Minnesota Republican Party Chairman Keith Downey said it’s natural that feelings are still raw after heated primary campaign where Trump bested 16 rivals.
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However, Trump has proven to be the master of changing his mind this election season, going back-and-forth on topics like abortion and the bathroom bills. “He is bringing out people who are looking for real change”, Emmer said of the NY businessman.
“We are in dire need in this country of a really strong leader, and I think Donald Trump can be that for us”, said Becky Hall, a delegate from Duluth.
Demonstrators also used the event to protest what they called racist police practices – several held signs calling for disarming the police and at one point the crowd broke into a “Black lives matter!” chant.
Braced for uncertainty and hoping for unity, Republicans on Monday prepared to kick off their convention to nominate Donald Trump as dissident delegates pursued one last chance to deny the front-runner and a nation reeled from another outburst of violence.
About a dozen are legally carrying guns near downtown Cleveland, but there’s no obvious sign of a police presence. Delegates were due to vote Monday afternoon on the rules that will govern the convention week, and insurgent delegates circulated a petition on Monday trying to force a state-by-state vote – a move that could disrupt floor proceedings even if they fail. “And I think that’s the general thought process behind a lot of Republicans as they look at Hillary Clinton versus Donald Trump”. Rob Portman into the dispute, saying Portman is “very upset” with Kasich and believes the governor’s lack of support for Trump is hurting his own re-election campaign.
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad said in a brief interview he was glad that most of his state’s delegation did not walk out because it was critical to avoid anything that would jeopardize the state’s first in the nation status.
But Trump’s camp says the uniqueness is part of the plan.
Fast Company reported that, in addition to hiring thousands of police and security officers, Cleveland spent about $20 million on items like handcuffs, batons and body armor. Kasich countered that he doesn’t have the authority to do so.
Two groups are scheduled to hold rallies and marches Monday, the official start of the four-day Republican National Convention.
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New York Republicans are counting on Trump to help drive GOP voter turnout in his home state this November, when all 27 of the state’s congressional districts, 213 state legislative seats and a spot in the U.S. Senate will be up for grabs. The riots that began July 18, 1966, were sparked by a confrontation between black residents and a white bar owner and led to almost a week of looting and violence in one of the city’s east side neighborhoods.
