CLEVELAND — Republicans in Cleveland may be divided, but convention-goers can seemingly agree on one thing: locking up Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Democratic super PAC to hit Trump in battleground states over coronavirus deaths Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight MORE.

The most reliable rallying cry for the first two days of the Republican National Convention has been demands from speakers that the Democratic front-runner be thrown behind bars.

Counter protestor wearing "Hillary for Prison" shirt says he is not scared of a backlash. #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/9KpE5COSsC — Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) July 18, 2016

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Chants of “lock her up” have been loud and numerous, with many of them spurred on by speakers behind the convention podium.

But the frequency and frenzy for imprisoning Clinton has some Republicans squirming over the idea that politicians should insist their ideological opponents be thrown behind bars.

“We’re in a country where you’re innocent until proven guilty,” said Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.). “I don’t normally talk about putting someone in jail because I believe in our judicial system.”

A central theme of Trump’s campaign has been that Clinton is corrupt and cannot be trusted. But that message has taken a sharper edge in Cleveland, as those critiques morph into an intense desire for her arrest.

One vendor selling Trump-themed souvenirs across from the convention site said he had an obvious best seller: a T-shirt reading “Hillary for Prison 2016.”

With the convention only halfway done, he said he only had a handful left.

“We didn’t order enough,” said the vendor, who did not want to be identified.

The theme is prevalent not just outside the convention site, but inside as well.

Multiple speakers have called on Clinton to be thrown in prison.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie launched a mock trial from the speaker’s podium Tuesday evening, as he called on convention-goers to render a verdict on numerous Clinton critiques, ranging from her improper handling of government emails to her foreign policy as secretary of State.

After each attack, Christie, who mounted his own bid for the White House last year, polled the convention for a response. “Guilty!” was the loud reply.

Sen. Jeff Flake Jeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeJeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Republican former Michigan governor says he's voting for Biden Maybe they just don't like cowboys: The president is successful, some just don't like his style MORE (R-Ariz.), a frequent Trump critic who is not attending the convention, said he was fed up with that message onTuesday evening.

“@HillaryClinton now belongs in prison? C'mon,” he tweeted. “We can make the case that she shouldn't be elected without jumping the shark.”

The Clinton campaign called Christie’s speech a “dark turning point” in a fundraising pitch to donors.

“This isn't how democracy can or should work,” the campaign said in an email to backers. “​In other countries, politicians might try to jail their opponents — but not in America.”

Experts on presidential campaigns said that races have been contentious from the very beginning of the nation’s history, but said the rhetoric in Cleveland seemed to mark new territory.

“This does seem to go to a different level, particularly at a convention,” said Barbara Perry, director of presidential studies at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center. “The criticism may be valid, but the rhetoric may have reached a new low.”

Perry did note several unique circumstances at play in 2016.

For one, Clinton was until recently under investigation by the FBI, a unique situation for a major party’s presidential nominee. FBI Director James Comey ultimately recommended no charges be filed for Clinton’s use of a private server to handle official emails, although he did say Clinton was “extremely careless” with classified information.

Add the fact that the Clintons have decades of scandals and a contentious relationship with Republicans, who sought to impeach President Bill Clinton William (Bill) Jefferson ClintonBattle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight Sunday shows - Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death dominates Bill Clinton on GOP push to fill Ginsburg vacancy: Trump, McConnell 'first value is power' MORE in the ’90s, and you have a toxic combination, said Perry.

Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort acknowledged the angry sentiment at the convention Wednesday. He told reporters the chants “probably reflects the attitude of a lot of people in America,” according to the Associated Press.

Polls do show Clinton has a consistent trustworthiness problem with voters. A June NBC/Wall Street Journal poll found 69 percent of voters were concerned she may be dishonest.

But even if Republicans acknowledge the boiling anger toward Clinton, there are questions about whether pushing that narrative is the best use of precious convention resources. As the Trump campaign makes its pitch to a national television audience, some note that Clinton critiques are sucking up a lot of oxygen and airtime.

For example, Tuesday’s theme was ostensibly about growing the economy, with the official title of “Make America Work Again.”

But between Christie’s prosecution and Ben Carson, another former GOP presidential contender, drawing a thread between Clinton and Lucifer, any economic message was drowned out.

“This is a clear play to the base, and it’s a waste of time and resources,” said John Hudak, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. “Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Trump dismisses climate change role in fires, says Newsom needs to manage forest better Jimmy Kimmel hits Trump for rallies while hosting Emmy Awards MORE is trying to convince the people already voting for him to vote for him.”

With two days left in the convention, some Republicans are hoping a message selling the GOP plan rather than denigrating Clinton can break through.

“I want to be more focused ... on the policy that we have, that works for moms and dads on Main Street,” said Meadows. “Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t pay attention to policy as much as they do 30-second soundbites.”