So much for a scripted, boring Republican National Convention. And so much for unity.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz drew a deafening cascade of boos on Wednesday after he refused to endorse Donald Trump, reopening seething divides within the GOP and making Cruz the undisputed face of the Republican resistance to the party’s nominee. Case in point: Is anyone talking about Mike Pence’s speech today?
The convention kicks off at 7:30 p.m. tonight. Here are five things to watch:
Trump aims to recover: The convention has been anything but smooth. Attempted floor revolts. A roll call controversy. A snub by Republican elite. A home state governor, John Kasich, who has been everywhere but inside the convention hall. And, on Wednesday, Cruz's extraordinary diss of Trump. The New York businessman is under pressure to recover - and fast.
Which Trump will show: It's his biggest rally ever, with millions watching live on TV for any mistep or message. And Trump will have a decision: Will he talk up party unity? Will he attack his critics? Will he stick to a script? What we know for sure: Cruz's snub will give Trump even more of the spotlight.
Heightened security: Thursday brought the tensest confrontation with police yet, when two officers were injured and at least five protesters arrested when a group tried to burn an American flag outside the Quicken Loans Arena. Protesters are promising an even bigger demonstration today, as thousands of delegates arrive to hear Trump.
An appeal to evangelicals: Jerry Falwell Jr., an evangelical pastor and president of Liberty University, will help open the night with a defense of Trump's faith. For the nominee, who is trying to soothe skeptics who doubt his religious credentials, the speech could be a key moment.
A tech titan: Peter Thiel, the PayPal co-founder and scourge of Gawker, is one of only a handful of Silicon Valley bigwigs who support the Republican. His appearance has already sparked controversy in the tech industry, and we can expect a spirited attack against the media.
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