Gov. Kasich to speak at Republican convention

Ohio Gov. John Kasich has been tapped to speak at the Republican National Convention later this month in Tampa.

Kasich will be joined by fellow Republican governors Nikki Haley of South Carolina, Rick Scott of Florida and Susana Martinez of New Mexico, along with former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former 2008 presidential candidates Mike Huckabee and Sen. John McCain.

“This election comes down to one thing — jobs. In Ohio, we know what that means. It means we need a leader who believes in American innovation, American ingenuity and the can-do American spirit that embodies our country,” Kasich said in a release sent by the Republican National Committee. “That leader is Mitt Romney, and I am honored to be a part of officially nominating him at the Republican National Convention in Tampa.”

Kasich spoke at the 1996 convention when he chaired the House Budget Committee. Bob Dole was the GOP’s nominee for president that year.

Notably absent from the list were potential picks for Romney’s vice president: Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. The vice-presidential nominee usually addresses the convention on the second to last night of the convention.

The convention runs from Aug. 27-30. Headliners will speak ahead of Mitt Romney’s formal acceptance of the presidential nomination at the end of the convention. Dates and times have not yet been announced.

The Ohio Democratic Party sent a statement Monday saying they’re “thrilled” Kasich will deliver a prime-time speech.

“From his unfair, mean-spirited Senate Bill 5 that alienated police officers, firefighters and Reagan Democrats, to his decision not to release his own tax returns in 2010, or his signature threat to run those that oppose him over with a bus, Kasich has a lot of brow-raising ideas to share with a national audience that will make for must see TV,” said spokesman Jerid Kurtz.

Democrats began announcing convention speakers last week. First lady Michelle Obama is scheduled to open the convention and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro will give the keynote address on the first night, Sept. 4. Vice President Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren, the Democratic Senate candidate from Massachusetts, will speak and former President Bill Clinton will give the nominating address.

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