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Susan Page highlights the final night of the Republican National Convention, including Ivanka Trump introducing her father and Donald Trump formally accepting the presidential nomination.
People in the crowd become angry as Ted Cruz closes his speech without endorsing Donald Trump during the Republican National Convention on July 20, 2016.(Photo: Kelly Jordan, USA TODAY)
CLEVELAND<span style="color: Red;">*</span>— Perhaps it shouldn't be a surprise that the Republican National Convention nominating Donald Trump for president would turn out to be less like the traditional glowing infomercial and more like a reality TV show. And not in a good way.
Instead of projecting party unity<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and reaching out to the undecided voters who will decide the winner in November, the conclave that launched the general election for the GOP has spotlighted splits and stumbles, chaos and conspiracies — a narrative that might be good for attracting ratings<span style="color: Red;">*</span>but bad for reassuring voters.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>A series of<span style="color: Red;">*</span>missteps left it to Trump himself to regain a sense of energy and momentum with a high-stakes, prime-time<span style="color: Red;">*</span>acceptance speech Thursday night.
In a final indignity, a Democratic<span style="color: Red;">*</span>super PAC called Correct the Record somehow obtained a draft of<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Trump's speech and blasted it out to reporters nearly four hours before he was to deliver it. The group's president,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Brad Woodhouse, crowed on Twitter that the leak amounted to<span style="color: Red;">*</span>political "malpractice" by the Trump campaign.
USA TODAY
GOP convention: Trump speech is grand finale of wacky, wild week
When Trump walked on stage, introduced by daughter Ivanka, the packed hall erupted in cheers.
"I have joined the political arena so the powerful can no longer beat up on people who cannot defend themselves," Trump declared in a speech that portrayed the nation as under siege at home and abroad, his<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Democratic rival Hillary Clinton as corrupt and dangerous, and the answer to this dire state of affairs standing in front of them.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>"Nobody knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it."
While the reception in the hall was tumultuous for him, the<span style="color: Red;">*</span>four-day convention failed to capitalize in a coherent way on the biggest opportunity a presidential nominee has to present a relatively unfiltered message to a broader swath of voters. In some ways, it may have left GOP weaker than it was<span style="color: Red;">*</span>before the week began, including the prospects of carrying the crucial state of Ohio in the wake of an ongoing<span style="color: Red;">*</span>public<span style="color: Red;">*</span>feud with Gov. John Kasich.
"Conventions are precious, unique opportunities to go in living rooms with the candidate's appealing story," says<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Lawrence Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the<span style="color: Red;">*</span>University of Minnesota. Instead, he calls the Cleveland conclave the<span style="color: Red;">*</span>most "consistently dysfunctional" convention of the past three decades. "Trump's convention has showcased division, discord and uncertainty. It reinforced all the questions about Trump rather than putting them to rest."
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DAY 4 OF THE 2016 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTIONDonald Trump: I am your voice | 1:09Donald Trump laid out his plans at the Republican National Convention after accepting the party's presidential nomination, saying that he wants to be the voice for people who have been forgotten by the nation.
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DAY 4 OF THE 2016 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTIONIt's official: Trump accepts the GOP nomination | 1:07Donald Trump formally accepted the Republican Party's presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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DAY 4 OF THE 2016 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTIONIvanka Trump: My father is color-blind and gender-neutral | 0:28The eldest trump daughter says her father hires all backgrounds, looking for the best talent there is for the job.
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DAY 4 OF THE 2016 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTIONPeter Thiel: I'm proud to be gay, Republican, American | 0:35The entrepreneur announced he was proud to be a gay Republican after criticizing the North Carolina transgender bathroom law calling it a "distraction" from the country's greater issues.
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DAY 4 OF THE 2016 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTIONRNC Chair Priebus: America has had enough corruption | 1:12RNC Chair Reince Priebus stated the American people have had enough of the ineffectiveness of the government and that Donald Trump is suited to put the people first again.
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DAY 4 OF THE 2016 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTIONShouting pastor wants your help electing Donald Trump | 0:52Pastor Mark Burns was very excited to sing Donald Trump's praises during the final night of the Republican National Convention.
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DAY 4 OF THE 2016 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTIONAyla Brown sings the national anthem at the GOP convention | 1:38Nashville-based country singer Ayla Brown sings the national anthem at the Republican National Convention Joel Ebert / Tennessean
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DAY 4 OF THE 2016 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTIONTennessee delegate on what he expects from Trump's speech | 0:35David Riden, a Trump delegate from Riceville, Tenn., talks about what he expects to hear from Donald Trump's speech accepting the GOP's presidential nomination.
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DAY 4 OF THE 2016 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTIONTrump Flakes and Clinton Crunch earn laughs and sales for young entrepreneurs | 1:13How do you like your politics? Clever presidential campaign novelty helps two New Jersey buddies make sales at Republican National Convention this week. Jarrad Henderson, USA TODAY
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DAY 4 OF THE 2016 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTIONNewsmaker: Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett | 13:30USA TODAY's Susan Page sits down to talk with Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett about the politics of the day from the 2016 Republican National Convention. USA TODAY
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DAY 4 OF THE 2016 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTIONCapital Download: Phil Roberson and David Bossie | 18:11USA TODAY's Susan Page interviews Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson and Davod Bossie, the President of Citizens United about the Republican National Convention, elections and the American family. USA TODAY
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DAY 4 OF THE 2016 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTIONCleveland hosted the show, but hopes you leave with a lasting impression | 2:16For the past year Cleveland has been preparing to host the Republican National Convention. The residents of the city wanted to show off their pride and perseverance as they welcome thousands of visitors for the historic political event. Kelly Jordan, USA TODAY
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DAY 4 OF THE 2016 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTIONNY GOP chair on Ted Cruz's speech | 0:56New York Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox says Ted Cruz committed "political suicide" Wendesday night at the Republican National Convention. Jon Campbell / Albany Bureau
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DAY 4 OF THE 2016 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTIONWhat to expect on Day 4 of the RNC | 0:50The Republican National Convention is heading into its fourth day. USA TODAY's Susan Page explains why the last night is all about The Donald.
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DAY 4 OF THE 2016 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION#RNCinCLE: NY preview, Day 4 | 0:30The NY delegation will hear from Rudy Giuliani, and Donald Trump gets the big stage. Jon Campbell / Albany Bureau
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USA TODAY
#TrumpNation: Supporters see themselves in Republican nominee
Reassuring voters who are eager for change but anxious about Trump —<span style="color: Red;">*</span>unsure whether the blustery billionaire businessman and reality-TV star<span style="color: Red;">*</span>has the demeanor and depth of<span style="color: Red;">*</span>knowledge to be president —<span style="color: Red;">*</span>was the main goal of the week that convention manager<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Paul Manafort<span style="color: Red;">*</span>set on Monday morning.
"The key message for Trump is, can people see him as president?" Manafort had said at a breakfast with reporters hosted by Bloomberg Politics, likening it to the 1980 election. "The moment they see him like they did (Ronald) Reagan as president, I think the election is over. I think a floodgate will happen just like it did for Jimmy Carter and I think that it will be just finishing the race off.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>When will that moment happen? I don't know."
But the testimonials to Trump from the podium at the Quicken Arena here by his children, employees, conservative activists and others were overshadowed by a litany of damaging distractions.
USA TODAY
Seeking Republican unity, Trump says: 'I will fight for you'
Consider Day One, when Manafort called Kasich, one of Trump's vanquished rivals from the Republican primaries, an "embarrassment" to his state.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>The popular governor was in Cleveland for convention-related events but didn't address the convention, nor has he endorsed the nominee. When the first session opened, a demand for a roll-call vote in a rules fight<span style="color: Red;">*</span>— a proxy battle between Trump delegates and #NeverTrump delegates<span style="color: Red;">*</span>— degenerated into angry name-calling on the convention floor.
Or Day Two, which began with the overnight revelation that the well-received speech Melania Trump had delivered the night before included language lifted from the convention speech Michelle Obama had delivered at the Democratic National Convention in 2008. The Trump campaign spent a day and half issuing<span style="color: Red;">*</span>a series of conflicting explanations, including a flat denial, before identifying a speechwriter as the culprit.
Or Day Three, when attention focused not on the intended centerpiece, a speech by running mate Mike Pence, but on the defiant remarks by<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Trump's final primary rival not only<span style="color: Red;">*</span>pointedly<span style="color: Red;">*</span>failed to endorse Trump but also urged Americans to "vote your conscience," <span style="color: Red;">*</span>interpreted as such a clarion call to vote for somebody else that Clinton quickly sent out a tweet repeating the three-word phrase. By the time Cruz finished speaking, the hall was filled with a chorus of boos<span style="color: Red;">*</span>— not exactly a picture of party unity.
"There is no doubt<span style="color: Red;">*</span>that this convention has been more chaotic<span style="color: Red;">*</span>than recent<span style="color: Red;">*</span>ones, and that there have been a series of process issues that have complicated the coverage, but there have also been many<span style="color: Red;">*</span>highlights as well," says Phil Musser, a senior<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Republican strategist whose clients have included Pence.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>He cautioned against assuming the worst in an unpredictable year.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>"The conventional wisdom about what constitutes 'success' in a traditional context has been upended again and again this cycle. Polling next week will assess the net benefit of the convention to the political forces of the campaign."
To be sure, other conventions have seen their share of discord.
"'92 was pretty bad, and '96 wasn't great," recalls veteran Republican strategist Frank Donatelli, citing two elections the GOP would end up losing.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>At the 1992 convention in Houston, for instance, insurgent challenger Pat Buchanan failed to wrest the nomination from then-president George H.W. Bush,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>but he did set a tone and steal the headlines with a call for a "culture war."
Donald Trump, Mike Pence and their families acknowledge the crowd as balloons and confetti land on the convention floor after Trump delivered his speech to the Republican National Convention on Thursday night.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY)
And this time?
Donatelli<span style="color: Red;">*</span>—<span style="color: Red;">*</span>who served in senior political roles for Reagan, the elder Bush, Bob Dole and John McCain<span style="color: Red;">*</span>—<span style="color: Red;">*</span>says a series of "unforced errors" by the Trump team signals "a thin campaign that was basically riding a wave and not controlling events." That raises questions about how well prepared it is to handle a general election that is guaranteed to be bruising. "I guess<span style="color: Red;">*</span>I would say they've had difficulty projecting a unified front and of crafting the larger message that could appeal to the American people."
Before the convention began, there were fears that protests in the street would create the sort of chaos that marked the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago. This time, the protests outside were kept under control.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>The chaos was inside the hall.
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