
Beyond the heartfelt personal testimonials and political hoopla, the evening marked one of a very few opportunities any presidential challenger is granted to appeal to millions of voters in a single night.
Romney's remarks came on a night when other speakers filled out a week-long portrait of the GOP nominee as a man of family and faith, savior of the 2002 Winter Olympics, savvy and successful in business, yet careful with a buck.
Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida said Mitt Romney knows what makes America exceptional.
Rubio told the GOP convention that Romney understands prosperity doesn't happen because the government spends more money, that it happens because people use their own money to open businesses.
Rubio says the problem with President Barack Obama isn't that he's a bad person — it's that he's a bad president who favors tired ideas like big government.
The first-term senator and Cuban-American is a rising GOP star and a tea party favorite. He was reported to be among Romney's running mate choices.
Republicans hope Rubio can boost Romney, who is having a tough time winning over Latino voters.
Rubio introduced Romney as the former Massachusetts governor prepared to formally accept his party's presidential nomination.
Members of Romney's church warmly presented the GOP presidential candidate as a compassionate man who lives his Mormon faith of service.
The former Massachusetts governor is the first Mormon presidential candidate on a major party ticket.
Romney was a bishop in the Boston suburb of Belmont, a job akin to the pastor of a congregation.
An assistant back then, Grant Bennett, told Republican delegates at the GOP convention that Romney had "a listening ear and a helping hand." He said Romney devoted as many as 20 hours a week at his own expense.
A couple, Ted and Pat Oparowski, recalled how Romney helped their dying son write his will. And Pam Finlayson remembered Romney stroking the back of her prematurely born daughter during a hospital visit and bringing over Thanksgiving dinner.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush took the stage earlier in the evening, saying President Barack Obama should stop blaming his brother, former President George W. Bush, for the country's economic woes.
Bush said a real leader would accept responsibility for his own policies.
Bush told the GOP convention Thursday night that his brother is a man of integrity, courage and honor.
The former president is a convention no-show. Republicans aired a short tribute video to George W. Bush, but they have barely mentioned him.
Mitt Romney's son Craig Romney spoke to the crowd about his family's immigration from Mexico. Romney spoke in Spanish and listed accomplishments of Hispanic lawmakers.
Following a Ronald Reagan tribute, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich took to the podium and said it's time to put "real leadership" back in the White House this November.
Gingrich stood by his wife, Callista, when he told delegates Thursday night that it is "striking" how President Barack Obama took the nation down a path that, he says, weakened America's confidence in itself and Americans' hope for a better future.
He compared Obama to former President Jimmy Carter and said both "produced little effective legislation."
Gingrich often sparred with Romney during the Republican primary, particularly when a "super" political committee supporting Romney hammered Gingrich with millions of dollars in television ads.
Gingrich said earlier this year that he's supporting Romney because he's the best choice to defeat Obama.
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