Newly crowned Republican nominee Donald Trump thanked volunteers and staff members Friday for “an wonderful convention” and proclaimed party unity – even as he continued to bash rival Ted Cruz and re-litigated their primary disputes of the spring.
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Portland State University political science professor Ron Tammen examines the stark contrasts between the candidates.
The moment resembled so many that have punctuated Trump’s unlikely candidacy for president: relitigating past skirmishes at a time when his campaign could be taking a victory lap, this time over a fairly well-received nomination acceptance speech that helped salvage a rocky convention.
The below CSPAN chart shows that Trump’s speech was 11 minutes longer than Clinton’s 1996 speech and 13 minutes longer than President George W. Bush’s speech in 2004.
Ivanka, a mother of three and a Trump Organization executive vice president, said her father is a leader who is “colorblind and gender-neutral”, dismissing criticism her father’s rhetoric is divisive.
“They’re eloquent”, said Dana Dougherty, a delegate from Florida holding a Trump doll.
She more than compensated on Thursday night, some convention delegates said. “They do reinforce biases so if you’re pro-Trump, you’re going to be enthusiastically pro-Trump after tonight and if you’re not, the converse also holds”. He said Friday he would not accept an endorsement from Texas Sen. Ted Cruz Wednesday and enthusiastically backing Trump’s headlining address Thursday night.
Ted Cruz refused to endorse Trump when he appeared on stage, leading to members of the audience attempting to attack his wife, Heidi Cruz, who was sitting in crowd. “Shoulder-to-shoulder with Donald Trump all across this nation”.
“Here’s what I want you to remember”, Clinton said closing out her remarks.
Then, matching a campaign promise by presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, she vowed her father would “fight for equal pay for equal work and I will fight for this too, right alongside him”.
“I didn’t start anything with the wife”, Trump said.
Many said they were surprised about what they’ve seen from the Trump kids, especially given their upbringing in the public eye surrounded by celebrity, a life that many offspring of famous figures struggle to overcome. For the most part Trump stuck to his prepared speech and stayed with his message, but the question remains if that will continue to resonate with voters.
But beyond the choice between Trump versus Clinton, Viguerie said he is increasingly optimistic that a Trump presidency would advance some conservative principles.
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“Again, I don’t want his endorsement”, he said. “But I think what you’ve seen all this week is Republicans coming together around our nominee”.
