As the Republican convention kicks off this week in Milwaukee, the program will sound very different, not only from its originally planned content, but from every political convention that has yet preceded it. Democrats had hoped just a month or two ago that former President Trump would trundle onto the convention stage hobbled by legal convictions and poor favorability, or perhaps even join it remotely from prison after one or more humiliating sentencings. Instead, the stage will now feature an entirely different candidate: Trump risen from the ashes, a fist-pumping, rough-riding Teddy Roosevelt with a bandaged ear and a fresh orange glow.
The former President will rightfully savor his moment of survival before being smothered with his new vice-presidential pick by an avalanche of colored balloons and well-wishes. Before that happens, however, in another notable reversal of the program prior to the shooting, it was announced this weekend that the stage will now also be welcoming Trump’s most recent challenger for the nomination, former U.N. Ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
While true that the days of delegate swaps and coalition forging over cigars and handshakes are long since over, there are still deals to be made on a convention floor. In the modern era, these deals are more about exchanging patronage for promotion and forgiveness for support, helping unite attendees and viewers behind a single candidate that will bear its message in the fall. For the winner of the primary contests, it’s an opportunity to shore up support
