What else can you say to the succession of speakers who barely could bring themselves to mention Donald Trump – that brief Marco Rubio infomercial was a joke – culminating in the chaotic scene that greeted Ted Cruz’s refusal to endorse him?
Advertisement
Cruz may be the most skilled debater and rhetorician in the party. GOP LEADERS REJECT TRUMP’S NATO COMMENTSSome leading Republicans are rejecting Donald Trump’s suggestion that if he becomes president, the USA may revisit NATO’s longstanding policy of defending its allies against possible Russian aggression.
It reminded me of the soap opera scene where Dustin Hoffman unveils all kinds of insane twists to the story and caps it by revealing that the female hospital administrator he’s been playing really is a man, dropping jaws all over America.
A day after formally accepting his party’s presidential nomination, Donald Trump breathed new life into old battles against a long-vanquished Republican rival: U.S. Sen. Indeed, in some ways the delegates at this convention seem to have gone beyond even Mr Trump on politically extreme rhetoric.
The Texas senator was given a speaking slot, though he had indicated he wasn’t going to offer an endorsement. Cruz purposefully avoided endorsing Trump knowing full well that an arena mostly full of Trump supporters would be pissed.
The episode made it hard for Pence, the IN governor and a favourite of conservatives who have decidedly mixed feelings about Trump, to make much of a splash. Ted Cruz got his revenge. If Trumps insulting Cruz’s family is not enough, what if Trump said something even bombastic for him?
The gathering’s open secret was that Cruz came to audition for 2020 – an ambition that largely counts on Trump losing this year.
Hoping to close out the conference on a high note, Trump was due to give a prime-time speech later today. Cruz’s wife, facing taunts and threats from convention-goers that only proved the senator’s point, had to be taken from the hall by security. He said earlier in the week that Trump would win on his own merits, not because of party support.
Pence did his bit, wooing the crowd with self-deprecating jokes and a clear conservative message in an acceptance speech.
If Cruz had endorsed Trump, that would have been fine. I get party loyalty, but I believe Trump’s statements and conduct throughout this campaign put him in an entirely different category.
Another area of focus was the people Trump said America has forgotten.
Trump’s roller-coaster campaign defeated 16 rivals and steamrolled stubborn party opposition after being written off as a joke, the real estate tycoon having never held elected office.
His campaign has defied political norms – fueling ethnic tensions, offending key voting blocs, eschewing big-spending ad buys or campaign infrastructure and relying on heavy media coverage. We will be a country of generosity and warmth.
Earlier in the week, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who supported Trump at the convention, told The New York Times that Trump made a “rookie mistake” when he questioned a core commitment to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies.
Polls following the convention will show whether Trump can continue to defy political gravity. CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS DISSENT, NOT PARTY UNITYTrump now faces a dual challenge – to unite both the Republican Party and the country around his candidacy following a controversial and contentious convention. As far as Trump is concerned, he’s already won the war against Cruz.
Advertisement
Clinton is expected to steal the limelight on Friday or Saturday by announcing her vice presidential running mate.
