NEWS

Kasich delegates talk unity after Trump speech. Will it last?

Jessie Balmert
Gannett Ohio

CLEVELAND - Three well-dressed cheer section leaders stood near the Ohio Republican delegation to encourage cheers like “USA,” “Build the wall” and “Lock her up.” But Ohio Republicans weren’t joining in.

“No one is as enthusiastic as we are,” said one woman in charge of whipping up enthusiasm in the crowd.

Well, perhaps no one but Columbiana County GOP Chairman Dave Johnson, who waved his red “Make America One Again” sign proudly and cheered along with delegates from other states – even though Johnson was clearly losing his voice. He stood out among his fellow Ohio Republicans who clapped politely and sat in their chairs. They chuckled at Johnson’s passionate outbursts. Some wore “Team Kasich” pins or navy “Kasich for Us” hats from Gov. John Kasich’s failed presidential bid.

“I love John Kasich, but the nominee was Trump,” Johnson said after the speech, popping an Altoids’ mint for his tired voice.

But is that a message Ohio Republicans will embrace?

“Ohio Republicans are on board with Trump. We got off to a little bit of a slow start this week, but he finished strong,” Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges said. “We are fighting against Hillary Clinton not each other.”

Borges praised the inclusive moments of Trump’s acceptance speech. Which moments of inclusiveness? Ohio Republicans stood and clapped when Trump talked about protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Kasich signed an order to protect state employees from discrimination based on sexuality or gender identity, but GOP lawmakers have shown little interest in passing similar legislation statewide.

Trump’s campaign started the week by saying Kasich, the popular Ohio governor, was embarrassing himself. Kasich spent no time on the floor of the Quicken Loans Arena with the Ohio delegation and did not speak at the convention. Still, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, a likely governor contender in 2018, said the state’s Republicans were moving in the direction of rallying behind Trump.

“There are few presidential campaigns in recent memory that have drawn such a sharp contrast. He is not backing down on anything,” DeWine said. “I’m looking forward to a very close race in Ohio.”

Ohio Republicans, who spent much of the night seated, stood and cheered loudly when Trump said, “Let’s defeat her in November.”

That’s a compelling argument for Ohio Republicans who can’t stomach a victory from Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

“I hate Trump,” Cleveland-area delegate J. Patrick McDonald said on the convention floor. “I’ll vote for him. I just think he’s an idiot.”

One speech wasn’t going to mend all the fences from a week of bickering, but Ohio’s GOP officials were largely pleased with what they heard. They also cheered when Trump spoke about bringing jobs to Ohio – something Kasich campaigned on doing already – and eliminating Obamacare, which helped Kasich expand Medicaid to lower-income Ohioans.

They also loved Trump’s children, who helped soften the GOP nominee’s image. Daughter Ivanka Trump introduced her father and spoke about how he had included women in key business roles.

“I really felt that he was speaking from the heart,” Ohio’s national committeeman Jim Dicke said. “It was the sincerity of a really good family man. That really came through to me.”

The next four months will prove whether Ohio Republicans’ words of goodwill toward Trump will turn into enthusiastic support for his still-limited campaign organization.

“I think we are moving in that direction,” DeWine said.