Mitt Romney has never worked in Washington, D.C., but at this week's Republican National Convention he witnessed a familiar ritual of capital dinners and receptions: The guests were gazing over the shoulder of today's honoree and sizing up tomorrow's competition.
The 2012 convention in Tampa took on trappings of an audition for the 2016 presidential contest, and beyond.
Convention ritual requires outward expressions of faith that in November Romney will be elected our 45th president. Bracketed between the boilerplate assurances, however, Texas Gov. Rick Perry was saying "absolutely" that he would take a look at a second run for the White House.
"It's a long time until 2016 and a lot of good things could happen," Perry told Chuck Todd of MSNBC. If he does run again, Perry might get crib sheets to remember the names of cabinet departments that he would abolish.
The father-son team of Rep. Ron Paul and Sen. Rand Paul are clearly looking ahead, as are their libertarian followers who are muscling into state Republican parties from Alaska to Maine.
The elder Paul is bowing out of Congress, and said Monday night he is "undecided" about who to vote for in November. Paul the younger has cast his lot with the Republicans. He fired up the crowd on Tuesday with the continued claim -- U.S. Supreme Court notwithstanding -- that health care reform is unconsitutional.
A national convention keynote speech is a ticket to instant fame, or a quick fade.
Illinois Senate candidate Barack Obama, walking in Boston before his 2004 Democratic keynote, joked to a friend that this was his last day of going unrecognized. Talk of a run for president began the moment he stepped down from the podium.
The Republicans' 2012 keynoter is clearly looking ahead.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie talked mainly about Chris Christie in his Tuesday night keynote in Tampa. He interspersed personal anecdotes, spoke of his mother's inspiration, discussed what he's done in Jersey, and said a political leader should strive for respect rather than love -- a line he used in Bellevue two weeks ago.
Only about 16 minutes into his 2,800-word speech did Christie finally mention the name of Mitt Romney. After his speech, Christie appeared before the New Hampshire delegation: The Granite State hosts America's first presidential primary.
Ex-Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice was a big hit Wednesday night. Rice talked about foreign policy, but she also talked about herself. A national audience heard Rice's views on education reform, and a moving description of what it was like to grow up in a segregated Birmingham, Ala.
Other would-be stars were auditioning. Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina, a Tea Party favorite, hit two hot buttons. She bashed labor unions, and she touted the Palmetto State's voter ID laws.
The trickiest task was faced by running mate Rep. Paul Ryan.
Second bananas do not always see themselves in that role. John Edwards was clearly angling for a future nomination every moment that he was John Kerry's 2004 running mate. Lyndon Johnson, on election night 1960, told John F. Kennedy that "we" had just carried Texas, while "you" lost Ohio.
Ryan played fast and loose with facts, but was unusually warm as a warmup to Romney.
The Wisconsin congressman spoke of the two running mates coming from different religious traditions, but both being men of faith who live their faith. He joked about Romney's taste in music being the stuff for elevators.
All told, however, Ryan did not let future ambition get in the way of today's political challenge.
Others at the convention podium have shown no such grace.
Whatever climate change does to chilly winters in New Hampshire and Iowa, both states can expect an influx of hot air from ambitious Republican politicians. Gusts are already being felt in Tampa.
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