Rock Hill GOP attendee returns from RNC with feeling of party unity
If Rod Benfield could pass along any advice to future attendees of the Republican National Convention, it would be to pack wisely.
Four days of speeches, meetings, rallies and parties can quickly root out those with less-prepared wardrobes.
“There are long days and long nights,” said Benfield, an alternate delegate who represented South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District at this year’s quadrennial event in Cleveland. “You’re literally beat. From 7 a.m. events all the way through to concerts that last to 2 or 3 a.m., you’re nonstop, just changing clothes. You have to bring a lot of clothes. I’ll need a day off once I’m back just to wash everything.”
Benfield, who had previously supported Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz during the tumultuous GOP presidential campaign, said he’s ready to put his full support behind businessman and political newcomer Donald Trump, who formally accepted the Republican nomination Thursday night.
Benfield arrived back in Rock Hill Friday evening and said he was looking forward to helping elect Trump, who will face off against presumptive Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton in November.
The alternate delegate said he was disappointed that Cruz declined to publicly endorse Trump at a highly-anticipated speech last week. “I was ready to move on and get to the presumptive nominee,” said Benfield. “It was kind of disappointing to watch that. It’s like, ‘Hey, the other team won the game, just be a gentleman and get off the field.’ ”
Benfield was one of four official York County representatives to make the trip to Cleveland, including alternate delegate Peggy Upchurch, delegate Linda McCall and Linda’s husband Glenn McCall, a national committeeman.
Benfield, a financial adviser who previously helped Mark Sanford in his run for governor, said he was pleasantly surprised at the strong security provided by the police stationed in Cleveland. The Rock Hill native also attended the 2012 Republican national convention held in Tampa, Fla.
An estimated 50,000 visitors flocked to Cleveland and the northeast Ohio area, including delegates, alternates, donors, media members, supporting staff and special guests. Benfield said he always felt protected by the law enforcement inside and outside of the main arena.
“What’s interesting is that you hear the hype about how it might be a tough crowd, and you get there and you feel so safe, because of the officers on the ground,” said Benfield. “They would use their bicycles and put them together in a straight line to create a walkway so delegates can pass through protesters and give you a clear path.”
Benfield said the South Carolina delegation is often given high praise for being the “First in the South” primary in each election cycle.
Often, he said, fellow delegates from across the country will greet him and other South Carolina Republicans to talk about how they enjoy visiting the state.
With South Carolina cities earning early recognition on national news, Benfield says that translates to attention and tourism revenue, on both sides of the aisle.
“When you’re a presidential candidate on the nightly news, whether this candidate is in Myrtle Beach or Rock Hill or Charleston, that’s just helping to promote our state,” said Benfield. “It’s been a win-win for us.”
The South Carolina delegation took in concerts from popular acts like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kid Rock and Third Eye Blind in between meeting for rules committee meetings and hearing speeches from influential party figures.
Benfield said he enjoyed the learning process of rubbing shoulders with Libertarians, Green Party members and Republicans from other states, which he said all have concerns that differ greatly from his own state.
He said he wasn’t morally opposed to a petition by several states hoping to unbind delegates to vote for whomever they chose. Benfield believed healthy dialogue can come when members are passionate about their feelings.
“It’s like a relationship,” he said. “There are a lot of things you don’t agree on, but you can make it work through communication. I’ve been through two other candidates and now I’m committed. It’s about more than just one person, it’s about the Supreme Court and the law of the land.”
Trump represents a way to bring in new voters to the Republican Party, says Benfield. He believes the candidate’s family (including wife Melania, daughters Ivanka and Tiffany and sons Donald Jr. and Eric) all did a strong job of presenting Trump as a businessman who feels passionate about enacting a law and order platform in the country.
Although Benfield supported other candidates in the past, he believes the Republicans have come together to create a united front ahead of November.
“It’s like your favorite football team,” said Benfield. “No matter what happens, you’re pulling for your team. Players and coaches come and go, but whoever’s wearing the uniforms is where I’ll stand.”
This story was originally published July 23, 2016 at 7:06 PM with the headline "Rock Hill GOP attendee returns from RNC with feeling of party unity."