Delegates look to make voices heard for GOP convention

World Today

Each of the Republican delegates in Cleveland had to campaign to represent voters – either within their party or within their communities.

In Pennsylvania, they were directly elected during the primary by the voters.

CCTV America’s Jessica Stone has the story of one man’s efforts to get to Cleveland for the Republican national convention.

Becoming a father gave Al Quaye a new reason to become politically active.

“When you watch in their eyes and they’re looking to you, for guidance and for everything they need, I want to hand them over a country that gives them the opportunity that we’ve always had,” he said.

So Al campaigned to represent them and his community as a Republican delegate to the national convention in Cleveland. At the time we met him, he favored Senator Ted Cruz.

Al attended local Republican Party meetings, talking about his stance on issues like abortion – he’s against it – and taxes – he supports lowering them. But what people really wanted to know, was will you represent yourself or the voters at the party convention.

Republican delegates in Pennsylvania are especially important. That’s because they don’t have to commit to a candidate ahead of the party’s convention.

They can choose whomever they want. That means the campaigns of Donald Trump and Ted Cruz have spent an awful lot of time courting not only voters but the delegates themselves.

In the end, billionaire Donald Trump secured the required number of delegates ahead of the convention to win the Republican Party nomination and take the pressure off Pennsylvania’s delegates.

Despite his efforts, Al won’t be joining Pennsylvania’s Republican delegation this year. He’ll try again in four years.