Ill. GOP reacts to Mitt Romney at RNC

August 30, 2012 (TAMPA, Fla.) (WLS) -- Mitt Romney's presented himself to a nationwide audience at the Republican National Convention Thursday night as the party's presidential candidate.

The Illinois delegation heard the familiar Romney theme: that Barack Obama had not delivered and should be replaced.

"The American public is saying, you know what, we thought we were going to get something and we didn't and know we want a businessman in the office," said Ill. Treasurer Dan Rutherford (R).

Delegates agreed, what Governor Romney would say about women was an attempt to fill a Democrat-driven gender gap.

"I think we're well aware that the Democrats are going to try to foster a gender gap," said State Sen. Christine Radogno (R-Lemont).

Businessman delegate Ron Gidwitz does not believe the candidate should have to explain or defend his success in business.

"He created thousands and thousands of jobs, brought great wealth to lots and lots of people," said Gidwitz.

The candidate was introduced by Cuban-American U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and during his speech praised the immigrants who built America. But in the building listening was Chicago Democratic Congressman Luis Gutierrez who's seen what he calls the anti-immigrant Republican platform and says Romney cannot be trusted.

"Absolutely not. And this country cannot trust the Republican Party when it comes to issues of immigration," he said.

Guiterrez was among several Illinois Democrats in Tampa to counter the the Republicans on the issues.

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politics, charles thomas

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