Republicans plan to highlight three of the party's high-profile women as “headliners†during the national convention in Tampa later this summer, officials said this weekend.
Nikki Haley, the governor of South Carolina, Susana Martinez, the governor of New Mexico, and Condoleezza Rice, the secretary of state under George W. Bush, will each have prominent speaking roles.
“They are some of our party's brightest stars, who have governed and led effectively and admirably in their respective roles,†Reince Preibus, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, said in a statement. “Ours will be a world class convention, worthy of the next president of the United States.â€
Republican officials did not name the convention's keynote speaker, a coveted spot that is often used to highlight a rising political star. Chris Christie, the governor of New Jersey, has been mentioned as a possible keynote speaker .
The Democrats announced last week that Julian Castro, the mayor of San Antonio, Tex., will be the party's keynote speaker in Charlotte, N.C.
Republican convention officials also did not indicate any role for the people most often mentioned as possible vice presidential nominees: Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, or Tim Pawlenty, the former governor of Minnesota.
But the speaker's list also includes a series of politicians who speeches could help fire up the convention crowd ahead of Mr. Romney's acceptance speech.
Senator John McCain of Arizona, the party's 2008 nominee, will get a speaking slot, as will Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas. Both men were rivals of Mr. Romney's in 2008.
Rick Scott, the governor of Florida, will get a headliner slot, as will John Kasich, the governor of Ohio.
Follow Michael D. Shear on Twitter at @shearm.
