The Republican National Convention (RNC) where Donald Trump will be formally anointed the party’s presidential nominee was set to open on Monday in the shadow of racial tensions and Islamist terrorism.
Debates on both issues have deeply divided and unsettled the country. The shooting of three police officers by Gavin Eugene Long, a 29-year-old black former soldier, on Sunday has once again exposed the deep fault lines that may influence the outcome of the November presidential election.
The convention will end on Thursday night, with an acceptance speech by Mr. Trump.
The Republican Party itself is a divided house and many party leaders do not agree with Mr. Trump on many crucial issues. Former President George W Bush, his brother and former Governor Jeb Bush, former presidential candidates Mitt Romney and John McCain are not attending the RNC. Ohio Governor John Kasich, who was among Mr. Trump’s primary challengers, will be in the city overseeing security arrangements but will skip the convention.
Anti-Trump party delegates are expected to put up a final fight to stop his nomination, seeking amendments to convention rules that bind delegates to particular candidates. As per existing rules, Mr. Trump’s nomination is only a matter of formality.
Groups of protestors have also descended on the city and leaders of the police association have sought a temporary suspension of the ‘open carry’ gun law in Ohio that allows people to openly carry firearms.
“Trump Convention”
With party veterans missing, Mr. Trump’s wife, children and personal friends will be the key speakers at the convention, all in an attempt to project the candidate’s personality. “This is going to be a Trump convention,” Paul Manafort, his campaign chief, told reporters on the eve of the convention. “We want America to understand who Donald Trump the man is, not just Donald Trump the candidate,” he said.
The convention will also feature as speakers survivors of the attack on the U.S mission in Benghazi in Libya and relatives of victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants in the country.
“Veterans, political outsiders, faith leaders and ….family members will lead an unconventional lineup of speakers who have real-world experience and will make a serious case against the status quo and for an agenda that will make America great again,” Mr. Manafort said. The four days of the convention have different themes – ‘Make America Safe Again,’ ‘Make America Work Again,’ ‘Make America First Again,’ and ‘Make America One Again.’
Blacks, Hispanics, LGBT
Mr. Trump’s limited appeal among crucial constituencies of the U.S electorate remains the Achilles’ heel for the party. RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said Mr. Trump is aware of the need for expanding the party’s base. Asked whether Mr. Trump has any support at all among African Americans, Mr. Manafort said: “We understand that the community’s leadership is with the Democratic Party, but Mr. Trump’s message about law and order and jobs will resonate with them a lot.” Mr. Manafort said the candidate would be reaching out to the Hispanic community in the coming days.
Openly gay tech entrepreneur Peter Theil’s sexual preference has nothing to do with his role as a speaker at the convention, Mr. Manfort said. "Peter Thiel is speaking because he knows Donald Trump, and he'll be speaking about the Donald Trump, the man he knows," Mr. Manafort said, adding that Mr. Trump agreed with the party platform’s position on homosexuality. Many observers have found it to be discriminatory.
