Donald Trump takes center stage at RNC
CLEVELAND (WJBK) - Donald Trump is set to take center stage Thursday night, the final night of the Republican National Convention. But the buzz all day has been what happened Wednesday when Ted Cruz was booed loudly off the stage.
"Don't stay home in November," Cruz said. "Stand and speak and vote your conscience. Vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom. God bless each and every one of you and God bless the United States of America."
The boos were felt across the country as he was disgracefully jeered off the stage. On Thursday, he stood by his comments, saying that he didn't agree to speak to endorse Trump.
"When I addressed the convention, I addressed the convention because Donald Trump asked me to. And when Donald asked me to, he didn't ask me to endorse," Cruz said. "In that speech last night, I did not say a single negative word about Donald Trump."
Steve Hayes with the Weekly Standard and a Fox News contributor says he's never seen anything like what he saw Wednesday.
"It was truly an extraordinary moment. If you think back to recent political convention, I've been going to conventions since 1996 and I've never seen anything like this with Ted Cruz standing up, refusing to offer his endorsement," Hayes said it's Trump's turn and he has to make two things happen. "Reassure Conservatives and give Republicans energy and enthusiasm and excitement to go out and campaign for him between now and November. But more importantly, he needs to make a speech tonight that says to people not in the hall, but people watching on their televisions around the country: I can be your President. "It probably involves being a little contrite about some of the things he said in the past. Say I may have not said things exactly right. I may have insulted people. I don't mean to do any harm. And I can be trusted with the presidency. I think it's a tough mark for him to hit."
Trump's pick for Vice President, Mike Pence, is helping to attract the evangelical vote. He had no hesitation in turning the fodder to faith.
"I believe we've come to another rendezvous with destiny. And I have faith. Faith that God can still heal our land," Pence said.
Faith is something most republicans have in their men. But for those hoping he would soften his image, a kinder, gentler Trump isn't likely to emerge.
"The Donald Trump we see between now and November, the Donald Trump we would see if he were elected President is the Donald Trump that America has seen over the last year. I think it's one of the reasons that not just Democrats, but independents and Republicans have some concerns about getting behind him," Hayes said.
Beyond Donald Trump taking the stage, his daughter Ivanka will also talk.
We got some inside information about what he'll say. There are three targets for Trump: Republicans still on the fence, independents and those who have never voted before. There are also three big issues: national security, the economy, and social issues as well.