In 2008, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) accepted his party’s nomination for president after he entertained a nearly three-minute standing ovation in the convention hall in St. Paul, Minnesota.
He said “thank you” more than 20 times before the roaring crowd silenced and let him speak.
“Tonight, I have a privilege given to few Americans, the privilege of accepting our party’s nomination for President of the United States,” he said and the crowd rose again in applause.
Donald Trump can only hope to be that lucky.
While Trump technically locked up the the Republican nomination almost two months ago, his penchant for incendiary comments, a dismal fundraising haul, questionable conservative credentials and alarmingly low poll numbers have left many in the GOP seeking to minimize Trump’s long-term damage to the party rather than celebrate his rapid rise. In Virginia, one delegate went to court to argue he should be able vote his conscious rather than have to cast a ballot for Donald Trump.
With days until the official convention kicks off, Cleveland is hardly a celebration for the base and a coronation for the nominee. This year, the Republican convention is still an audition for Donald Trump.
“There is a lot more work to do than normal,” said Saul Anuzis, the former chairman of Michigan’s Republican Party.
A Pew Research report found that less than half of Republican voters–only 40 percent– are satisfied with their choices for president this year. It is the lowest of any election in recent history. Republican voters thought they had a better choice in 1996 when Bob Dole was their candidate. The same survey found only 38 percent of Republicans believed the party could “strongly unite” behind Trump by Election Day.
“I think there is still an amount of coming together that is necessary,” says Republican strategist and New Hampshire delegate Tom Rath. “That falls to the nominee and to the ticket.”
In Cleveland, Trump will be under pressure to be on his best behavior as party elites watch closely to see if the top of their ticket can be moderated and salvaged ahead of the general election. What is still unclear is whether Trump is interested in auditioning for a role he officially won months ago or whether he is more interested in keeping prime time viewers shocked and awed. Since becoming the nominee, congressional Republicans have pleaded with Trump to “stick to the script,” but Trump has repeatedly veered off course.
Trump is the candidate who in a closed door meeting with House Republicans last week meant to bring the conference together, promised to defend the 12th Article of the Constitution (which does not exist.). And, in a Senate meeting the same day, Trump called Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) who has opposed him, a “loser” and openly chastised Jeff Flake (R-AZ) for criticizing him publicly.
“I think he is going to have to demonstrate inclusiveness not just for all Americans, but all Republicans,” Rath said.”There needs to be a constant message that there is room for everyone is here.”
Many Republicans lawmakers won’t be there in person to watch Trump’s prime time try out. Sixteen senators – nearly a dozen of whom are up for re-election–won’t be attending the convention citing a range of reasons including campaigning, watching dumpster fires and mowing the lawn. Former presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush also won’t be attending.
Some Republicans attending the convention are still holding out hope that Trump’s VP pick can inject confidence and energy back into the top of the ticket just in time for the convention.
“Trump’s appearances at the convention need to stay on a solid, straight substantive message,” says Fred Malek, a prominent Republican fundraiser and businessman. “What our nominee needs to do is he needs to demonstrate his judgment with a very solid pick for a running mate.
Trump’s options so far, however, are hardly inspired picks. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) is seen as an opportunity for Trump to build some confidence with conservative and evangelical voters who have been turned off by Trump’s awkward comments on faith and social issues like abortion, but he is from a safe red state. Trump’s other frontrunners include former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie who both have baggage. Gingrich was plagued by ethics issues as speaker and eventually turned over his gavel after Republicans’ dismal loss in the 1998 midterm election. Christie was never popular with the Republican base.
Malek adds that the convention could also be a good place for Trump to try and woo some of the donors who may have stayed on the sidelines so far in donating to the presidential election.
“I think the issue is less donors willingness to give versus having the organization worth asking,” Malek said. “Many of them wouldn’t know how to give money at this point because there isn’t an organization.”
That lack of a campaign organization could make it even harder for Trump to have a convention that represents the height of party optimism heading into the general election, like they traditionally have.
“This is the first year in the past two decades that Republicans aren’t excited about attending the convention. Normally, we’re all jazzed up about getting together and celebrating our nominee,” Chris Perkins, a GOP pollster told Politico. “There’s nothing to celebrate this cycle. I’m going because I have to, not because I want to.”
