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Recapping the 2016 RNC with Local Delegate Bob Spindell

Jeff Swenson
/
Getty Images
Delegates stand and cheer at the end of the Republican National Convention on July 21, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump received the number of votes needed to secure the party's nomination.

The Republican National Convention ended last night with a bang. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump took to the stage for the final speech of the convention. The four-day convention was rife with controversy, but is that really so different from any other year?

Milwaukee delegate Bob Spindell was at the convention in Cleveland this year. This marked his sixth convention as a delegate, although he believes he's attended a dozen conventions overall. Although many felt this year's convention would be unlike any other, Spindell had his doubts. 

There were predictions that the convention would be swarmed with protesters, but Spindell says he didn't see much of that. "I made a point to go to the various protesting areas on the way to the arena every day. I stopped by and there were three protesters each of these days," he says. Unlike previous conventions he has attended, he saw hardly any protesters in designated protesting areas or other parts of the city. 

Spindell attended the convention as a Ted Cruz delegate, and was surprised that the former nominee failed to support Donald Trump's nomination. "I think he should have done it. I think he hurt his career," he says.

Joy is a WUWM host and producer for Lake Effect.