Election 2012: Romney speech to Republican convention will be defining moment

	Click to View in Browser 08/30/2012 Romney speech to Republican convention will be defining moment TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - Mitt Romney faces a critical test in his White House bid on Thursday when he addresses the Republican National Convention, an opportunity to convince millions of Americans that he can forge a path to economic rebirth and provide stronger leadership than President Barack Obama. Surprise guest at Republican convention: Clint Eastwood (Reuters) - "Dirty Harry" star Clint Eastwood will bring a touch of Hollywood glamour to the Republican National Convention on Thursday, jetting in as a surprise last-minute speaker to warm up the crowd for presidential candidate Mitt Romney, the CNN and Fox networks reported. At Tampa convention, cheerleaders and tequila are serious business TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - Voters watching the Republican National Convention may see Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan and other party standard bearers on their television sets, but they don't get to sip tequila with NFL cheerleaders. TV audiences go social as Republican convention coverage wanes NEW YORK (Reuters) - Howling wind, driving rain and potential damage in New Orleans from Hurricane Isaac hasn't yet dampened U.S. Republican convention media coverage, but early TV ratings proved only so-so while many people instead "tuned in" to social networks. Secret Service agent's gun found in Romney's plane bathroom TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - A Secret Service agent on Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's campaign plane accidentally left a gun in the plane's bathroom. Analysis: Things we've learned at the Republican convention TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - Mitt Romney's campaign choreographed the Republican National Convention to sell voters on three ideas: that the party is unified behind Romney; that he is a qualified presidential candidate who's warmer than he seems, and that his running mate, Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan, is ready to be one step from the presidency. Cowboys and elephants, Republicans got bling TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - Abe Lincoln, Wyatt Earp and the Wicked Witch of the West walk into a hockey arena... Judge to lift restrictions on Florida voter registration MIAMI (Reuters) - A U.S. judge said on Wednesday he would issue a permanent injunction against controversial restrictions on voter registration drives in Florida put in place under a new state election law backed by the state's governor. Obama tells voters to watch Republicans, but he's not CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia (Reuters) - The White House says President Barack Obama is not monitoring the Republican national convention this week. Rice brings foreign policy clout to Republican convention TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice brought foreign policy clout to the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, condemning what she described as a stark failure of leadership by President Barack Obama. Related Video Ryan accepts VP nomination Paul Ryan's "Obama poster" dig Tales from the Trail The latest Reuters articles on M&A, IPOs, private equity, hedge funds and regulatory updates delivered to your inbox each day. Register Today   A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today   » MORE NEWSLETTERS - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add mail@nl.reuters.com to your address book. Details Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook Forward to a friend