Sandoval gets prime-time slot at GOP convention

Gov. Brian Sandoval will get a prime-time speaking role Monday night at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., one of his top political advisers confirmed on Wednesday.

The theme of the convention's opening night is "we can do better," a message the GOP has been pushing as the best argument for replacing President Barack Obama with GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Sandoval represents the state hardest hit by the economic downturn with Nevada suffering the highest unemployment rate in the nation at 12 percent as well as record bankruptcies and home foreclosures.

As Nevada's first Hispanic governor, Sandoval also represents a new generation of elected Latino leaders the Republican Party is showcasing with the Hispanic vote proving decisive in swing states such as Nevada.

On Monday night, Sandoval will be one of several governors scheduled to speak in prime time, his political adviser Mike Slanker confirmed. Others include Florida Gov. Rick Scott and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, according to a lineup the Republican National Committee announced previously.

While in Tampa, Sandoval also is slated to join U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, another rising Hispanic political star, at a Cuban event Monday night. On Tuesday, Sandoval is scheduled to take part in a Hispanic Leadership Network luncheon with New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

Jennifer Korn, executive director of the conservative Hispanic group, said a wave of conservative Latino leaders was elected in 2010 and are becoming the fresh faces of the GOP. She said Sandoval and other Hispanics can help the Republican Party reach out to Latinos, who often lean Democratic by party label in many states.

"They are the rising stars of the party," Korn said of Sandoval, Rubio and Martinez, among others. "It makes sense to put them in prominent positions. There is definitely a lot of independent thinking in the Hispanic community. Although many may be labeled Democratic, they have a lot of conservative views."

Contact Laura Myers at lmyers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919. Follow @lmyerslvrj on Twitter.