New Mexico Governor, Susana Martinez, who is the first female Hispanic governor in the U.S. and the first female governor of New Mexico, is among the chosen speakers at this year’s Republican National Convention.

Three women are among the first seven announced speakers that include Condoleezza Rice, Nikki Haley, Susana Martinez, John McCain, Rick Scott, Mike Huckabee and John Kasich. These three women are expected to boost Rooney’s profile for the female vote. Polls have shown that President Obama is currently ahead of Romney when it comes to appealing to the American woman.

Both Martinez and Nikki Haley, who is Indian-American, are expected to help Romney with minorities, who now majorly support Barack Obama.

Something that may surprise many is that none of Romney’s top considerations for the vice-president post–Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio or Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey–are among the seven headline speakers. This will keep his vice-president nomination a mystery, at least until the eve of the 2012 Republican National Convention.

The Republicans have only announced the speakers mentioned so far. They are holding back with the rest, including the keynote speaker — an honor that could catapult a rising member of the party to national prominence.

Susana Martinez could help Romney with the Hispanic segments of women and according to Fox, “she can also address voters who feel securing the nation’s Southern border is a top concern.” New Mexico was won by Obama in the 2008 election with 56.7% of the votes, but Martinez’ popularity in the state might give Romney a slight advantage in this year’s race.

The Democrats also know the importance of the Hispanic vote in this election, so they have chosen Julian Castro, the mayor of San Antonio, for their keynote speaker at the Democrat National Convention in Charlotte on September 4. Both Martinez and Castro will try to help their respective parties gain the support of Hispanic voters.

Susana Martinez’ background is very humble; she comes from a middle class working family, and her parents started a security business with almost no money in their pockets. Susana herself worked as a security guard while attending college. Governor Martinez obtained a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas and a law degree from the University of Oklahoma.

Martinez’s official website explains that “she was elected on November 2, 2010, pledging to cut wasteful spending, lower taxes to create more jobs, end ‘pay-to-play’ practices and other corruption in government and fight to reform education.”

Susana Martinez has expressed the importance of the Republican National Convention for achieving victory in the November elections: “The Republican National Convention will give Mitt Romney momentum for securing a critical victory for our country this fall. Americans want to work. They want to build their businesses, compete and succeed in order to create more jobs and a secure future for their families.

Mitt Romney knows that is the formula for our economic growth – not more government roadblocks. We will share this message in Tampa in a few weeks, and the American voters will make their voices heard on this at the polls in November.”

Image Courtesy of  Albuquerque Public Schools

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The Republican National Committee Chairman, Reince Priebus, has described the members of the list of headliners that will address the Republican National Convention as “some of our party’s brightest stars, who have governed and led effectively and admirably in their respective roles. Ours will be a world class convention, worthy of the next president of the United States, and these speakers-and those that will be announced later-will help make it a truly memorable and momentous event.”

Republican National Convention Chief Executive Officer, William Harris, said that “these individuals exemplify the Republican Party’s commitment to economic growth and long-term job creation, and reflect our proud tradition of protecting America’s interests around the world.”

South Carolina Governor, Nikki Haley, is one of the chosen speakers; Haley is Indian-American and was the first woman in her state elected as Governor. Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, explains that “minorities are overwhelmingly behind President Obama at this juncture, so the Republicans want to at least show that the party has minorities in high office.”

Nikki Haley’s is considered to be “one of the strongest fiscal conservatives in state government” and she  has always fought for a smaller and more efficient government. She  is also a fierce critic of the public sector, unnecessary spending and led South Carolina in the fight for accountability and transparency in the legislature she is now in charge of.

Scott Huffmon, a Winthrop University political scientist, says that Haley’s appearance in the Republican National Convention would definitely help her political career  “both nationally and at home.” Although Haley has said she is not interested in the Vice-president candidate post, Huffmon added that “she is a very good public speaker. It’s probably going to raise her recognition and favorability nationally.” The exact date that Haley will give her speech is still unknown.

Haley has already spoken about the importance of the November election, stating: “The future generations of our children and our grandchildren are at stake in this election. While Americans work to build their businesses and create jobs, leaders of the Democratic party have spent more than three years raising taxes, increasing spending and taking away our health care choices. The Republican National Convention will be a time for not just our party, but our country to come together and get behind Mitt Romney as the next president of the United States. I look forward to being a part of this historic event.”

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Washington, U.S.A. — William Kellibrew IV, deputy director and national victims advocate, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, made the following statement in response to Governor Nikki Haley’s remarks about rape and domestic assault prevention programs:

“The recent remarks by South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley calling rape and domestic assault prevention programs a ‘distraction’ for the Department of Health and Environmental Control in order to justify nearly a half million dollars in budget cuts are appalling and insensitive to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

With that type of attitude toward victims it’s no wonder that, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the state she leads ranks seventh in the country for the number of women killed by men, and has had a rate of sexual violence higher than the national average since 1982.

“Governor Haley may think that the only thing victims of violent crimes need is  ‘sympathy and encouragement;’ however, as a person who as a child witnessed the brutal murder of my family in our living room, I assure you that victims of domestic violence and sexual assault need extensive medical and mental health care services.

The lack of services adds tremendously to the public health crisis and becomes more costly in the long run. I did not receive desperately-needed therapy or support for three years after my mother and sister brother were murdered so I understand that cutting funding for victims is dangerous and a direct slap in the face to those who need these services the most. Reducing funding sounds contrary to the agency’s mission of protecting South Carolina’s public health.

“I urge Governor Haley to venture out into the community and speak with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and I’m sure she will recognize that we need support in every way possible. Perhaps Governor Haley should consider that an increase in funds for prevention programs could reduce the number of women killed in her state, reduce South Carolina’s high rate of sexual violence, and lower costs over time.”

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