Donald Trump laid out his vision to Republicans and the nation Thursday night as he accepted his party鈥檚 nomination.
For New Hampshire delegates loyal to Trump, Thursday was a chance to celebrate their candidate, their own improbable rise, and thumb their nose at elements of their party who doubted Trump. For many delegates who didn鈥檛 back Trump, it was a time to reassess.
Donald Trump鈥檚 New Hampshire inner circle spent the afternoon soaking in the sun and downing beers outside the arena.
The gang was all there: Trumps鈥檚 ex-campaign manager Corey Lewandowski posed forselfieswith a stream of admirers.
Londonderry State Rep. AlBaldasaropuffed cigarettes and spat insults at his party鈥檚 state chair, lone Republican statewide officeholder, and the leader of the New Hampshire House.
鈥淥nly in my own state, do I got three idiots that have no damn clue on the constitution and the laws of the land, and that鈥檚 Kelly Ayotte, Jennifer Horn, and Shawn Jasper.鈥�
Standing nearby, Fred Doucette, one of Trump鈥檚 state co-chairman, said he was proud Donald Trump saw him as worthy of leading his state campaign.
鈥淎nd again, I鈥檓 humbled by that. But I鈥檓 lucky enough to have seen intimately what he does and how he does it and I just sit there nodding, yeah, he鈥檚 got our back.鈥�
Trump鈥檚 other New Hampshire co-chairman, Steve Stepanek, assured anyone within earshot that Trump鈥檚 success in the primary was only the beginning..
"Not only are we going to win, its going to be an overwhelming win. It鈥檚 a tsunami coming and people still don鈥檛 get it."
If the wave Stepanek predicts comes, the fact that some core Republicans will tell you they have doubts about Trump may not make any difference.
But if November turns out to be close, harvesting every vote from party regulars will be crucial.
After Trump鈥檚 speech ended Thursday night, some of New Hampshire鈥檚 convention delegation gathered outside their hotel for some hot dogs and burgers.
As she stood by the grill, Diane Bitter of Rye, an alternate delegate for Ted Cruz, said voting for Donald Trump, which she plans to do, remains a leap of faith.
"He doesn鈥檛 have a record in any kind of public service, and that鈥檚 the big unknown and from my point of view. It鈥檚 just a little bit scary."
But less scary, she allowed, than if Trump doesn鈥檛 become president. A few steps away, Bruce Perlo sipped from a small snifter of bourbon. He鈥檚 chairman of the Grafton County GOP. Perlo wanted John Kasich to be president but unlike Kasich himself, Perlo now backs Trump without hesitation.
"Because Hillary is just so awful," he said. "So case proved."
That鈥檚 a logic all Republicans -- those who love Trump, and those who don鈥檛 鈥� may end up finding persuasive. If so, the once remote possibility of President Donald Trump could become reality.
Copyright 2016
