Brian Sandoval will speak at Republican National Convention

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) will get a speaking slot at the Republican National Convention, a top Mitt Romney surrogate told The Hill on Tuesday.

"I don't think you've ever in the past seen a Republican convention where so many prime-time speakers are Hispanics and Hispanics playing important roles," Romney Hispanic Steering Committee Co-Chairman and former Puerto Rico Attorney Governor Jose Fuentes said.

Sandoval, who won his race in the swing state by a wide margin in 2010, is a rising star of the party. Some mentioned him as a possible running mate for Mitt Romney, but his name faded from the vice presidential shortlist because social conservatives objected to his pro-abortion-rights views and some fiscal conservatives, including Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist, grumbled about tax compromises he'd made with Democrats in the State Legislature.

The Nevada governor becomes the latest Latino to be added to the convention's list of speakers. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.); New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez (R); Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuño (R) and his wife, Luce Vela; and future Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) also have speaking slots.

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