Republicans ready for national convention | News 28/22

EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) — The eyes of the political world are on Milwaukee this week as the Republican National Convention gets underway.

The convention comes less than two days after the attempted assassination of former President Trump.

It’s unclear what impact, if any, this shooting will have on delegates and the GOP going forward.

I’ve spoken to Republican Party leaders, and they say they’re seeing a lot of anger among party members about the assassination attempt on the former president. But they’re also hoping that the shooting will, they say, lower the political temperature in the country.

The sights and sounds of an assassination attempt. Shots were fired at former President Donald Trump at a rally Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania. One man was killed, two others seriously injured. The shooting looms over the Republican National Convention. Delegates discuss and react.

“The entire delegation is obviously horrified and saddened that this could happen, but I can tell you there is complete solidarity within the delegation. We support our nominee more than ever,” said GOP delegate Peter Quaglia.

“We believe our country is going in the wrong direction. Donald Trump is the only person who can turn this around,” Quaglia said.

Rick Morelli, of the Hazleton area, was a delegate for Donald Trump in 2016. He believes the assassination attempt has already had an impact on the presidential race.

“I think what we’re hearing now is unity on both sides. So I think when the candidates come out, they’re going to tone it down a little bit and focus on the issues rather than the attacks on themselves,” Morelli noted.

President Trump is expected to formally accept the nomination Thursday evening.