MILWAUKEE (KYW Newsradio) — Vice presidential nominee JD Vance is scheduled to address the Republican National Convention this evening, one day after former primary rivals Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis threw their support behind presidential nominee Donald Trump.
The day started with the Pennsylvania delegation getting a visit from Donald Trump’s son, Eric, who told them they are from the most important state in the country.
Eric Trump told the Pennsylvania delegates that it has been quite a roller coaster ride, from wondering if his dad was going to be okay after an assassination attempt on Saturday, to less than 48 hours later casting the ballot on the convention floor that made his dad the Republican nominee for president on Monday.
And he says Donald Trump will work to promote America and American interests around the world, something he says has been lacking under the Biden administration.
Delegates are anticipating a speech Wednesday night from JD Vance, his first as the vice presidential nominee.
Pennsylvania House Republican leader and Pennsylvania delegate Bryan Cutler says he expects the 39-year-old author of “Hillbilly Elegy” to connect with people from many parts of the commonwealth.
“I think he's going to be a really good voice for the Rust Belt states, in terms of how he grew up and some of the challenges he personally experienced,” Cutler said.
“I think it'd be very good not just for Pennsylvania, but also Michigan and Wisconsin, because we unfortunately have a lot of similar stories. We were once manufacturing powerhouses, and now we're trying to go through a rebuilding stage.”
Cutler said he thinks the speeches in the last two days from everyday Americans have been effective and powerful as they share their struggles over the past four years.
Delegate Michael Straw, chair of the Media Borough Republican Party in Delaware County, said apart from Vance connecting with blue-collar voters, his youth will also play a role in the election.
“I think his youth will actually help younger voters say, hey, you know, we have an opportunity to elect a young vice president who actually, you know, understands us, sees what we're going through.”
Wednesday night’s theme is “Make America strong again,” and will feature speeches from Gold Star families. Delegates are expecting speeches to focus on issues of national security and foreign policy within the "America First" Trump paradigm.
Former Trump White House adviser Peter Navarro, who just completed his four-month sentence in a Miami federal prison after defying a subpoena from the January 6 congressional committee, is expected to be one of them.
KYW Suburban Bureau Chief Jim Melwert is at the RNC in Milwaukee, reporting live all week.