BBC: John McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, is to defend her small-town roots and attack the Democrats in a key speech to the US Republican convention.
The Alaska governor's address in Minnesota comes amid scrutiny of her record and two days after she said her unmarried daughter, 17, was pregnant.
Former Governor Mitt Romney opened what was expected to be a series of fierce attacks on the Democrats by his party.
Mr McCain is due to be nominated as the party's presidential candidate later.
Mitt Romney, the first of three one-time rivals of Mr McCain for the Republican nomination to speak in St Paul, used his speech to hammer the Democrats over their "liberal" agenda.
"We need change all right - change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington," the former Massachusetts governor said.
"We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington - throw out the big government liberals and elect John McCain." Palin Primed for Election Debut >>> | September 4, 2008
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