Watching Donald Trump arrive at the Republican National Convention confounded expectations; mine at least. The former president’s defiant post on Truth Social as he headed to the Republican National Convention – a scatter attack on his accusers in brittle, finger-jabbing tone – signalled that after the attempt on his life at the weekend, he was back to full-throttle Trump politicking.

And yet the figure I saw here in Milwaukee, whisked to the leader’s VIP family and friends section of the audience, his bandaged ear catching the spotlights, looked more shaken than triumphant. His smile was wan and expression a little dazed, the famous bottle-blond hair do is now a more “silver fox” platinum. Around the eyes, he looked tired.

Interviewing his forthright former chief of staff, Reince Priebus, who is also chair of the Convention and had spoken to Trump the day after the shooting, I noted that his mood seemed unsettled. Priebus retorted: “Well, you know, he has just been shot and nearly died.”

Those atmospherics, between defiant and shaken, define this meeting of Republicans. It also shapes their belief that victory is in their grasp against a Democratic party whose early campaign feels unmoored by doubts about President Biden’s ability to stay the course.

The “Veep........

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