ATLANTA — A Georgia delegate to the Republican National Convention says the convention is starting in a surprisingly upbeat mood -- lifted largely by Donald Trump’s fist-pumping reaction to Saturday’s attempted assassination of the former president.
Georgia Republicans held a delegation meeting at their hotel headquarters 50 miles southwest of Milwaukee on Sunday evening, and one of the 59 members said spirits were high.
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"It’s been upbeat," said delegate Salleigh Grubbs. "And I would say that it’s been uplifting, and everybody has pulled together, and we’re all unified."
Grubbs, the chairwoman of Cobb County’s Republican Party, said the delegation is keenly anticipating former President Trump’s convention speech later this week in light of the flesh wound he sustained Saturday in Pennsylvania during what authorities have described as an assassination attempt.
Trump was smothered by Secret Service agents within seconds -- then emerged a moment later bleeding from his ear and pumping his fist to the crowd.
"You could tell after he got up from being on the ground with Secret Service covering him, when he said 'fight, fight, fight,'" Grubbs recalled, "it was a huge moment. And it exemplified what he’s been trying to do the whole time, which is, if we want to save this country... we have to stand up for it."
At a political convention that had been expected to be fairly predictable -- Grubbs says Saturday’s shooting has ramped up the emotion behind the event.
"All the delegates, I think everybody is traumatized from what happened (Saturday). But people are determined, and know this is the time we stand with President Trump and we get him nominated," Grubbs said.