GOP strategist criticizes lack of uplifting theme in convention’s opening day

Pat Brady
Pat Brady, former chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, said the lack of an uplifting theme in Day One of the GOP convention may be tied to a lack of organization in Donald Trump’s campaign. (WJBC file photo)

By Greg Halbleib

The opening day of the Republican National Convention was not the stirring session that one GOP delegate had hoped for.

Pat Brady said the convention started on a downer.

“Yesterday to me was a swing and a miss with no theme,” Brady told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin. “I get it, we’re going to blame Hillary Clinton for everything, but there was no uplifting theme until Melania’s speech at the end and people were walking out.”

Brady suspects the lack of a theme points to a lack of organization in Donald Trump’s campaign.

Plagiarism allegations notwithstanding, Brady said the opening night speech by Melania Trump at the Republican National Convention saved the day.

“As expected when you have a hyper-partisan crowd, the reaction was great,” Brady said. “She changed the whole tone of the day and it was a very good speech.”

Brady questioned why the Never Trump movement reappeared at the beginning of the Republican National Convention, saying the group was merely disruptive. Brady said he was involved in the movement early but ended his push when the convention’s rules committee refused to release Trump delegates to vote as they wished.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].

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