Who else was a convention keynote speaker? President Barack Obama.

Video: Earlier today, CNN's Paul Steinhauser went inside the RNC "war room." www.cnn.com

Convention trivia from CNN's Political Research Unit:

The first Republican convention was held in Philadelphia in 1856. Nearly 600 delegates participated, representing all of the Northern states, the border states of Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and Virginia (as well as D.C.). There were no delegates from the Southern slave states.

At its 1832 convention, the Democratic Party established the now famous tradition of the presidential roll call vote, passing a resolution requiring that "the majority of the delegates from each state designate the person by whom the votes for that state shall be given."

CNN's Gut Check takes a look at five things to look for Wednesday at the convention.

1. More Energy. It is Paul Ryan's night, and the charismatic vice presidential nominee has to rally the Republican base and shake off the convention's delayed start and subdued first night.

2. More differentiation with President Obama. In 2008 Arizona Sen. John McCain left it to his vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin to skewer then-Sen. Barack Obama (Who could forget the line: "This is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform – not even in the state Senate"?). Will Ryan do that in a way that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie did not?

(...)

At the breakfast, Santorum said that when he met with Romney after dropping out of the race, he gave Romney some advice:

“The advice I said to him is if this campaign is about personality, between you and Barack Obama, we’re not going to win,” he said, adding that drawing a contrast between a wealthy businessman and an incumbent president with high likability ratings would not be a winning strategy. “We have to make it about the issues of this country and the future of this country. If we make it about that, then we’ll win.”

Santorum talked about the non-profit group he formed, Patriot Voices, which advocates for conservative candidates and causes.

“We’re going to get out there and focus on about five swing states--remind them that what Barack Obama is doing is leading you on a road to serfdom, a road to dependency,” he said, repeating his criticism of the president from his speech the night before.

Convention trivia from CNN's Political Research Unit:

In 1952, Illinois Sen. Everett Dirksen caused an uproar when, during his speech, he charged New York Gov. Thomas E. Dewey and other moderates with taking the GOP "down the path to defeat." Dewey's (and Dwight Eisenhower's) followers booed Dirksen, Dirksen's (and Sen. Robert Taft's) supporters booed Dewey, and fist fights broke out on the floor. The convention ultimately nominated Eisenhower over the more conservative Taft after a dispute over several contested Southern delegations was settled in favor of Eisenhower.

From CNN's Adam Levy:

Sen. Marco Rubio on the convention floor where the Florida delegation sits said that we'll get "substance" from vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan's speech tonight. Rubio, once thought to be on Mitt Romney's shortlist for running mate, said he's happy about the Republican ticket -- and happy about staying in the Senate.

Rubio will speak in prime time Thursday, introducing Romney.

Mitt Romney is speaking now at the American Legion convention in Indianapolis. Romney will give remarks via satellite to the Republican National Convention in Tampa in the 8pm hour.

Per CNN Political Producer Rachel Streitfeld: In Indianapolis Romney made a joke about being on dry land, then offered his sympathy for those in the storm's path.

"And I appreciate this invitation to join you on dry land this afternoon," he said, as the crowd laughed. "Our thoughts are of course with the people of the Gulf Coast states. Seven years ago today they were bracing for Hurricane Katrina. This afternoon they’re enduring Isaac. We’re grateful that it appears that Isaac will spare them for the kind of damage we saw during Katrina. [applause] But for many in the Gulf Coast who just finished repairing their homes and getting their lives back to normal, this must be a heavy burden and so today our thoughts are with them, our prayers go out to them and our country must do all we can to help them recover."