- The Washington Times - Monday, July 18, 2016

CLEVELAND — Donald Trump will fly to the Republican National Convention on Monday to join his wife, Melania, on stage as the campaign kicks off a four-day affair designed to introduce the mogul to a broad swath of America that is still taking measure of the man.

Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort said Mr. Trump wanted to be on the ground in Cleveland to cheer on his wife, who is delivering a speech on the convention’s first night. They will return to New York City immediately, and Mr. Trump will make his official return on Wednesday.

Mr. Manafort acknowledged that Mr. Trump’s wife and children are playing a relatively prominent role in party summit on Lake Erie.

He said the idea is to introduce Mr. Trump as a father, businessman and the “compassionate human being he is,” beyond the personality that voters saw on the primary trail. That race was marked by widespread coverage his more strident comments on illegal immigration and a proposal to ban Muslims amid the threat of Islamic radical terrorism.

The convention is an “opportunity to introduce the candidate to a broader spectrum of America that will be paying attention to the election after this convention,” Mr. Manafort said at a kickoff briefing.

Formal festivities at the Quicken Loans Arena will begin at 1 p.m., starting with a welcome from city and county officials and a tribute to George Voinovich of Ohio and Bob Bennet of Utah, both former GOP senators who died earlier this year.

Mr. Manafort brushed aside simmering discontent within the party, saying no-shows like former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and the rest of the Bush family “part of the past,” while the Trump team is “dealing with the future.”

“The party is united,” he said.

Mr. Manafort described Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s decision not to participate in the mogul’s coronation as “difficult,” though he looked beyond naysayers and said Republicans will come around to the campaign in due time.

“Conventions are a healing time,”he said.

• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.

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