CLEVELAND, Ohio — On a night when Donald Trump officially became the GOP presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito gave a speech at the RNC at Quicken Loans Arena.
Capito told some of the Mountain State’s story, touching on coal and the flood recovery, and criticized both the policies of President Obama and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
“The greatest obstacle for West Virginia families and families across America the past eight years has been a president that places left-wing priorities and campaign promises over their livelihoods,” she said. “President Obama has hurt the heart and soul of my state, our proud coal miners.”
Clinton, Capito warned, would bring about a continuation of the crippling environmental policies of Obama’s “War on Coal,” referring to Clinton’s statement earlier this year that she would ‘put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business.’
She said the controversy involving classified emails while Clinton was secretary of state was proof she can’t be trusted.
“She can’t be trusted with classified information. Or trusted to play by the same rules that you and I play by,” Capito said. “Without trust, we cannot feel safe and we cannot thrive. No one who has lost the trust of the American people should ever serve as our president.”
Conversely, Capito said Donald Trump would serve as an ally of coal, and of the Mountain State.
“We must carry this momentum to elect Donald Trump, who speaks directly to Americans who have been devastated by the Obama administration,” she said. “West Virginians know he understands their problems, shares their concerns, and by golly, is going to do things much differently.”
Capito concluded her speech, which ran about 12 minutes, by encouraging attendees to carry the momentum from the convention back to their home states and vote for Trump.
“In the months ahead, the stakes are both clear and high. Take the energy from this convention back to your state, back to your home, and work to elect Donald Trump who will make America great again,” she said ending with Trump’s campaign slogan.
All 34 West Virginia delegates voted for Trump in Tuesday’s roll call vote.
“The will of the Republican Primary in West Virginia was seen through tonight at we cast our entire delegation for the next President, Donald Trump. Our people led the nation on the day of our Primary with 77% of Republicans voting to Make America Great Again,” said state GOP Chairman Conrad Lucas in part of a statement.
“Our state needs good-paying jobs,” Lucas continued. “Our nation needs border security, safety from terror and policies which put America first. Tonight is the next step to taking this nation back from those who make us less safe and less strong.”
Capito is one of six Republican senators speaking this week at the RNC in Cleveland.