Now Republicans prepare to nominate Trump

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (right) talks with Governor Mike Pence during a campaign event to announce Pence as his vice presidential running mate in New York on Saturday.

Donald Trump prepares for a prime-time moment this week that few would have predicted a year ago.

Mr Trump is set for an anointment as the party’s presidential nominee. His running mate is squared away and the Republican Party more or less behind him.

The wealthy businessman’s coronation in Cleveland will come at the end of the four-day Republican National Convention that kicks off today.

Befitting the candidate’s unrestrained nature, the convention is expected to be a more spontaneous affair this year than past iterations.

On Saturday, Trump gave a preview of his showmanship, honed over the years as a reality television star. While officially presenting his vice presidential running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, he detoured frequently to hit Democratic rival Hillary Clinton and tout his own business record.

Trump did recognise, however, that he picked the conservative Christian to help unify a party that has struggled to come to terms with the real estate mogul’s unorthodox stances and off-the-cuff campaign style. It was an admission of sorts that he needs the veteran politician’s yin to counter his outsider yang in preparation for the November 8 election. Trump’s Saturday appearance was the last time he is scheduled to speak before his acceptance speech on Thursday night.

“His convention speech will be the most important moment of the campaign and the largest television audience that has ever watched him,” Republican strategist Matt Mackowiak said.

The disorganised nature of the running mate rollout - in which Trump failed to fully project the power of the partnership - had some Republicans worried they could see more of the same at Cleveland.

“The speech that Trump gave today (Saturday) did not seem like he actually wants to share the stage, but knows that he has to in order to succeed with his campaign,” said Republican strategist Ron Bonjean.

Trump’s campaign has released a list of planned speakers for the convention.