Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has secured his party's nomination to run for the highest office in the United States.

During roll call late Tuesday, Republican party delegates from across the country cast the more than 1,144 votes needed for Mr. Romney, the former Massachusetts governor.

Fellow Republican presidential candidate, Texas Representative Ron Paul, also received some votes.

Former Congressman Artur Davis, an Alabama Democrat-turned-Republican, told convention attendees that Mr. Romney is the “most experienced executive to seek the presidency” in 60 years.

Mr. Romney's wife, Ann, is also adressing the convention. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie closes the night with his keynote address.

Party officials are hoping Mrs. Romney's speech will showcase a more personal side of the Republican candidate than the image the Obama campaign has painted of him as a wealthy businessman who has little connection with everyday Americans and their economic concerns. Christie is expected to pinpoint what Republicans see as the significant failures of Mr. Obama's tenure over the last three-and-a-half years.

Tuesday has been the first full day of the Republican convention, with most events canceled Monday as Tropical Storm Isaac skirted Florida's western coastline before becoming a hurricane. Convention officials are still watching the storm's path as it heads toward the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico for a possible landfall late Tuesday or early Wednesday in Louisiana and it could again force changes in the convention schedule.

The Republican governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal, canceled his planned convention speech, saying he was staying home to deal with the prospect of Isaac hitting his state.

President Barack Obama is spending Tuesday and Wednesday campaigning in college towns in Iowa, Colorado and Virginia. The Democrats hold their convention next week in Charlotte, North Carolina.