Republicans nominate Mitt Romney for president

Republicans bestowed their presidential nomination on Mitt Romney on Tuesday, turning to the former Massachusetts governor and millionaire businessman to drive Barack Obama from the White House and usher in a new era of small-government conservatism.       

The overwhelming, enthusiastic vote of delegates at the Republican National Convention belied Romney's long, difficult road to the party's nomination: losing to Senator John McCain four years ago and fending off a series of rivals in a brutal nomination fight this year.        

In the end, Republicans cast aside doubts about Romney's conservative credentials and bet that American voters would be persuaded that Romney's business acumen was just what America needed in dreary economic times.       

"The Honorable Mitt Romney of the state of Massachusetts has received 2061 votes," declared House Speaker and Republican, John Boehner.    

Polls show the race for the presidency as a dead heat, with the economy the top issue in the campaign.      

Voters say they trust Romney more on economic issues, but find Obama to be the more likable candidate.     

Romney is scheduled to make his acceptance speech Thursday night, though those plans could be affected by the weather.  


APTN