SC GOP delegation hears from Romney’s sons

TAMPA— South Carolina’s Republican delegates began their day Wednesday hearing from two other members of GOP nominee Mitt Romney’s family: his sons Craig and Ben.

The delegation also learned that one of the state’s most prominent Republicans, U.S. Sen Jim DeMint, would skip the convention because of recent back surgery.

“If you were carrying the load of Jim, your back would be hurting, too,” said DeMint’s fellow senator, Lindsey Graham.

DeMint’s national profile has risen markedly since four years ago, largely because of the tea party and his role in supporting more conservative Republican Senate candidates -- a task he is expected to continue to focus on this fall rather than stumping for Romney in swing states.

During a breakfast buffet at their resort hotel, delegates got a talk that picked up where Romney’s wife Ann left off Tuesday night.

Both Craig and Ben Romney intertwined family stories with stump staples about why their father should be elected the next president. All of Romney’s sons have done surrogate work for their dad to some degree during his two presidential bids. Craig Romney noted his son Parker had visited 35 states by the time he was 2 and once was caught giving a stump speech to his stuffed animals.

Ben Romney recalled his dad’s firm hand, which meant the boys weren’t allowed to sleep late as teens — even on Saturdays. That’s when the family did yard work, he said, “whether it was moving rocks from this side of the yard to that side —and next week moving them back.”

The delegation also plans to attend afternoon affairs sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of S.C., Advance America and True the Vote before heading to the convention hall around 7 tonight.

Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771.