Pluses, minuses for Romney's convention

Associated Press

BETH FOUHY, Associated Press

Updated: Aug 31, 2012 6:15 PM

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Mitt Romney delivered a widely praised speech to the Republican convention, capping a three-day gathering that showcased an appealing cast of future party leaders and kept up a drumbeat of criticism of President Barack Obama's record and leadership.

But the proceedings also were overshadowed by images of Hurricane Isaac, and a bizarre performance by actor Clint Eastwood that left many viewers scratching their heads.

The convention sent Romney into the fall campaign on a generally high note, buoyed by a party unified in its goal of ousting Obama from the White House in spite of lingering tensions among Republican factions.

But with pre-convention polls showing Romney trailing Obama narrowly in several battleground states, the gathering didn't offer the game-changing shift in momentum many activists had anticipated.

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