CLEVELAND (WKZO-AM) — The Republican National Convention officially starts at 1 p.m. Monday and Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette is scheduled to speak from the stage at the convention this afternoon after 2 p.m.
Unless something unconventional happens, Donald Trump should be voted in as the party’s nominee before they gavel this session closed later tonight.
Oshtemo Representative Brandt Iden, who is a Trump delegate, said an effort in the rules committee by “Dump Trump” forces to unbind the delegates fell short. That means, when they hold the vote this afternoon or this evening, Trump should have sufficient delegates to win on the first ballot.
Iden said he hopes his party will leave the city united.
There are those who would argue that the GOP is limping into Cleveland far from united with little chance of repairing all the rifts, especially because a lot of key members of the GOP will be no-shows.
Neither of the two former presidents will be making appearances, nor will any of the unsuccessful presidential candidates from the last few cycles.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich would traditionally be welcoming the delegates from the podium, but he will not set foot in the convention hall all week. He will have breakfast with the Michigan Delegation on Tuesday, but that may be as close as he gets.
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has also begged off heading up the Michigan Delegation, as every governor has done for the last few decades. He will be traveling to Gogebic County to inspect storm damage from last week.
Most no-shows, like Congressman Fred Upton, said they will be busy pursuing their own reelections this week.
Kalamazoo County Commissioner Scott McGraw is also a delegate at the GOP Convention in Cleveland. He said all the delegates pay their own way. The Kalamazoo-area delegation chartered a bus to take them to Cleveland and McGraw says he will be sharing a motel room with two other delegates.
He is hoping to attend a lot of parties that have free food to reduce that expense, but still says it may cost him $2,500 to $3,000 for the week.
He said delegates who had to fly from the south or west coast to get to Cleveland have that added expense as well.
