As convention looms, Trump faces key test to unite party
Donald Trump faces a critical test Friday morning with only 17 days until the Republican National Convention.
Trump is slated to speak to some 4,000 conservatives at the Western Conservative Summit in Denver, Colorado.
Trump lost the Colorado caucus to Senator Ted Cruz, who took home all of the elected delegates. Now, Trump is returning as the presumptive nominee and attempting to unite the party ahead of the convention, reports CBS News correspondent Major Garrett.
The summit is the biggest gathering of conservatives outside of Washington. Sarah Palin will be here to rally conservatives to Trump, as well as Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson, who is a popular visitor at some of Trump's victory parties.
But some of Trump's vocal conservative opponents will also be here, including Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse and conservative blogger Eric Erickson.
As for Trump's vice presidential pick, CBS News has learned the final list is down to five and both New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich are on it. Trump's campaign manager Paul Manafort is running the search. The current plan is to announce late in the week before the convention.
Success in this once little-known conservative confab that has now become a pre-convention test for Trump will build momentum for Cleveland. But failure will only deepen GOP anxiety.