Post date: Aug 28, 2012 7:50:30 PM
TAMPA, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (AUGUST 28, 2012) (NBC) - The Republican National Convention kicked off festivities on Tuesday (August 28) after the threat of Hurricane Isaac delayed the start of the convention by a day.
The Republican National Convention begins its first day of business after delaying the start one day due to the threat of Hurricane Isaac.
"This convention will come to order," Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said at 2 pm (1800 gmt), beginning the day's business.
Tuesday's agenda will be dominated by the traditional roll call of state delegations, which will make presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's nomination official, and endorsement of the party's election platform.
Romney, who had originally planned to stay out of the spotlight until Thursday night when he accepts his party's nomination, decided to make an early appearance in the Florida host city on Tuesday to be on hand for his wife's turn at the podium.
Republicans seeking to salvage the convention faced a stiff challenge: help Romney make an aggressive, memorable argument to voters to replace President Barack Obama while being careful to avoid the appearance of unseemly celebration while the Gulf Coast was under threat from a hurricane.
The day's schedule will end in an evening capped by prime-time speeches by his Romney's wife, Ann, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.