As Republicans were making final adjustments to today’s schedule after losing most of the first day to Hurricane Gustav, the list of speakers was expected to include several Republican heavy hitters and former presidential candidates.
Today
» Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who gave one of the most dynamic campaign speeches four years ago, was expected to be the headline speaker.
» Many evangelical Christians at the convention are hoping former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will make the case for the religious right. Huckabee surged late in the Republican nominating process with a socially conservative, economically populist message.
» McCain’s point man on judicial selections, former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee, is expected to also take the stage. Thompson was one of the few senators who backed McCain for president in 2000.
» Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, who also was the first head of Homeland Security after Sept. 11, was expected to speak. Ridge is expected to continue to play a high-profile role in helping McCain campaign in Ridge’s home state.
» In an effort to reinforce McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin’s credentials as conservative reformers from western states, Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman has been given a prime speaking slot. Huntsman is expected to emphasize the night’s official theme of supporting “a government that is transparent, principled and worthy of the American people it serves.”
