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TAMPA – Mitt Romney's long road to the Republican nomination came to a triumphant conclusion Tuesday with delegates at the party's convention formally selecting him to oppose President Obama on Nov 6.

By H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus bangs the gavel for order as delegates' chants hold up a speech by Zori Fonalledas chairman, Committee on Permanent Organization.

By H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus bangs the gavel for order as delegates' chants hold up a speech by Zori Fonalledas chairman, Committee on Permanent Organization.

Having pushed their convention back a day because of worries about then-Tropical Storm Isaac, the GOP began its program this afternoon, and the roll call of states took place within hours of the opening gavel.

But first, delegates emphatically approved a toughly worded party platform that would ban all abortions and gay marriages, reshape Medicare into a voucher-like program and reject federal spending as an antidote for the nation's ailing job market.

But there was also controversy, centered around Texas Rep. Ron Paul, the last holdout candidate in the failed effort to block Romney's nomination.

Paul appeared on the convention floor before the session began to shouts of "Ron Paul" and "Let him speak!"

That led, briefly, to a dueling chant of "Romney!"

Paul said this week that he declined a speaking slot because he was unwilling to "fully endorse" Romney as required. The schedule calls for a Paul video.

Later, many Paul supporters objected loudly to new GOP rules designed to discourage insurgent presidential candidates from amassing delegates.

Paul backers — believing they were being squeezed out — chanted "Object! Object!" Priebus declined to recognize them, saying at one point: "Guys, we will proceed with the order of business."

At least one delegate, John Burroughs, an engineer from Dallas, said he would not vote for Mitt Romney in November even if party rules bind him to voting to nominate him at the convention. "It doesn't bode well for the party. It's not just about Mitt Romney personally," he said, "It's an illusion that we have 100% unity."

The afternoon's events were the first real activity of the delayed convention. The party held a brief pro forma session Monday, canceling all that day's events out of concern over Isaac. The storm blew over — it is now a hurricane headed for Louisiana — and for now, at least, the convention is in full swing.

Tonight's headliners include a keynote address from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and speeches by Romney's wife, Ann; former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum; South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley; and ex-Democrat and former Alabama congressman Artur Davis.

Ann Romney will attempt to show delegates and millions of TV viewers a softer side of her husband, who has been hammered by Democrats for his ties to Bain Capital amid claims that some of the private-equity firm's investments resulted in layoffs.

The Romney camp did not say whether Romney the candidate would attend his wife's speech or show up at all before his address Thursday.

Christie is a populist favorite who ignored pleas to run for president this year. He told USA TODAY he plans to "tell some very direct and hard truths to people in the country about the trouble that we're in."

Since Christie defeated Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine in 2009, the former federal prosecutor has become a national political figure best known for his combative style and straight talk. His YouTube videos — calling a law student an "idiot" or telling people to "get the hell off the beach" as Hurricane Irene approached last summer — have contributed to his popularity.

More than one-third of Americans, or 34%, say they have a favorable impression of Christie, according to a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll. About a quarter of adults said they had an unfavorable opinion of Christie.

Santorum emerged as the conservative alternative to Romney during the GOP primaries. He fell short, but the former Pennsylvania senator gets to tell his story about being the son of immigrants and the fight in Congress during the mid-1990s to overhaul welfare.

Haley, speaking to USA TODAY, said she hopes her speech will appeal to women and help strengthen Romney's popularity in a group that heavily favors Obama in polling.

"I think Gov. Romney is right for the country," Haley said. "He needs to talk about what he has done. Show what he has done to run a successful business.

"The idea that governors need to be able to govern the states without federal intrusion is very important."

Four years ago, Davis was in Denver nominating Barack Obama for president. Now, Davis is a Republican supporting Romney, and he's got some strong things to say about the Democratic Party he left.

Other Republican stars made morning rounds, energizing the Romney delegate base before the day's proceedings.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio addressed a breakfast for delegates from his state, hitting themes of freedom and free enterprise, when his speech was disrupted by a handful of protesters who shouted that they represented working-class Floridians and demanded Rubio "pay his fair share."

The crowd of about 150 delegates and guests shouted them down before the protesters were led from the Innisbrook Golf Resort by law enforcement.

"Well, I guess he's not happy with the hotel assignment," Rubio said to laughter.

Romney senior adviser Ron Kaufman said at a breakfast sponsored by Politico that he wasn't worried about the abbreviated convention.

"I think we took four days, we put them into three, and you'll feel like they are four when it is all said and done. … I think people will walk away thinking, 'That was a good show.' "

Kaufman said that although Romney's grand-finale address will be important, it might not immediately endear him to Americans who remain on the fence about him.

"I don't think he grows that fast," he said. "I think it's part of the narrative."

Kaufman said there are three important events during the general election that will help define Romney: the vice presidential pick of Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., his convention speech and the presidential debates.

"It won't change overnight," he said.

Contributing: Jackie Kucinich; Paul Flemming of the Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat; Associated Press

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