Out-of-town pool report #12 - Leavitt, Don Jr, RFK Jr

A few highlights while waiting for Vance and Trump.

RFK Jr got big cheers and laughs for the line: “I’m 72 years old and for 70 years of my life I would have bet I would not be appearing at a Republican convention.”

And applause for the line: Jr: "I mourn the fact that neither my father nor my uncle would recognise the Democratic Party today."

Karoline Leavitt entered to huge cheers after a video showing her interactions with reporters in the White House briefing room.

“It feels good to be behind a podium. Let me just say, it feels much better speaking a stadium full of patriots than a briefing room full of journalists.”

She urged Republicans on November 3: “Pair your prayer with action and get out and vote.

Vote like the lives and the futures of your children depends on it, because they do”

Donald Trump Jr began by talking about how it “a year ago today, my good friend Charlie Kirk was cut down by an assassin's bullet” and saying they would “carry the torch” for the “happy warrior”.

On the midterms: “We have two competing visions battling for the soul of America. It’s common sense versus extremism.”

Meanwhile, red, white, blue and gold balloons are in the ceiling ready for the drop at the end of the convention.

Vance is due up next

Danny Kemp

AFP White House correspondent