Receptive audience greets Romney and Ryan
PHOTO BY STEVE STEINER
Chris Harris, communications chairman for the Polk County Republican Committee, serves as a volunteer, directing people here to see and listen to Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, to parking spots.
PHOTO BY STEVE STEINER
Mike and Lucy Sullivan, and their friend, Agatha Cayia, all from Ocala, display photos Lucy took at the Republican convention in Tampa. She hoped to get the photos autographed.
PHOTO BY STEVE STEINER
Colby Simon came all the way from Kansas City, Kansas, vending merchandise urging voters not re-elect President Obama.
PHOTO BY STEVE STEINER
Turnout for the Romney and Ryan appearance at Lakeland Linder Airport was extensive.
PHOTO BY STEVE STEINER
After showing entry tickets, those attending the rally were given entrance passes.
PHOTO BY STEVE STEINER
Julia Steeves sits atop her father, James, giving the thumbs up to Romney and Ryan.
PHOTO BY STEVE STEINER
There was no shortage of U.S. flags to be waved at the Romney-Ryan rally.
PHOTO BY STEVE STEINER
Bartow's own Adam Putnam, Florida Agriculture Commissioner, was one of several politicians to speak prior to the appearance of GOP nominees Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.
PHOTO BY STEVE STEINER
One of two campaign jets for the Romney-Ryan presidential campaign sat on the tarmac at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport.
PHOTO BY STEVE STEINER
Among those attending was William Roll, of Lakeland, who works at the Tampa office of Oliver-Tindale Engineering, which has an office in Bartow. While conceding he is not a fan of Marco Rubio, Roll said Rubio gave a powerful speech.
PHOTO BY STEVE STEINER
One attendee made known his political sentiment, as displayed on his T-shirt.
PHOTO BY STEVE STEINER
Mitt Romney, standing at the front of the bus, waves to those attending the rally.
PHOTO BY STEVE STEINER
Romney and Ryan and their wives take to the stage to the cheers --- and photos --- of the audience at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport.
PHOTO BY STEVE STEINER
Mitt and Ann Romney, and Janna Ryan listen as Vice Presidential running mate Paul Ryan tells the audience about Romney and the GOP platform for restoring America.
PHOTO BY STEVE STEINER
Republican nominee Mitt Romney tells the audience how he plans to put American "back on track."
PHOTO BY STEVE STEINER
Under the watch of an officer with the Lakeland Police Department (far right), a small group of protestors leave after voicing their dissent. They demanded an end to the deportation of illegal immigrants.
PHOTO BY STEVE STEINER
GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney tells the crowd his vision for restoring America as his running mate, Paul Ryan, listens.
PHOTO BY STEVE STEINER
Never mind wearing their hearts on their sleeves, Ken and Sarah Rasnake, of Eagle Lake, let people know they are of a Republican mind.
PHOTO BY STEVE STEINER
Lake Wales residents Vivian and Larry Birchfield served as volunteers, helping people park and getting in line to board buses.
The mood of the several hundred people lined up waiting for the buses to take them to the Lakeland-Linder Airport terminal was upbeat. They were there to see and hear Republican Party presidential and vice-presidential nominees Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan kickoff their initial campaign since formally winning the GOP delegates endorsements the night before at the Republican National Committee convention in Tampa.
The mood was such that before a word was ever to be spoken by Romney or Ryan, or for that matter politicians who preceded them — Adam Putnam, Kelli Stargell, Dennis Ross, Connie Mack and Pam Bondi — it was going to be a success, the crowd was that pre-disposed.
