Jim checks in with big time Republican national committeeman, Massachusetts' Ron Kaufman (@Ron_Kaufman), who's at the convention hall.
Ron Kaufman: Jim I miss you in Cleveland, wish you were here.
Jim Braude: So Ron, speaking of outright rejection, you’re with Jeb Bush, none of the Bushes are there. You’re a big fan of Mitt Romney's, we know what Romney did. Other big time republican’s are home, I don’t know, cleaning the kitty litter. Can Donald Trump win without the republican party establishment on his side?
RJ: Jimmy between the primary process when he beat 17 people. Most folks are here, most folks are growing in enthusiasm, and by the end of the day all of the representatives will be at board. It’s not unusual, given the size and the depth, and the variety of the primary process for it at this time.
RJ: Ron, let’s do the other side of the coin, you think he can win without the republican party establishment, can republicans in congress survive with him? Mitch Mcconnell, obviously the senate leader, he was booed last night and this is by republican activists.
RK: Listen, one thing that Donald Trump proved in the primary is that he attracts a whole bunch of people who are very very excited about his candidacy. He’ll bring a whole bunch of new people to the table. He got more votes than any republican in the history of the country. 100 million Jim, 100 million more people watch republican debates than watch democratic debates. Excitement won’t be our problem, and he’ll bring new people in who are really excited about it, and right now today, as we speak for the first time, almost every republican up for reelection in the senate is now ahead in the polls. Donald Trump is ahead of Hillary Clinton. We’re in good shape Jim.
JB: You know Ron, I know you’re a big fan of the vice presidential nominee, that is on the libertarian ticket, Bill Weld. Are you worried about the whole Johnson, Weld ticket thing here? They’re at 13% if they get two more points they get on the- Johnson gets on the debate stage, Weld gets on the debate stage in the Vice Presidential thing. Are they a threat to your candidate?
RK: You know, it’s interesting Jim, in all the poll data I’ve seen, both internal and external, they take away from both parties equally. In fact, they hurt Clinton, a little more than they hurt Trump.
JB: You know last thing Ron, we talked earlier in the show about last night and the anti-Clinton rhetoric, including the chant. It was quite unusual “Lock her up.” I know it’s loved by people in the room where you are. Do you worry that they might not play so well with undecided voters back home?
RK: No, I think people understand the enthusiasm of conventions. They say lots of things on both sides, but the bottom line, I think that our friend Chris Christie prosecuted the case against Clinton better than anyone I ever heard. And the second night for these shows are about prosecuting the case for the opponent and I think he did a brilliant job last night and ended up on a bang with Donald Trump Jr., who I thought was phenomenal.
JB: Yeah, he was something.
RK: So I think we’re in great shape.
JB: Now Ron, I want you to know my favorite political thinker is Marx, not the one you think but Groucho, who said “There’s nothing like good timing,” and this is nothing like good timing. The music stops as we stop. Ron it’s great to see you, thanks so much.
