If ever there were an opportunity to unify a fractious party for the general election, tonight’s the night. Donald J. Trump will address Republican Convention delegates to close the deal after a day dominated by discussion of political gambles: the one Sen. Ted Cruz took in dissing Trump. The one Gov. Chris Christie took by backing Trump early. NJTV News Chief Political Correspondent Michael Aron is standing by in Cleveland. He spoke with Anchor Mary Alice Williams.
Williams: Hi Michael.
Aron: Hello, Mary Alice. There is a real sense of anticipation in the Quicken Loans Arena tonight. The mood in the New Jersey delegation I would say is pretty upbeat, pretty optimistic about the the election ahead, although one does hear a lot of grousing about the country being adrift and badly in need of new and strong leadership. Gov. Christie has had a very busy week. This morning he paid his second visit of the week to the hotel in which the New Jersey delegation is staying:
Chris Christie spent a long time with the New Jersey delegation this morning — more than an hour and a half — telling stories, sharing reflections and exhorting them to carry on when he leaves office.
But first he got his digs in at last night’s villain, from the Trump campaign point of view.
“Well last night was interesting, huh?” he asked.
Ted Cruz’s non-endorsement of Donald Trump surprised many, but not Christie.
“Reporters came up to me after the speech and asked me. I wasn’t in the least bit surprised. That’s who he is. And it’s why he is the most disliked person in either party on Capitol Hill. It’s why Lindsey Graham said that if he were murdered on the floor of the United States Senate by a fellow senator, that you couldn’t get one senator to convict the murderer,” the governor said.
Christie said the Trump campaign knew what it was getting by letting Cruz up on stage.
“He had the right to speak at the convention last night. He earned the right to speak at the convention last night. And I think there may have been other people, when they were a nominee, who wouldn’t have let him speak. They knew that he wasn’t going to endorse. And they could have made that endorsement a condition of his ability to speak, which has been done many times over the course of my watching of political conventions. But Donald didn’t do that,” Christie said.
Of the night’s other headliner, Mike Pence, Christie had only good words.
He said they worked closely together when Christie ran the Republican Governors Association.
“So this is a guy who has steady judgment, real wisdom, understands friendship, understands loyalty and understands how to lead. And he’s done a great job in Indiana. They’re going to miss him,” Christie said.
Tonight Trump will deliver his acceptance speech.
Christie said the TV audience should be huge.
“It’s a very important night for Donald and for our party and for the future of our country. And so I’m looking forward to it. I think he’ll acquit himself well tonight. And no matter what happens, there will be opinions on both sides of that ledger. There’s people who come in not liking him, I suspect won’t like the speech. And those that come in liking him, unless something goes really bad, they’ll like the speech,” Christie said.
And he offered this advice.
“My view on tonight is that Donald Trump just needs to be himself. And that should be the goal of everybody in politics. Be who you are. It’s a lot easier. Then you don’t have to try to remember who you pretended to be yesterday,” Christie said.
Christie talked about jumping on the Trump bandwagon early as a way to give New Jersey Republicans more influence here.
And then he turned pensive, saying the clock is running out on his time as governor and explaining the posture he’ll assume when he is a former governor.
“I will tell you that the way I intend to conduct myself in that role is a little different than the way some others do. I’m not going to be the guy who is sitting by my phone waiting for the phone to ring so I can give a quote to some reporter so I can keep my name in the news. I’m not going to do that. Not going to be the guy who continues to try to play three-dimensional chess by using the media and having the media use them to assault other Republicans. I’m not going to be the guy who forgets that I’m no longer governor,” he said.
While one can only guess who that barb is aimed against, Christie continued the criticism.
“The easiest place in the world in politics is on the sidelines, out of the arena, sitting in front of a laptop,” he said.
While pundits are barking into the wind, Christie said, leaders are making decisions and being held to account.
And he tossed a bouquet at Assembly Republican leader Jon Bramnick while telling the room full of Republicans how they should go about selecting their next leader.
“Can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked at Jon Bramnick when we’ve had a number of really, really important and intense conversations in my office on things. I will tell you there is no more effective leader in this state for our party than he is, and you should know that,” Christie said.
That statement registered on the audience and the press corps.
And Christie’s SUV carried him to his next appointment.
Aron: Gov. Christie of course caused quite a stir with his attack on Hillary Clinton’s foreign policy record. Monday there was the controversy about Melania Trump and plagiarism. Last night all the ripples were about Ted Cruz’s speech. But I think the success of this convention still hangs in the balance and depends very largely on the speech Donald Trump gives tonight and how well it’s received. Mary Alice?
Williams: Michael, so boos for Cruz but they like Mike?
Aron: Yeah, Mike Pence went over pretty well. I heard some in the New Jersey delegation suggesting that they’re comfortable with him. I can’t say that there was a lot of buzz about Pence in the delegation this morning, but I think that he will grow on Republicans as time goes on. He gave a good speech, a well-written speech, and the New Jersey folks seemed to have gotten over the fact that Chris Christie is not the running mate.
Williams: Was there any talk about Christie’s future? A cabinet position or position in the Trump White House?
Aron: Wherever he goes, Mary Alice, reporters are asking him, “Are you going to be the AG in a Trump administration?” He seems fed up with the question. He dismisses it. Same with questions about whether he was close to being the running mate or not. Personally, I could see him in the role of a White House chief of staff, but that’s pure speculation. He’s close, he’s part of the inner circle. He would probably play a role if Donald Trump were to win, but we have no idea at this point what it would be.
Williams: Protests were feared but they didn’t materialize. What do you make of that?
Aron: The security question has been interesting here. There were minor protests Sunday, Monday, small demonstrations, left wing demonstrations, but nothing serious, no rioting. Some arrests, a couple of police officers hurt, but it seems to me that the Cleveland Police have done a very good job of putting a peaceful vibe out there, a kind of mellow vibe. And I must say the convention has been pretty well organized. I haven’t stood in a long line all week long and that’s unusual at a convention. So a tip of the hat to the RNC on that.
Williams: OK, thank you Michael. Big night tonight.
Aron: Yeah, it should be interesting.