RNC Chair: 'We want to tell the Mitt Romney story'

Reince Priebus reveals the newest addition to the roster of luminaries at GOP Convention, their goal and why having Jimmy Carter at the Democratic Convention is fitting

This is a rush transcript from "On the Record," August 7, 2012. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, FOX NEWS HOST: Big news tonight about the Republican National Convention. And you are first to hear it right here. RNC Chair Reince Priebus is here with that announcement. Nice to see you, sir.

REINCE PRIEBUS, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Hey, Greta. How are you?

VAN SUSTEREN: I'm very well. Since we last spoke last night there has been a press release coming out that you have added to the speakers' list in Florida, Senator Santorum, Rand Paul, and Jeb Bush. I'm curious, are there any other additions since the press release?

PRIEBUS: Well, we have also added in Governor Fallin from Oklahoma. And I am really proud tonight to announce as well, a very prominent role for Governor Scott Walker, the governor from Wisconsin, and your governor, too, for that matter, Greta.

VAN SUSTEREN: Do you know -- with the addition of Governor Scott Walker, any idea the lineup? Who will be speaking when? Is that still to be determined?

PRIEBUS: We are working with the Romney campaign, obviously, making sure that we are -- that we have a good flow. I think a lot of these folks are going to be spread throughout the week. But, as you know, I mean, part what have making the case for the presidency of the United States that the convention can capture, especially when you are running as a challenger against an incumbent, is that we want to tell the Mitt Romney story. And telling that story will take, you know, will take the entire four days in telling the American people who Mitt Romney is, why we should all be so proud of the things he has done, really making something out of nothing, giving away his father's inheritance, being a good father, five great boys, a good husband, being very successful in so many parts of his life.

And so we need to tell that story, because, I think, on one hand, the question is, did Barack Obama fulfill the mission and meet his promises? And I think we can agree, most Americans actually agree he didn't. The second piece of that, of course, is the alternative on the ballot and making the case for Mitt Romney. That's the piece that a great convention can portray.

VAN SUSTEREN: I suspect that's true of both conventions, behind the scenes that arranging the speakers into the hot property, the real estate is the prime time, that it's a little bit like herding cats and maybe a few elbows thrown. I am curious, I mean, is that -- are you experiencing a little bit of that because of a limited amount of real estate? Are people putting out there that that person wants primetime?

PRIEBUS: Well, I mean, obviously nobody's looking for hour-long speeches. On one hand, you know, I think we have a lot of space to work with between Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

But at the same time, and I think in our party -- it's just a fact, we just have a lot more people that are new to the scene, that have just stars, all the new governors, the new senators, many new congressmen. We won so many seats in 2010 and created so many new stars in our party and so many new ones that are just coming out that being able to tell the story through the eyes of Republicans that have been elected, diverse backgrounds, different views, but all focusing in on Mitt Romney's story, it is a challenge. But it's a challenge that I think we are happy to be in the place where we have too many people than not enough. We are trying to make as many people happy as possible. But most importantly, it is not about making people happy, it is about telling the story and using the time wisely.

VAN SUSTEREN: The Democrats have announced that former President Jimmy Carter is going to be part of their program. Does that put on you to Bush 43 and do you expect to call him? What do you think about having President Jimmy Carter sending a videotaped statement to the Democratic convention?

PRIEBUS: He's a good man and a former president that deserves respect. But I do think that bringing Jimmy Carter on stage next to Barack Obama's a pretty fitting place. The time of unfortunate malaise and high interest rates and rampant unemployment and interest rates -- I mean, it was a terrible time for our economy. I think it's probably appropriate that Jimmy Carter has brought upon charlotte and the Democratic National Committee so we can highlight a similar problem we are experiencing with Barack Obama, a person that that hasn't been able to lead this country out of a very difficult economy that he promised he would fix and he didn't.

VAN SUSTEREN: Would you like to see President Bush 43 be part of your week, your convention? And has the invitation gone out?

PRIEBUS: Certainly, I don't think -- I think it's been reporting been reported that Bush 41 can't make and neither Bush 43 for health reasons, I think. But there hasn't been a day in Barack Obama's presidency than when Bush 43 was president. He has to live with that record, and they have just completely failed. So it's something that I don't think they can run on. I know they like to talk that way, but they have done a miserable job and they haven't improved anything.

VAN SUSTEREN: You have the brother, Governor Jeb Bush from the state of Florida is going to speaking.

PRIEBUS: He's an innovative governor, alternatives in education, and a leader in this country. We are proud to have Jeb part of the convention.

VAN SUSTEREN: Any hint of when Governor Romney's going to make an announcement of vice president? We are getting down to the line?

PRIEBUS: We know it's before Wednesday of the convention week.

VAN SUSTEREN: I suspect that as well. That one, I figured out myself, believe it or not.

PRIEBUS: OK, good. We are on the same page, then.

VAN SUSTEREN: So you can't give us any guidance to that.

PRIEBUS: I really can't. I mean, the people who know that are two people, and that's Beth Meyers and Mitt Romney. So really, it is true. It is a very personal choice that Mitt Romney is going to make on his own, certainly probably with Ann's help. But it isn't something that we try to pick away at and call. It's just something that's very personal and something that Mitt's going to come to a conclusion on very soon.

VAN SUSTEREN: Thank you very much for joining us. I hope you will come back. We are looking forward to your convention, as well as the Democratic convention. Thank you, sir.

PRIEBUS: Thank you, Greta.