New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has accused the Democratic party of failing America, describing the Democratic plan as “whistling a happy tune” while driving America “off a fiscal cliff.”

Christie gave the keynote address Tuesday to close the first full day of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida.

On the day Mitt Romney secured the party's nomination for president, Christie praised him as someone who will “lead with conviction” and will tell Americans the “hard truths” needed to put the country back on the “path to growth.”

Christie spoke immediately after Mr. Romney's wife asked the country to give her husband the chance to lead the United States “to a better place.”

Ann Romney used her speech at the Republican National Convention Tuesday night to promote her husband's accomplishments as a businessman, governor of Massachusetts and leader in the Mormon church.

She also reached out to women voters, saying they were “the best of America, the hope of America.”

After her speech, Ann Romney she was greeted at the podium by her husband with a congratulatory hug and kiss.

During a roll call Tuesday, Republican party delegates from across the country cast the more than 1,144 votes needed to nominate 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.

Tuesday was 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 since it made landfall on the Gulf of Mexico coast. and could again change 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.

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