Rick Santorum, Rand Paul to speak at Republican convention
(CBS News) Mitt Romney's closest competitor during the primary will have speaking slot at the Republican National Convention later this month.
Rick Santorum was announced as a speaker Tuesday morning along with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin. In an effort to reach out the libertarian and Tea Party-minded members of the Republican Party, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, the son of Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, will also have a speaking role.
"As our party unites around Governor Romney, these four great leaders will lend their voices in support of his vision to get America back on track," RNC Chair Reince Priebus said in a statement.
During their bitter primary, Santorum repeatedly had harsh words for Romney. While campaigning in Wisconsin in March, the former Pennsylvania senator said, "Pick any other Republican in the country. He is the worst Republican in the country to put up against Barack Obama. Why would Wisconsin want to vote for someone like that?"
He also said on CBS News' "Face the Nation" in March that Romney would be "the worst" Republican against Obama.
As for Romney's potential running mates, they haven't been given speaking slots just yet, including Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan and New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte.
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The latest, but not the last, list of speakers comes one day after the Republican Party announced that former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Arkansas Gov. and 2008 Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee are set to take the stage.
The four-day Republican convention will be held in Tampa beginning on August 27.