CLEVELAND–As Kansas delegates to the Republican National Convention gathered for breakfast Tuesday, Claude Perdue showed others a photo of Donald Trump kissing his wife, Melania, after her speech Monday night.
Delegates had wanted to know what the pair were like as husband and wife, and they got that Monday.
That was a unique moment in convention history and a lovely gesture, said Perdue, an alternate from Overland Park.
“I saw a lot of respect and love there,” said Tanner Tempel, an alternate from Garden City.
Most delegates said they were pleasantly surprised at Melania Trump’s composure. They said she was poised, sincere and intelligent. She exuded confidence and knew what she was talking about.
“I think the comments she made about what she plans to do as the first lady shows she cares,” said David Lightner, a Trump supporter from Olathe. “Education, care of children, hunger – something we don’t see as a nation. She sees that and that shows what Donald Trump will do as a president.”
A few delegates indicated they had reservations about Melania Trump’s speech, which had two passages very similar to passages in Michelle Obama’s 2008 convention speech.
“There are a string of phrases and that doesn’t happen by accident. I think there is a problem there and it needs to be fixed and an apology needs to be issued,” said Morgan Anderson, an alternate delegate from Goddard.
The delegates were excited to see Donald Trump on Monday. He had not been scheduled to appear on the convention’s first day but flew down from New York to introduce his wife.
One thing the delegates said they looked forward to most is Donald Trump’s speech on Thursday. Anderson said delegates were also big fans of Paul Ryan and were excited to hear him speak.
“I think we are going to see a Donald Trump speech unlike any we have seen before,” Lightner said. “A speech that will tell us exactly what we will get when he becomes the president.”
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