Ann Romney aims to soften husband’s image

>>> now, back to what's behind us, the republican national convention underway here in tampa , florida. this is the big sendoff for mitt romney . nbc's peter alexander covers the romney campaign for us. he is down there on the convention floor. peter, good evening.

>> reporter: brian, good evening to you here on the convention floor, the roll call , just wrapped up within the last 30 minutes , tonight mitt romney was formally nominated as the next republican candidate for president with the state of new jersey putting him over the top at exactly 5:40 p.m . later tonight his wife anne romney will deliver the most important speech of her life, taking the stage and hoping to turn the tide in her husband's favor this fall. touching down in tampa , the top of the republican ticket. followed within the hour by paul ryan . today the spotlight focuses on anne romney , bringing her welsh cake to the back of the plane. she talked about her highly anticipated prime time speech.

>> i've never given a speech like this before. the verdict is still out.

>> reporter: she refined her speech with advisers on the flight.

>> i think you will see that my speech is heartfelt, you know i've never gone off of a written text. it's a unique experience for me.

>> reporter: rehearsing at the podium this afternoon.

>> four score and seven years ago.

>> reporter: mrs. romney said reading off the teleprompter is her biggest anxiety. took a deep breath, but appeared confidence. her task tonight, improving her husband's appeal with women and softening his buttoned up image with the aim of making him more empathetic and likeable.

>> i like my speech, i really like ann's speech.

>> reporter: tonight's other big speech by new jersey's blunt talking governor chris christie . romney reviving questions about whether the president was born in the u.s.

>> you get a chance to talk to governor romney , i belt he would tell you he wivs he could take that one back.

>> reporter: the stakes are incredibly high tonight. ann romney 's speech tonight is the most important speech of this convention. he said, and i quote, romney is losing the popularity contest and she is our best chance to close the gap . brian?

>> it will be quite a moment at this gathering. peter alexander who comes in off the campaign trail just long enough for a few days on the convention floor in tampa , before going back out again with the candidate. thanks.