RNC vibe check: Somber but confident in a Trump victory

MILWAUKEE - Donald Trump's conventioneers are experiencing a mix of emotions this week: Reverent, somewhat subdued over Saturday's assassination attempt, and supremely confident that victory is at hand.

It's complicated when your candidate is nearly killed.

From the food trucks along Wisconsin Avenue to the convention hall at Fiserv Forum, Trump Republicans marvel at Trump's survival of an assassination attempt, along with the political struggles of Democratic President Joe Biden.

While concerned about Trump's health - his bandaged ear has become an icon, and some delegates have patched their own ears in solidarity - most Republicans are also giddy at the prospect that Trump may come out of this week's convention in the battleground state of Wisconsin as a stronger presidential candidate.

The overall political vibe is positive, at least as far as the GOP is concerned.

"It's more electric than I've seen," said Hogan Gidley, a former Trump spokesman who attended an interview on Wednesday of Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the former White House press secretary and now Arkansas's governor, at the "CNN/Politico Grill."

When Trump formally accepts his third presidential nomination on Thursday, he will close what is probably the most unified Republican convention since 2000. That was the year that George W. Bush and allies took control of a party that is now very different.

The Republicans had to delay and postpone events at their 2008 and 2012 conventions because hurricanes were barreling toward the United States. Many of the Republicans at those conclaves had serious doubts about whether their nominees - John McCain in 2008 and Mitt Romney in 2012 - could overtake Barack Obama in those elections. They didn't, and both McCain and Romney wound up as Trump critics who would not be welcomed this week in Milwaukee.

There were some GOP doubters at Trump's first convention in 2016. In his convention speech that year, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas pointedly refuse to endorse Trump during his convention speech, and urged delegates to vote their consciences.

This week in Milwaukee: Nary a discouraging word. "God bless Donald J. Trump,” Cruz said on Tuesday night as Trump delegates whooped it up.

Democrats are also roaming the streets of Milwaukee, offering counter-programming to the Republicans as they do at all GOP conventions. This time around, Democrats agree that their opponents are in a positive mood, but they should be wary of over-confidence.

Pat Dennis, president of a Democratic Super PAC called American Bridge 21st Century, said the Republicans are "juicing each other up" at their convention.

Election Day, however, is Nov. 5. "Elections can change in a moment," Dennis said.

That happened last weekend, when a would-be assassin barely missed killing Trump.

As Republicans browsed merchandise stores in the convention hall and on surrounding streets, some described Trump's survival as an act of God, and a sign that he is destined to be president again. Others spoke in wonderment about how Trump stood up after the shooting, shook his fist at the crowd, and yelled, 'fight! Fight!"

This week, as Republicans meet, party, and plan while checking their cell phones, most of the news been about the political struggles of Biden, who came down with COVID for a third time and is still being urged to leave the race because of his age.

As for Trump, some conventioneers noted that their once-and-hopefully-future president has pledged to talk more about national unity in his acceptance speech and moving forward.

"He's toning things down - for him," said Renee Cruz, 61, a realtor from Stockton, Mo.

Every convention has its share of entrepreneurs, selling hats, t-shirts, jewelry and various knicknacks. Need a "Trump shot glass"? They're here. Only this convention has Trump Poetry.

"We're trying to make poetry great again," said vendor Gregory Woodman as he sold copies of the first-edition "Collected Poems of Donald J. Trump (2009-2019)," which are basically past Trump tweets reprinted in a modernist style.

A sample: "Entrepreneurs:/It's often/To your advantage/to be underestimated." Woodman said Republican confidence, and relief, have helped sales.

The positive vibes have also inspired Republican after Republican to roam radio row, pop-up booths arrayed on the floor of the old Milwaukee arena. Former New York City mayor - and Trump personal attorney - Rudy Giuliani said he is having a "great time" as he moved from booth to booth talking about the convention.

"We have a good feeling, right?" said Giuliani, who has been disbarred in New York and also pleaded not guilty to both Arizona and Georgia state criminal charges tied to his role trying to help Trump overturn the results of the 2020 election he lost to Biden. "Conventions are for winning."

It's not all sweetness and light. Some Republicans, speaking privately, said there are some quiet arguments going on, from the platform's new plank on abortion to the selection of Ohio Sen. JD Vance as Trump's running mate.

But the near-assassination has muted those complaints - for now. "They're going for unity and that's really hard to keep together," said radio host Julie Mason.

The star of "The Julie Mason Show" on SiriusXM’s POTUS Channel also said Republicans are promoting a united front because they believe victory in November is a "foregone conclusion."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: RNC vibe check: Somber but confident in a Trump victory