Trump acceptance speech buoys Arkansans

It hit mark, they say, but unity views differ

Donald Trump said on the fi nal day of the Republican National Convention, “I have joined the political arena so that the powerful can no longer beat up on people that cannot defend themselves.”
Donald Trump said on the fi nal day of the Republican National Convention, “I have joined the political arena so that the powerful can no longer beat up on people that cannot defend themselves.”

CLEVELAND -- Now that the speeches are over and the confetti has fallen, Arkansas Republicans say they're ready to return home and beat the Democrats.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's acceptance speech left many of them jubilant.

"I think he hit all the right notes. I think he accomplished what he set out to accomplish," said Keith Gibson of Fort Smith. "He has the crowd on his side. He talked about a lot of issues that people are concerned about here, and obviously you can see from the way the crowd's reacting that he did a really good job.

"I think what I was most impressed with was that he looked presidential to me. He sounded presidential. He sounded like a candidate who is focused on the issues people are concerned about and is articulating those in a way that makes people think he can get this job done."

While colleagues of former state Rep. Ann Clemmer popped balloons and collected confetti, she paused to praise Trump's address.

" I thought it was a great speech," she said. "I just thought he hit a lot of messages that are going to resonate with folks ... the protection of the Second Amendment, the protection of our borders, the protection of jobs, the protection of trade. I mean, those are the things that speak to the economic insecurities of the people of Arkansas, and I think he hit them."

Activists who originally supported former Gov. Mike Huckabee, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said they'll work together to elect their party's presidential nominee.

On the floor of the convention hall earlier Thursday night, some Arkansas delegates waved signs and waited for the New York billionaire to deliver his acceptance speech.

Others spoke hopefully about the fall campaign, predicting success in Arkansas and nationwide.

State Sen. Jim Hendren of Sulphur Springs said Republicans are leaving Cleveland stronger than when they arrived.

"I think we saw a transformation of a whole bunch of people who came here uncertain and concerned about the direction of our party, and I think you'll see most of those people, if not the vast majority of those people, leaving excited, energized and hopeful that we're actually going to win this thing," he said.

Darren Waddles, a delegate from Mountain View, said the discord and division has been replaced by a shared sense of purpose.

"We can definitely go home and say that we have unified and are moving forward, and that is exactly what has needed to be done, and at the end of this convention I'm glad to say that we have accomplished it," he said. "With this primary cycle, we're glad that it's over. Now we can focus" on November.

Arkansas and the rest of the country have two options: "It is either going to be another Obama administration through Hillary Clinton, or it is going to be a new revelation in making America great again through Donald J. Trump," he said.

As state Rep. Bob Ballinger of Hindsville waited for Trump to take the stage, he watched others dance in the aisles but didn't join in the festivities.

"Obviously everything's not been exactly the way I would've wanted to see, but I'm glad everybody's having a good time," he said.

Asked if the delegates would be unified when they left, Ballinger said, "not completely. People on both sides probably need to find ways to give a little so we can have a united party. If not, then we're not going to get anything done."

If the wounds aren't healed, "it could be kind of difficult" in November, he added.

Other Republicans said Trump's speech had solidified his support and would help him in the fall campaign.

"I was real pleased with it. I thought he hit on about everything there was to hit on," said Charlann Reely of Searcy. "If he can keep half of those promises, I'll be happy."

Metro on 07/22/2016



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