Election Guide: Trump has left the building. Now on to Philly.
It was presidential. It was disciplined. It was the longest presidential nomination speech since at least 1972. And it was the highlight of a four-day convention marred by foibles and missteps.
Donald Trump was as fiery as ever as he delivered his acceptance speech late Thursday. He was also deeply negative – offering a bleak view of crime and security in America. But he also offered a beam of hope, declaring, “I am your voice.”
And he shouted so much he grew hoarse as he drew near the end. But he spoke with greater precision, with surprisingly few mentions of “God” and surprisingly many mentions of “LGBTQ.”
The speech, annotated.
Trump: “The crime and violence that afflict our nation will soon come to an end.” Some perspective: pic.twitter.com/E5MBJTreNr
— The Marshall Project (@MarshallProj) July 22, 2016
Next up: The Democratic National Convention, next week in Philadelphia.
And the polls open nationally in 109 days. Let’s get started.
The crime and violence that today afflicts our nation will soon, and I mean very soon, come to an end. Beginning on Jan. 20 of 2017 safety will be restored.
Donald Trump
What to read now
▪ Democrat Hillary Clinton will end months of speculation when she announces her running mate this weekend in the battleground state of Florida, just ahead of the Democratic National Convention. Here is how her VP picks stack up.
▪ The four-day convention didn’t help the GOP, writes McClatchy’s David Lightman. Republicans are heading into a long general-election campaign with as many challenges and problems as they had going in.
▪ Still puzzled about Ted Cruz? The Texas senator’s controversial convention speech Wednesday night was vintage Cruz, writes McClatchy’s Bill Douglas, a calculated, high-risk gamble that could either wound his political career or give him a platform for a 2020 or 2024 White House run.
▪ Fun Fact Check: When we talk about increasing security checks for admitting Syrian refugees into the United States, it’s worth looking at what the current screening process looks like. Infographic.
Weekend reading
▪ In his own words: Trump talks to The New York Times about NATO, Turkey's coup attempt and the world. Why his remarks are important, and dangerous.
“We are the party of new ideas” is interesting spin on abandoning NATO allies and targeting people based on religion.
— Matt O'Brien (@ObsoleteDogma) July 22, 2016
Best of social media
▪ Lastly, first lady Michelle Obama does the carpool karaoke.
Have a question about the candidates, the campaign, the process, the election itself? Ask us here.
- Map: How America votes
- Quiz: Pick a side
- Register to vote
- Deadlines by state
- Find your state’s election office
- Sample ballots by ZIP code
This story was originally published July 22, 2016 at 1:13 AM with the headline "Election Guide: Trump has left the building. Now on to Philly.."