Cleveland: After eliminating 16 party rivals, warring with much of the Republican establishment and provoking controversy at the party convention, Donald Trump on Tuesday had his name formally placed in nomination for the White House.
The party began a formal roll-call vote to put Trump`s name in nomination one day after opponents staged a failed attempt to force a vote opposing his candidacy, and a speech by his wife Melania drew accusations of plagiarism.
Senator Jeff Sessions, an early backer of Trump, placed the New York businessman`s name in nomination, calling him "a warrior and a winner." House Speaker Paul Ryan, the highest ranking elected Republican, ran the meeting and launched the nominating process.
Trump`s campaign has been marked by frequent controversy over his rhetoric on Muslims, Hispanics, illegal immigration and trade, alarming many in the Republican establishment.
Party officials are hoping to use the convention to smooth out some of his rough edges and present him as a job creator and a strong hand to combat security threats at home and abroad.
CHALLENGING CLINTON
Speakers on Monday, the first day of the convention, put the focus on defeating the presumptive Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, and taking back the White House after eight years under Democratic President Barack Obama.
The theme of Tuesday`s convention was "Make America Work Again," and speakers were to take aim at Obama`s record on the economy.
After the roll-call vote of the states, Trump was to receive the blessing on stage of other senior Republicans, like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Both Ryan and McConnell need Trump to do well in the November election as they seek to preserve majorities in Congress.
Trump, a 70-year-old real estate developer and former reality TV star who has never held elective office, trails Clinton, 68, in many opinion polls after a bruising Republican primary season.
Clinton was due to be formally nominated at a Democratic convention next week in Philadelphia.
Republicans, meeting for the second of four days this week, were due also to place in nomination Indiana Governor Mike Pence, 57, Trump`s choice for vice presidential running mate.
SPEECH CONTROVERSY
In Melania Trump`s roughly 15-minute address on Monday night, a small section closely resembled a part of Michelle Obama’s speech in 2008 in support of her husband, Barack Obama, who was then campaigning for his first term as president.
In that section, Melania Trump, a Slovenian-born jewellery designer and former model, talked about passing on to the next generation the value of hard work that she inherited from her parents and said "the only limit to your achievements is the strength of your dreams and your willingness to work for them."
In a Twitter post on Tuesday, Trump himself made no mention of the accusations about plagiarism, saying simply: "It was truly an honour to introduce my wife, Melania Trump last night. Her speech and demeanour were absolutely incredible. Very proud!"
Security forces were on high alert in Cleveland. Wright State University, a public university located near Dayton, Ohio, said on Tuesday it had decided not to host the first U.S. presidential debate scheduled for Sept. 26, citing mounting costs and security concerns. The event will now be held at Hofstra University in New York.
