Guy Benson
Political Editor, Townhall.com
GOP Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan delivered exceptionally strong remarks in Tampa tonight, capping off an incredible hour of nationally-televised speeches from Republican headliners. The construction and tone of Ryan’s address was masterful. He was serious, earnest, likeable — and he took apart President Obama’s record with great skill and relish. The Congressman opened with a stark assessment of the dismal campaign President Obama has been forced to run, due to his failed record in office:
A tremendously well-crafted address, delivered more than adequately by a man who’s not especially accustomed to prepared remarks and teleprompters — as his introductory speech demonstrated. It was at once an optimistic ode to a brighter American future and a scathing indictment of the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. His speech planted a giant exclamation point at the end of a memorable and extremely effective 10pm hour. Some credit is due to Mike Huckabee, who pulled the audience out of its relative slumber with an energetic and funny speech, promoting his one-time foe as the man to defeat the president. Huck has a light touch, and he used it to set the table for the big three. Up next was Condoleezza Rice, whose true tour de force threatened to overshadow the speakers who followed her. The audience enveloped her with respect and admiration, interrupting her remarks with applause frequently. Her speech was visionary and forward-looking. It was sober. It never directly criticized the president, but delivered several blows with a velvet glove. Her final anecdote of growing up in the segregated South and relying on hard work and integrity to eventually become US Secretary of State was goosebumps-inducing. Gov. Susana Martinez also performed with charm and aplomb, speaking with an ease and genuineness that filled the hall. Her story about discovering she was a conservative was a highlight. She said she turned to her husband after a lengthy political discussion and said, “I’ll be damned. We’re Republicans!” It brought the house down. The Romney campaign must be absolutely ecstatic with how Wednesday evening unfolded. Thursday night holds the final hurdle to a successful campaign: The message from the man himself. Governor Romney will enjoy the biggest stage and largest political audience of his life. Stay tuned.
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2012/08/30/the_gops_wednesday_night_grand_slam
