Lotton sees 'enthusiastic energy' at GOP convention

Havreite and Montana delegate Brad Lotton praised Donald Trump's speech at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland Thursday night.

In a 75-minute address, which according to CNN is the longest convention address of any Republican candidate since 1988, Trump called for a crackdown on what he said were rising crimes rates and violence in America's cities.

"I have a message for all of you: the crime and violence that today affects our nation will soon come to an end," Trump said. "Beginning on Jan. 20, 2017, safety will be restored."

Lotton, who posted photos on his personal Facebook account of Trump speaking from the convention dias, said the speech was "absolutely fabulous."

"There was a ton of enthusiastic energy tonight," Lotton said in an instant message conversation after the convention adjourned. "If we keep this up until November we will win in a landslide."

Lotton said that promises to restore American pride and stomp out government corruption, the need to stop "government meddling in our lives" and lines critical of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton garnered the most applause.

The address marked the end of what many observers saw as a turbulent convention, where differences between anti-Trump factions and the broader party sometimes spilled out into the open.

Monday at the convention's start, a group of Republican delegates unsuccessfully tried to push through a rules change in an attempt to deny Trump the nomination, and a speech given by Texas senator and former Trump primary rival Ted Cruz where he did not endorse Trump, sparked jeers from delegates.

Lotton said reports of division within the convention have been grossly exaggerated.

He said the reported walkout of Colorado's delegation in protest over the failure to bring up the rules change Monday afternoon was such an example.

Lotton said that Montana's 27-member delegation sat two rows in front of Colorado's delegation.

"I doubt there was five chairs of the 60 or so delegates empty," he said.

Lotton planned to return to Havre today.

He will be speaking about his convention-going experience at the Pachyderm Club meeting at noon Friday, July 29, at the Duck Inn. The public is welcome to attend.