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Rand Paul, Rick Santorum To Speak At GOP Convention

Rand Paul, Rick Santorum To Speak At GOP Convention
By 

Senior Political Correspondent, Yahoo!

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WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 29: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) listens as colleagues speak during a press conference by Republican senators on a balanced budget amendment at the U.S. Capitol June 29, 2011 in Washington, DC. Republicans are urging their Democratic colleagues to support a balanced budget amendment. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The first group of headline speakers at this month's Republican convention, announced Monday morning -- former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, Sen. John
McCain (R-Ariz) and others -- was a nod to diversity. The second group, announced Tuesday morning, was a play for significant constituencies in the party's base.

In particular, Sen. Rand Paul's (R-Ky.) presence on the stage in Tampa will help supporters of the senator's father, Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), who ran for president this year and caused the GOP headaches at multiple state party conventions.

And former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), who waged a hard fought and at times bitter battle with Mitt Romney during the Republican primary, will also be a primetime speaker.

The Republican National Committee announced Paul and Santorum's speaking slots along with slots for former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin.

Announcing Paul and Santorum one day after publicizing the first group of headliners looked like a way to try to mitigate the lumps that the GOP knows it will take from Democrats, who will likely use Paul's statements on fiscal policy and Santorum's past remarks on social policy to label the party as extreme.

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Before You Go

Mitt's Lynyrd Skynyrd Hits
Jan. 10, 2012 -- "That Smell"(01 of10)
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At a campaign stop in New Hampshire, Romney dodged the medical marijuana issue. "It's a long ... it's a long question," he told a member of Students for Sensible Drug Policy. "It deserves a full answer, and not just in a photo line like this." (EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
Jan. 24, 2012 -- "Still Unbroken"(02 of10)
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Romney released his tax records, showing that he and his wife, Ann, paid a 2010 rate of 13.9 percent. Thanks to a large portion of his earnings stemming from capital gains and investments, that amount was below what most Americans paid. (EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File )
Feb. 1, 2012 -- "The Ballad Of Curtis Loew"(03 of10)
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In an interview with CNN, Romney told viewers that he's "not concerned about the very poor," explaining that there is a social safety net in place for that part of the population. (credit:CNN)
March 7, 2012 -- "Tuesday's Gone"(04 of10)
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Romney fell short of breaking away from the GOP field on Super Tuesday. Even with a narrow win in Ohio and a host of losses in other states, optimism was abound. "There will be good days and bad days, always long hours and never enough time," he said during his speech. "But, on November 6th, we will stand united -- not only having won an election, but having saved a future." (Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty )
March 12, 2012 -- "What's Your Name?"(05 of10)
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In an attempt to reach out to Southern voters, Romney mixed age, women and hugs all in one. At a campaign rally in Mobile, Alabama, he emphasized his desire to have female voters embrace his White House run. "Please give us a big hug, that's the girls," Romney said. "I've been getting hugs from the Southern girls ... from 12, to well, a lot more than 12." (Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty )
March 12, 2012 -- "Sweet Home Alabama"(06 of10)
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Rain or shine, Romney has his way with words. At a stormy campaign event in Alabama, Mitt and his ralliers huddled under a restaurant overhang to escape the inclement weather. "Look at us in here," Romney remarked. "We are all nice together, all nice and wet, you know, like a can of sardines." (Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty )
April 13, 2012 -- "God & Guns"(07 of10)
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Speaking at an NRA convention in St. Louis, Romney warned that reelecting President Barack Obama would lead to an "unrestrained" assault on freedom. He enforced his pro-gun stance at the event, telling listeners that "the right to bear arms is so plainly stated, so unambiguous, that liberals have a hard time challenging it directly. Instead, they've been employing every imaginable ploy to restrict it." (KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty )
April 15, 2012 -- "Simple Man"(08 of10)
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MSNBC's "Up w/ Chris Hayes" unearthed a controversial January 2012 comment from Romney on moms and work. The GOP hopeful told a Manchester, N.H., audience that poor stay-at-home mothers should be given federal assistance so they can get jobs and "have the dignity of work." This news arrived days after his anger at Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen's criticism of Ann Romney not working "a day in her life." (EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
May 29, 2012 -- "Free Bird"(09 of10)
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Romney clinched the GOP nomination, soaring past the required 1,144 delegates with a Texas primary win. "We did it!" he said in a message to supporters, adding that "it's only the beginning."(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
June 13, 2012 -- "Gimme Three Steps"(10 of10)
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Reporters were kicked out of a Romney event at the Newseum in Washington D.C. One of the press members on hand said that Mitt stayed to take questions, but the media was escorted out before being able to hear any answers. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty )
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