TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Mitt Romney delivered a widely praised speech to the Republican convention, capping a three-day gathering that showcased an appealing cast of future party leaders and kept up a drumbeat of criticism of President Barack Obama's record and leadership.
But the proceedings also were overshadowed by images of Hurricane Isaac, and a bizarre performance by actor Clint Eastwood that left many viewers scratching their heads.
The convention sent Romney into the fall campaign on a generally high note, buoyed by a party unified in its goal of ousting Obama from the White House in spite of lingering tensions among Republican factions.
But with pre-convention polls showing Romney trailing Obama narrowly in several battleground states, the gathering didn't offer the game-changing shift in momentum many activists had anticipated.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)