The GOP is coming together post-Republican National Convention (RNC) festivities, according to Rock Island Republican John Adkins, a 17th congressional district alternate delegate who represented the Illinois Republican Party at the RNC.
“The overall sense was we love our country," Adkins told WQAD-TV Channel 8 during the recent Chairman Picnic held at Ben Butterworth Park. "We think Donald (Trump) can bring us together and do some great things. We are united."
Adkins, who attended four days of the RNC in Cleveland as one of 69 delegates from Illinois, said that one point of contention during the RNC was the refusal by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to endorse Trump as the Republican presidential candidate.
“We could read his speech ahead of time on the teleprompter," Adkins, who was elected as a Trump delegate for his district, said. "The crowd was behind him 100 percent ready to explode in celebration with him, and he did not endorse."
Nevertheless, he said the crowd left the RNC united.
“There were 17 candidates and 16 lost out, so there are going to be some unhappy people," Adkins told WQAD-TV. "But overwhelmingly, even the Texas people are on board and that’s really telling to me,”
Overall, the experience was “a dream come true,” Adkins said.
In preparation for the general election Nov. 8, Rock Island Republicans, which is based in Moline, now has boots on the ground going door-to-door to gain votes for Trump, as well as for state and local GOP candidates.
For more information, find the Rock Island Republican Party online at www.ricogop.org and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ricogop.
Alerts Sign-up