This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Aug. 30, 2012 - An overflow crowd of enthusiastic Republicans showed up Thursday night at the Corner Pub and Grill Restaurant in Ballwin to cheer on GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney as he delivered his acceptance speech Thursday night, capping the party’s convention in Tampa.
Ann Wagner, the 2nd District congressional nominee and host for the TV-watching event, said the packed room, which spilled into the hall, exemplified the optimistic mood of area Republicans as they galvanize for the Nov. 6 election.
Mike Geller, a political consultant from Wildwood, agreed. “Our victory may not be surprising, but the margin will be,” Geller said.
To him, the theme of the Tampa gathering was simple. “When America offers opportunity, it doesn’t guarantee the outcome,’’ he said. “The opportunity is there.”
Jennifer Kelly, the newly elected Republican committeewoman for Chesterfield Township, joined Barbara Spitzer of Ballwin in saying they were particularly inspired by the women governors – notably Susan Martinez of New Mexico and Nikki Haley of South Carolina – who had delivered some of the best-received speeches in Tampa.
“I am very excited,” Spitzer said. “I think we have a phenomenal presidential candidate and vice president.”
Wagner predicted that such support would translate into a strong GOP showing in Missouri on Nov. 6, observing that Republican turnout for the Aug. 7 primary had far exceeded projections.
But while confident in Romney’s chances of carrying Missouri, Wagner – the party’s former state chairman -- said GOP activists “aren’t taking anything for granted. No grass is going to grow under our feet.”
