RNC Notebook: Sour grapes from Cruz leave a bad taste

Published 12:15 pm Thursday, July 21, 2016

James Vasilko was in a foul mood Thursday morning.

Though he looked forward to Donald Trump’s acceptance of the Republican nomination for president later in the evening, he was still irked by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s appearance the previous night.

While addressing the delegates, Cruz notably did not endorse Trump. He was greeted with a chorus of jeers and boos because of it.

“He’s the definition of a sore loser,” said Vasilko, a delegate from Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District.

“He talks about uniting the party, but he won’t be gracious,” he said. “I was talking to other delegates who said that when they go home, they will never help him. His political career is over.”

Speaking of sour grapes, Vasilko said the Ohio delegates have been noticeably reticent.

The host state’s Republicans have been slow to warm up to Trump, who bested their governor, John Kasich, in the race for the nomination.

When everyone else at the convention is cheering, he said, “They are duct-taped to their seats.”

“Between them and Cruz, they have me cranky,” he said.

Cleveland cleans up

Vasilko said he’s been impressed by the security and citizens of Cleveland, who have been extremely courteous.

That may have something to do with a project to spruce up downtown before the convention. Also, the city used tax money make $32 million in repairs to the city’s Public Square and fully fund a $270 million hotel ahead of time.

“When we pull out, they’ll still have those improvements,” Vasilko said.

Of course, when the Browns start playing again this fall, Vasilko said Steelers fans will still call the city the “Mistake by the Lake.”

Delegates duly energized

Rob Gleason, chairman of Pennsylvania’s Republican Party, said he expects convention delegates to return home energized.

“Trump is different,” he said. “There is something to be said about someone who beats 17 other candidates. That creates a lot of excitement.”

Gleason said national conventions usually attract “old war horses like me.” This year, he sees many new faces.

“It’s a movement,” he said. “People are sick of the ruling elite.”

That vibe bodes well for Trump, he noted, because Democrat Hillary Clinton will strike voters as a member of the political establishment.

In Pennsylvania, Republicans added almost 170,000 people to the voter rolls in the year leading to the May primary. Democrats added 100,000 but still hold about a 1 million-voter edge in the state.

John Finnerty covers the Pennsylvania Statehouse for CNHI’s newspapers and websites. Reach him at jfinnerty@cnhi.com or @cnhipa on Twitter