First Round of RNC Speakers Announced

The first round of speakers for the Republican National Convention has been announced, and it includes plenty of women—but none of them named Palin. Speakers at the Tampa convention will include South Carolina's Nikki Haley and New Mexico's Susana Martinez, the first female governors of their states, as well as Condoleezza Rice, reports the Tampa Bay Times. John McCain, Mike Huckabee, Florida Gov. Rick Scott, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich will also be speaking at the convention, which begins Aug. 27. Convention officials have yet to announce who the keynote speaker will be.

The speakers "are some of our party's brightest stars, who have governed and led effectively and admirably in their respective roles," said RNC Chairman Reince Priebus. "These speakers—and those who will be announced later—will help make it a truly memorable and momentous event." Absent from the latest announcement are numerous potential VP contenders, including Tim Pawlenty, Chris Christie, Marco Rubio, Rob Portman, Jeb Bush, Kelly Ayotte, and Paul Ryan. Musicians playing private parties during the convention include Willie Nelson, Journey, and Kid Rock—but don't expect any puppet shows. (More Republican National Convention stories.)