Top GOP congressional candidates, freshmen kick off convention

TAMPA, Fla. -- Top GOP congressional candidates -- “our lead salesmen,” as one campaign chief put it -- took to the stage at the Republican National Convention, delivering speeches, cheers and, in one case, a song.

Republicans are seeking to retain their majority in the House and wrest away control of the Senate this November, and their showcase candidates helped launch the convention Tuesday.

“We need a president who believes in America,” said Mark Meadows, a businessman running for an open House seat in North Carolina.

“It’s not just time for a change, it’s time for the great American comeback,” said another North Carolina candidate Richard Hudson, a former congressional staffer.

PHOTOS: Scenes from the GOP convention

The newcomers faced an often-restive audience as delegates were taking seats at Tampa Bay Times Forum for the first official day of business in Tampa. They were joined by GOP favorites from the historic freshmen class, the House GOP lawmakers who rode the tea party wave in 2010 to give Republicans the majority in the chamber.

Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas, the GOP campaign chairman in the House, called the speakers the party’s lead salesmen.

Nonpartisan political analysts say the House is likely to remain in Republican control, as it appears to be increasingly difficult for Democrats to pick up the 25 seats needed to recapture the majority.

The GOP’s hopes of sweeping the Senate, however, which had once been within the reach, now appears more daunting, analysts say.

GOP Senate candidate Deb Fischer in Nebraska, who is running for the open seat against former Sen. Bob Kerrey, delivered remarks, as did Rick Berg, the congressman who is in an unexpectedly tight race against Heidi Heitkamp in North Dakota.

Freshman Rep. Sean Duffy of Wisconsin, a former prosecutor who was once a reality TV star, focused on the struggling economy -- which Republicans see as their best argument against Democratic policies -- saying the GOP wants to spread economic growth.

“We will spread it from the breweries of Wisconsin to the barrios of California,” he said.

Freshman Rep. Tim Scott of South Carolina, a tea party favorite, punctuated the afternoon session with what he called a message to President Obama as he broke into song:

“Hit the road, Jack. And don’t you come back no more, no more no more.”

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