Analysis of the Republican National Convention

The Republican National Convention opened this week in Milwaukee, WI. Almost 2,400 delegates approved a platform and formally designed the presidential ticket of former President Donald Trump and Vice Presidential running mate JD Vance. They heard from both national candidates and others rallying support for Trump.

Chad Heywood, a consultant and former GOP State Party Executive Director, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss what to expect from this convention.

“You’re seeing a lot of unity right now which is sort of the plot line,” Heywood said. “Obviously a lot different for context in 2016 when Donald Trump went into the convention with the party deeply divided.”

Typically, in conventions there are delegates. When the nominee is decided and strong going into the convention, it’s much more focused on unity, Heywood explained.

Heywood took a moment to address the recent assassination attempt on Trump as well, how it made them become more cautious about what words are said, especially in the upcoming convention.

Heywood explained there is not too much concern about the absence of some Republican figures at the convention. Figures like David Schweikert, Juan Ciscomani and Doug Ducey, as Arizona has a late summer primary.

When asked about Trump’s decision to pick JD Vance as his Vice President, Heywood said, “You’re going to get a mixed response, but if you look traditionally at the vice president’s role, they do play sort of an attack role at the other party’s nominee.”

“Politics is one part politics and one part theatre,” Heywood said. “President Trump is an entertainer. He did cameos in movies going back decades, he had a best-selling book, he had a reality TV show, and JD Vance had a book and a Netflix movie made out of his book with big-name actors.”

Ultimately Heywood believes JD Vance helps Trump’s campaign.