The guessing game continues over who will give the keynote address at this month's Republican National Convention in Tampa, but one thing is certain: Florida Gov. Rick Scott will have a speaking role.
RNC Chairman Reince Priebus announced this morning the first list of headliners, putting to bed the will-he-or-won't-he speculation over a possible Scott speech. Supporters favored putting the host governor in the national spotlight, while critics argued Scott was not a dynamic enough orator. It remains to be seen whether Scott's speech will get a coveted prime time slot during the Aug. 27-30 convention.
More names will role out in the coming weeks, but here's the current speaking roster as it reads on gopconvention2012.com:
- South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, the first female governor of South Carolina and the youngest sitting governor in the United States;
- Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, the 44th governor of Arkansas and 2008 presidential candidate is a NY Times best-selling author, radio and television show host;
- Ohio Governor John Kasich, former House Budget Committee chairman;
- New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, the first female Hispanic governor in the U.S. and the first female governor of New Mexico;
- Arizona Senator John McCain, the party’s 2008 nominee, now serving his fifth term in the U.S. Senate; and
- Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, America’s 66th secretary of state and the first African-American female to hold the position.
If you were Gov. Scott's speech writer, what would you have him say at the RNC? Head to the WUSF Facebook page to weigh in.
