Local Delegates Head To Cleveland For Republican National Convention
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A group of local delegates was rallying in Cleveland Sunday night.
The Pennsylvania Delegation to the Republican National Convention held a send-off event in Monroeville Sunday morning. They will join nearly 2,500 delegates from all 50 states.
"So Donald Trump is the person. He's created a movement. He says what he thinks and he's saying what the American people are saying and thinking," said U.S. Representative Tom Marino.
"These are the grass roots people saying this is the way it's going to be so, it's a real turning point not only for our party, for our state, but when Donald Trump wins the presidency, it's going to be a turning point for our nation," said Pennsylvania Senator Kim Ward.
KDKA's Jon Delano is in Cleveland, where the town is buzzing with excitement for the convention to begin at 1:30 p.m. Monday. Around 50,000 people have swarmed to the city.
There was no mistake, the event was designed to promote Donald Trump and those in attendance were completely on board with that goal.
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"This means picking a new leader for our country, and we need it bad," said Mary Jo Silvis.
Pennsylvanians are staying 15 miles away from the event. Veteran delegate Mary Ann Meloy thinks she knows why.
"We haven't carried for a Republican candidate for president since 1988, so if you deliver you get better rooms, if you don't deliver your accommodations may be many miles from the convention center," she explained.
But some say this year that will change.
"A lot of those blue collar, conservative, Reagan democrats, Reagan coalition from '84 are in play and I think Trump brings a lot to the table," said Mike McMullen.
"People are all saying the same thing that Trump is saying: We want our security back, we want our country back, we want our jobs back," said Mary Ann Meloy.
Donald Trump certainly has his sights set on Pennsylvania, seating delegates from the state in the front row.