GOP Day 2

To paraphrase Peter King,  here are 5 things I think I know about Day 2 of the Republican Convention.

1. The Melania plagiarism story lingered for two reasons.  Conventions are scripted infomercials. Reporters clomp down on any real news like a pit bull.  Second, the campaign is taking a keystone cop approach to damage control.  Everyone is running in a different direction.  
2. Speeches were much better than day one.  The pros came through.  Elected officials made strong attacks on Hillary, even sometimes managing to smile, when they stuck in the knife.  Christy played well to the base.  The vignette by Leslie Rutledge, Attorney General from Arkansas, was surprisingly good.  The amateurs were better.  Tiffany was sweet, and told a few anecdotes about her father.  The anecdotes could have been more specific and personal, but they worked.  Donald Jr.  gave the speech of the night.  He told humanizing business stories about his father, and even made a solid policy argument.
3. The pacing and messaging were off.   Trump has very few concrete proposals.  The few that he has, such as  being against trade agreements are not GOP orthodoxy.  As a result, the theme of the night, Make America Work Again, was lost.  The speeches, although good, did not reinforce each other.  The pacing was also strange.  Christie was not in the prime hour.  Donald Jr's speech should have been the final course.  There is nothing wrong with an after dinner drink, but not a flat bitter ale.  The strained Lucifer link did not go down well.
4.  Roughly 60% of voters do not believe Trump is qualified to be president.  To win he must clear that hurdle.  Relentless attacks on Hillary will not get him there.   His two children may have gotten him to the 30 yard line, but he needs two great nights to be able to spike the ball.
5. The chant of "Lock her up," is red meat for the base, but may be too raw for undecided voters.