Scott Wartman

swartman@nky.com

CLEVELAND–Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin hasn't "officially" endorsed Donald Trump in the presidential race, saying he doesn't typically do endorsements.

But Kentucky's governor, along with the state's 45 other delegates at the Republican National Convention, pumped his fist cheering "Trump! Trump!" when the Republican presidential nominee walked out onto the stage in Cleveland.

Trump's hour-long speech on Thursday showed how far he's come as a candidate in the minds of Republicans in Kentucky and around the country.

"It was conservative," Bevin said of the speech. "It was strong, thoughtful, and it was detailed."

Trump narrowly won the March 5 Kentucky Caucus, edging out Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. But he faced an initially frosty reception among party leadership. Led by Sen. Mitch McConnell, Republican leaders filled the delegation they sent to Cleveland with mostly Cruz supporters.

But all of them switched allegiance to Trump when he became the nominee. They cheered perhaps the loudest when Trump on Thursday promised to reduce regulations on coal and other energy.

"My opponent, on the other hand, wants to put the great miners and steelworkers of this country out of business," Trump said.

Exactly what regulations he'd lift, he didn't say. It didn't matter, as a Kentucky delegate brandished a sign–"Trump digs coal."

Concerns that he might not be a mature candidate were erased Thursday, said Michael Duncan, a delegate from Inez and former chair of the Republican National Committee.

Kentucky Republicans felt Trump stayed on script and didn't launch into inflammatory rhetoric. It was a presidential speech, Duncan said. He still has some things to learn.Trump shared an awkward handshake with his running mate, Mike Pence, on Wednesday after Pence's speech. He's learning to better present himself, Duncan said.

"It's a strong learning curve," Duncan said. "It's like knowing how to stand on stage and hold hands with your vice presidential running mate and wave. All the little things you learn as you come up as a politician, he doesn't know all that. He's a smart man."

Trump promised to bring law and order to the United States. He also spent much of the speech slamming Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Indeed it's opposition to Clinton and Obama that drives much of the enthusiasm among Republicans. Is the fact Trump isn't Clinton his best attribute in the minds of Kentucky Republicans?

"Well that's a pretty good start," Bevin said. "But obviously he needs to provide a vision. That's what he did tonight."

Can he win votes from a wide swath of America to beat Clinton? Kentucky delegates think so.

George Barnett, a delegate of Hopkinsville, hopes more people from the gay community join the party.

Trump in his speech promised to protect the LGBTQ community from terrorist attacks, such as the Orlando shooting. The speakers Thursday included Peter Thiel, an openly gay Silicon Valley venture capitalist.

"I think the Republican tent suddenly got bigger," Barnett said. "I think we need more people under that tent."

But a general election remains. The Democrats have their convention next week. That didn't seem to matter Thursday in Cleveland.

After Trump's speech, balloons and confetti rained down on Republicans. Kentucky's governor tossed balloons at congressmen.

"Mr. Trump blew everybody away," said Jon Park, a delegate from Henry County. "I think tonight might have been a game-changer. I think people seeing him and hearing him tonight–a little bit different Donald Trump, I think. He's a more presidential candidate tonight."