When Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney took center stage last night, state Sen. Harris Blake of Pinehurst was among those in the audience at the Republican National Convention listening.

Blake took off for Tampa on Monday and reported back to The Pilot by cellphone.

Blake was very happy with the way Romney’s wife was received and the way she presented herself Tuesday night.

“Ann Romney spoke well,” he said. “She came over as a very human person. I think the public read it that way. She is the type of wife who will give him the opportunity to lead and to do what he needs to do.”

The threat from Hurricane Isaac forced convention planners to compress the four-day convention into a three-day event, but the storm passed west of Florida to batter its way into Louisiana instead. The change meant some scrambling by organizers and workers, both at the center and the hotels where delegates and others congregated.

“There are about 35,000 news people down here,” Blake said with a laugh. “It is amazing the message our people have put in place. Our country will have to walk a tightrope.”

Blake was impressed with the address of Tuesday night’s keynote speaker, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey.

“Listening to Christie, I felt he is capable of knowing how to get it right,” Blake said. “I think Mitt Romney sees it.”

While Blake hopes his party will prevail in the November election, he also hopes both parties will find ways to work together in the interest of the nation and interests of the people of North Carolina.

“Anytime you have to re-start, a lot of people are unhappy with it,” Blake said. “That’s what I think this whole election is going to be about. What can we live with? In North Carolina, as we balance our budget, we need not kill whole processes. If we can do that, they are not going to be that unhappy.”

Blake is completing his last term these days, rounding out a decade in the state Senate, having decided not to seek re-election.

As a senator, Blake has been active in building ties between his home county and its sister county in China and between the state and Hunan Province — making numerous trips back and forth and working with the office of Democratic Gov. Bev Purdue. He is a native of Jackson Springs.

Contact John Chappell at jfchappell@gmail.com.