Ann Romney tries to sell country on husband while Chris Christie
tries to dissuade it from president  Ann Romney, wife of
Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, reacts before
speaking at the Republican National Convention in Tampa. Daniel
Acker/Bloomberg  TAMPA—On the first night of speechmaking at the
2012 Republican National Convention, Ann Romney tried to sell
women on her husband, Mitt Romney, and the country on his
leadership ability.  New Jersey Governor Chris Christie J. Scott
Applewhite/AP  New Jersey Governor Chris Christie tried to
explain to both the reason for not reelecting President Obama.
A convention shortened by a day due to Hurricane Isaac’s passage
through the nearby Gulf of Mexico created a compressed speaking
schedule and a slightly incoherent juxtaposition.  Advertisement
- Continue Reading Below  It pitted a passionate wife speaking
of the boy she met at a high school dance against a brash,
street-fighting politician urging the country to follow his lead
in solving its problems.