Election 2012: Romney's storm-delayed convention limps into motion

	Click to View in Browser 08/27/2012 Romney's storm-delayed convention limps into motion TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - Forget the loud music, cheering crowds and funny hats. Instead of opening with a bang on Monday as originally planned, Mitt Romney's Republican convention started with a whimper of bare-bones proceedings as Tropical Storm Isaac churned through the Gulf of Mexico. Republican convention starts Tuesday despite storm: chairman WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans, who have postponed the start of their national convention in Tampa, Florida, by one day because of the threat from Tropical Storm Isaac, will not delay it further and will start the proceedings on Tuesday, the party's chairman said on Sunday. Veteran congressman Flake favored in Arizona Republican Senate primary PHOENIX (Reuters) - Conservative Arizona congressman Jeff Flake is favored to defeat a feisty political newcomer with deep pockets in a primary election on Tuesday for a Senate seat that Republicans need to take the majority from Democrats in the November election. Clooney star guest at Obama fundraiser in Switzerland GENEVA (Reuters) - George Clooney is the star attraction on Monday in what is being billed as the Democratic Party's biggest fundraising event abroad aimed at helping President Barack Obama win re-election. New Jersey guy Christie has double-edged appeal in keynote speech TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - It seems a natural assignment for Chris Christie, the bombastic, in-your-face New Jersey guy whose confrontational style as the Republican governor of a liberal state has made him a rising political star. Republicans tease with gold standard, but idea seen full of bugs NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Republicans have all but guaranteed the backing of the "gold vote" this November by raising an idea that even the most bullish mainstream bullion boosters believe is unrealistic - a return to the gold standard. Republicans shuffle speech lineup to give Ann Romney prime TV slot POWELL, Ohio (Reuters) - Republican officials shuffled the speaking lineup at their convention in Tampa next week to ensure that presidential candidate Mitt Romney's wife Ann will reach a prime-time television audience when she speaks to the gathering. Florida governor cancels opening speech at Republican convention MIAMI (Reuters) - Florida Governor Rick Scott on Saturday canceled his plans to participate in the opening day of the Republican National Convention to focus on the state's preparations for approaching Tropical Storm Isaac. Ron Paul feted in raucous six-hour farewell rally TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - Thousands of die-hard Ron Paul supporters paid no heed to Tropical Storm Isaac on Sunday and held a marathon rally in Tampa to celebrate the 77-year-old congressman, who gave a farewell speech of more than an hour about his libertarian views. Little respect for conventions in never-ending U.S. campaign COMMERCE, Michigan (Reuters) - There are few timeouts in U.S. presidential campaigns any more. Related Video Republican convention kicks off Romney predicts 'great convention,' discusses Isaac 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