Onward to Romney's big night, a speech to millions - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

The people who will introduce Mitt Romney at tonight's Republican National Convention include members of the Mormon church, former business associates and past Olympic athletes.
 
Romney is expected to give Americans a different view of himself than he's presented before -- including discussion of his Mormon faith. He's also expected to focus on what he'll describe as the failures of President Barack Obama to revive the economy.
 
Hinting at the themes in a morning fundraising appeal emailed to supporters, Romney says, "we believe in America, even though the last four years have been full of difficulties and disappointments, doubt and despair."
 
Romney has spent part of the day with extended family -- about 120 people, he guesses -- while also continuing the search for campaign cash in two meetings with donors.

WTHR political reporter Kevin Rader adds:
 

The day is finally here. This is the day Mitt Romney has worked for, for years. Maybe all his life. It can also be an example. After he lost his race for United States Senate when he tried to unseat Ted Kennedy, he could have left politics behind, walked away and into a successful business career. Instead he chose to come back and try to take a country along with him.

Tonight I am told he will have a speech of big ideas. Somehow he will have to convince America that his big ideas can truly translate into big action. He will have to bridge the economic gap that would face any millionaire running for president.

What do you know about the life of a two-income couple raising a large family in Martinsville? What do you have a common with the farmer outside of Greenfield? The college student in Bloomington who will start his or her life upside down because they have borrowed more money then they can possibly pay back, to get a job that doesn't exist? What is the price of a loaf of bread or a gallon of gas?

Mitt Romney will have to somehow show people that he understands and most importantly that he has a better plan to deal with these issues than his opponent. That is not an easy task for anyone. It starts by convincing Americans that while these problems are formidable, they are not insurmountable.

Many people will be meeting Mitt Romney for the very first time tonight. If I could offer any advice, it would be the same I would offer to any politician and it's not complicated. Remember this: people don't care what you know until they know that you care.