Donald Trump's vexed presidential campaign got a shot in the arm Thursday as a poll put him level with Hillary Clinton, vice presidential speculation mounted and he unveiled a family-dominated convention line-up. After months of rocky sailing, Trump heads into the Republican convention in Cleveland with the wind at his back thanks to a New York Times/CBS News poll that showed a dead heat between him and Clinton.
Each candidate landed support from 40 percent of registered voters. The polls underscore the depth of Clinton's troubles over her use of a private server for State Department emails when she was the nation's top diplomat. Last week the FBI announced it would not pursue criminal charges against Clinton over the issue, but described her behaviour as "extremely careless."
Trump still faces a herculean task of uniting the Republican Party at the convention, which begins on Monday. Many delegates say they cannot get behind Trump and his populist rhetoric. Some are pressing for the rules to be changed to allow delegates to ignore the primary votes and back whichever candidate they want. The Donald's trump card may be the selection of a vice presidential running mate who can reassure the twitchy conservative base. An announcement is expected on Friday, with Indiana Governor Mike Pence, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Former House speaker Newt Gingrich the presumed frontrunners.
Pence - conservative, religious and measured - has campaigned with Trump. But he was left off the list of convention speakers, raising speculation he could appear in the prime time slot reserved for the VP pick.
The speakers' roster will include no former presidents and only a smattering of elected officials and party luminaries. To win over skeptical delegates, Trump has tapped wife Melania, daughters Ivanka and Tiffany and son Donald Trump Jr. They will undoubtedly try to soften the edges of a candidate who has been accused of racism, misogyny and bigotry. "The convention's theme," according to convention CEO Jeff Larson, will be Trump's campaign promise to "Make America Great Again" It "will focus on the core themes of Republican Presidential Nominee Donald J. Trump's campaign: national security, immigration, trade and jobs."
If history is any guide, Trump's boost may be reversed when Democrats hold their own convention in Philadelphia later in the month. And the businessman remains in serious trouble in key states that could decide the election outcome. "Donald Trump has been trending up in the polls this month, but to win he needs next week's Cleveland convention to succeed," George W. Bush's political guru Karl Rove wrote in the Wall Street Journal.
But overdoing it in Trump's support, he warned, risks making the gathering look like a "personality cult."
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