At last night's Republican National Convention in Tampa, the person who carried out one of the night's most important introductions wore a dark, sleeveless dress as she appeared on stage beaming and waving comfortably to the crowd.
"Good evening Tampa!" she said enthusiastically, in clear but slightly-accented English. "My name is Lucé, and it is great to be here with you tonight. I am the proud mother of 20-year old-triplets; I'm a practicing attorney, a very proud Latina, and a diehard Republican."
Lucé Vela is the wife of Luis Fortuño, Puerto Rico's Republican governor. As she made clear last night, she enthusiastically shares her husband's politics.
"As a governor, he has unleashed a true Republican revolution that has already accomplished so much," she told the convention. "It is a success story of fiscal responsibility, controlled government spending, lower taxes, and pro-growth policies. But it is also one of caring and compassionate attention to a social and faith-based agenda of unprecedented reach and consequence.
"Through it all, I have stood by his side and learned what it is to be the rock of support to a great leader - just like our next speaker has done for 43 years for our next President, Mitt Romney."
As she said the last part, Vela looked directly into the camera and pointed emphatically.
Before calling on the crowd to welcome Ann Romney, Vela expressed a kinship with the woman who she said impressed her on a campaign stop in Puerto Rico in March, and whom she called a friend. She spoke of Ann Romney using the words "courage", "tenacity", "perseverance", and "heart".
That Vela was tasked with introducing the presidential candidate's spouse has been called an attempt by the Romney campaign to reach out to Latino voters who, polls indicate, are largely skeptical of him.
It might also be called a nod to her husband's growing profile in the Republican Party. Earlier this year, his name was even floated by some as a potential vice-presidential candidate.
Luis Fortuña is only the second Republican governor of the Puerto Rico, and the first in over forty years. Previous to assuming office in 2009, he was the territory's first Republican congressman.
According to Voxxi, Vela attended Goucher College in Maryland, before obtaining a law degree from Interamerican University in Puerto Rico. She has continued to practice law, even since becoming first lady, specializing in notary and real estate law.
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