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Connecticut GOP Delegates Go From Lakefront Cruise To Booing Cruz

WESTON, Conn. — Weston Republican Town Chairman Bob Ferguson, an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, is sending dispatches from the floor. Here is his report from Wednesday's events.

Republican running mates Donald Trump and Mike Pence take the stage together at the GOP Convention in Cleveland on Wednesday evening.

Republican running mates Donald Trump and Mike Pence take the stage together at the GOP Convention in Cleveland on Wednesday evening.

Photo Credit: Bob Ferguson
Republican vice presidential candidate John Pence addresses the delegates and the nation from the GOP Convention.

Republican vice presidential candidate John Pence addresses the delegates and the nation from the GOP Convention.

Photo Credit: Bob Ferguson
Weston RTC Chairman Bob Ferguson with former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton at the Republican National Convention.

Weston RTC Chairman Bob Ferguson with former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton at the Republican National Convention.

Photo Credit: Bob Ferguson
The view of the podium from Connecticut's front row seats on the floor of the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.

The view of the podium from Connecticut's front row seats on the floor of the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.

Photo Credit: Bob Ferguson
Donald Trump takes the stage and heads for the podium at the Quicken Loans Arena.

Donald Trump takes the stage and heads for the podium at the Quicken Loans Arena.

Photo Credit: Bob Ferguson
Weston RTC Chairman Bob Ferguson grabs a selfie with Fox News host Jesse Waters at the GOP Convention.

Weston RTC Chairman Bob Ferguson grabs a selfie with Fox News host Jesse Waters at the GOP Convention.

Photo Credit: Bob Ferguson
The Cleveland skyline as seen from a cruise on Lake Erie for the Connecticut delegation and their guests.

The Cleveland skyline as seen from a cruise on Lake Erie for the Connecticut delegation and their guests.

Photo Credit: Bob Ferguson
Onetime candidate Marco Rubio speaks remotely to the delegates.

Onetime candidate Marco Rubio speaks remotely to the delegates.

Photo Credit: Bob Ferguson
Lynne Patton, vice president of the Eric Trump Foundation, tells the delegates about the Donald Trump she knows from her work with the charity.

Lynne Patton, vice president of the Eric Trump Foundation, tells the delegates about the Donald Trump she knows from her work with the charity.

Photo Credit: Bob Ferguson
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is one of the many speakers Wednesday.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is one of the many speakers Wednesday.

Photo Credit: Bob Ferguson
Florida Gov. Rick Scott takes his turn at the podium to address the delegates to the Republican National Convention.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott takes his turn at the podium to address the delegates to the Republican National Convention.

Photo Credit: Bob Ferguson

CLEVELAND — The activities continued at the Republican National Convention for our Connecticut delegation on Wednesday morning at a slightly slower pace. This was a welcome relief, especially considering the exciting way that Tuesday evening ended with nomination of Donald Trump!

We started off Wednesday with a relaxing break and a cruise along the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie, giving us a different view of the Cleveland skyline. We were treated to a short history lesson on the origins of Cleveland as the City of Bridges. I have to say that our delegation has been very impressed with Cleveland, its facilities and overall cleanliness.

We reconvened for dinner at The Chocolate Bar, a downtown restaurant. The highlight was a speech from former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton, who focused on national security, the turmoil in the Middle East and Turkey and the importance of U.S. support for Israel. After a short stop for a group picture, we went over to the Quicken Loans Arena for the evening's activities.

The list of speakers Wednesday evening was the most impressive of the week. Florida Gov. Rick Scott started out, with Laura Ingraham following with one of the best speeches thus far. Lynne Patton, an African-American employee of the Trump Foundation and assistant to EricTrump, gave a very moving speech along with words from Eric Trump himself.

But the big news of the night was Sen. Ted Cruz's unwillingness to keep his pledge from the debates and endorse Trump as the Republican nominee for president. Cruz speech began by congratulating Trump on the nomination, but then the mood changed when he suggested people "vote their conscious." That was the keyword used by those wanting to unbind the delegates earlier in the week and upend the Trump candidacy.

Cruz was literally booed off the stage by the vast majority of those in the hall. I've never seen anything like it! I spoke to dozens of delegates (some previous Cruz supporters) who were livid with his antics and now view him as totally self-serving. While some media reports say this highlights the "split" in the Republican Party, I can tell you that many people felt that Cruz ended his political career Wednesday night. If anyone had taken a poll from the convention, Cruz might have scored just slightly higher than Hillary Clinton!

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence finished up the night with a resounding acceptance speech for the vice presidential nomination. He brought the hall back together and was rewarded with numerous chants of "We Like Mike!" Pence has resounding support from the convention and is obviously a man of exceptional character and forms a great combination with Trump.

Thursday night, Donald J. Trump takes the stage to accept the Republican nomination for president. I would wager that this may be the most-watched political acceptance speech in history. The mood in the convention hall will be electric!

— Bob Ferguson

Weston RTC Chairman

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