CLEVELAND - Donald Trump, or else.
The Republican nominee, who usually peppers
speeches with improvised humor, used his nationally televised acceptance
speech Thursday night to lay out a darker version of his core message.
Trump described an America awash in blood and corruption that only he
can prevent from sliding into the abyss.
After months of speculation that he might
eventually soften his tone, broaden his message or roll out policy
details, the speech made clear that Trump is going to be Trump — and
unapologetically so.
There was little new material to entice groups
Trump has struggled to court like women, Latinos, African Americans, and
young people. Instead Trump focused on revving up his blue-collar base
with his core message of strong borders, resentment towards elites and
protestors, and an "America first" plan to protect manufacturing jobs
from the forces of globalization. In doing so, he placed a bet that the
voters who took him to this point can carry him all the way.
"These are the people who work hard, but no longer have a voice," Trump said. "I am your voice."
Related: Fact-Check: How Did Trump's Claims Hold Up?
Trump telegraphed for days that he planned to
borrow heavily from Richard Nixon's 1968 nomination speech, which
appealed to white Democrats rattled by rapid social change, rising
crime, and riots in cities. Sure enough, Trump's speech repeatedly
referenced Nixon's "law and order" slogan and described "a moment of
crisis for our nation."
A big question, however, is whether Trump's
throwback message, which worked so well for Nixon, can translate to
success in a very different country and with a very different kind of
candidate. It's not clear a majority of Americans will recognize the
terrifying picture he painted.
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