Barring a last-minute jolt to the proceedings, Donald Trump is hours away from attaining the 2016 presidential nomination despite efforts to stop him that spilled messily into the opening of the Republican National Convention.
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Trump’s nomination follows party dissension that was displayed Monday at the convention, when delegates reacted angrily and some walked out when they could not get a roll-call vote on the party’s rules.
That’s when the roll call of states is set to unfold, delivering the delegates to make him the standard-bearer after a rollicking primary season that saw him vanquish 16 rivals.
The delegation of Trump’s home state of NY cast the deciding votes which put him over the threshold of 1,237, the majority-plus-one of delegates to the convention in Cleveland, Ohio.
Trump is expected to formally accept the nomination in a speech at the convention in Cleveland on Thursday, before facing off against Democrat Hillary Clinton in the November election battle.
The state-by-state vote to put Trump’s name in nomination took place a day after opponents staged a failed attempt to force a vote opposing his candidacy, and after a speech by his wife, Melania, drew accusations of plagiarism. Four of his children joined the state’s delegation on the convention floor for the historic moment and appeared overwhelmed with emotion. Mrs. Trump was the first in a series of family members and friends who were taking the stage to vouch for the man they know.
Clinton was due to be formally nominated at a Democratic convention next week in Philadelphia.
May said that, whatever the band’s views on Trump, it did not allow politicians to play Queen songs including We Are the Champions, one of the most recognisable rock tracks which is frequently played at sporting events. Two passages of her address matched almost word-for-word the speech that Michelle Obama delivered in 2008 at the Democratic National Convention.
“In writing her lovely speech, Melania’s team of writers took notes on her life’s inspirations, and in some instances included fragments that reflected her own thinking”, Trump spokesman Jason Miller said.
“My dad is a natural born encourager, the last person to ever tell you to lower your sights”, she said.
Convention officials gave some delegates won by Florida Sen.
Trump’s campaign offered no apologies, with top adviser Paul Manafort telling The Associated Press the matter had been “totally blown out of proportion”.
“United we stand, divided we fall”, said Johnny McMahan, a Trump delegate from Arkansas.
Tiffany Trump, the candidate’s 22-year-old daughter from his marriage to Marla Maples, and Donald Trump Jr., his eldest son and an executive vice president at The Trump Organization, were scheduled to speak.
“If you want someone to fight for you and your country, I can assure you, he is the guy”, Mrs. Trump told delegates. Trump’s campaign hoped the convention would also highlight a kinder, gentler side of the brash candidate.
Conventions are massive organizational undertakings, with thousands of attendees to manage and dozens of speakers to oversee.
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Discord among delegates was on greater display Monday as aggrieved anti-Trump Republicans protested the adoption of rules aimed at quashing an unlikely effort to block the nomination. Republicans will be closely watching House Speaker Paul Ryan, who has endorsed Trump despite disagreeing with him on numerous issues. She spoke of her husband’s “simple goodness” and his loyalty and love of family – while noting the “drama” that comes with Trump in politics.
