Delaware Delegates at the Republican National Convention in Tampa have a busy day Tuesday.
The afternoon session features the official nomination of Mitt Romney for President and Paul Ryan for Vice President.
State Representative Ruth Briggs-King (R-Georgetown) is one of the Delaware GOP’s alternate delegates in Tampa. In an interview with WDDE Tuesday morning, Briggs-King said she expects poll numbers that show Romney struggling to connect with women voters as he accepts the nomination to change before November. She believes it’s “a misperception that [Gov. Romney] doesn’t identify with women or is not a women’s candidate.”
“I think the economy, jobs and some other issues, like healthcare, will be at the forefront of [women's decision-making process],” said Briggs-King.
Tuesday night, Briggs-King and other delegates will hear from a full roster of speakers, including the GOP candidate for Delaware Lt. Governor Sher Valenzuela.
Briggs-King is excited that the First State delegation will have its moment in prime-time when Valenzuela speaks.
“I think it brings an emphasis to Delaware – about our diversity and about our business needs. And It think she has a very strong message to share,” said Briggs-King in and interview with WDDE from Tampa. “I’m really excited that one of the smaller states with one of the smaller delegations is getting the opportunity to make that kind of presentation at the national level.”
Valezuela is scheduled to speak in the 9 o’clock hour Tuesday night. She’s part of a line up of speakers also includes Mitt Romney’s wife, Ann, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who delivers the convention’s keynote address.
Rep. Briggs-King has been in Tampa since last week when she represented the state on the convention’s platform committee. She argues that debate over the platform’s plank on abortion leaves some room for interpretation about allowing for abortion in cases of rape or incest if the “morning after” pill is used and when the life of the mother is threatened. That would put it closer to the views express by Gov. Romney.
“Just by getting down into the details, one can see where the Romney platform is not that different from the Republican platform,” said Briggs-King.
Briggs said there was also extensive debate over language regarding support for Israel
