Jan Brewer: Donald Trump is growing, maturing as Republican presidential nominee
Jul 20, 2016, 9:07 AM
CLEVELAND — Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is growing and maturing as a candidate, former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said Wednesday.
“He has grown so much since the campaign first began within himself I think and certainly within the staff and campaign committee,” she told Arizona’s Morning News’ Jim Sharpe at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
Brewer said she has known Trump personally for nearly a decade and is a different person away from the microphones and cameras.
“He’s very, very thoughtful,” she said. “He’s such a gentleman. He’s a great listener. He’ll admit, ‘You know, that’s interesting. I’ve never thought of it that way.’”
Brewer said, as the campaign progresses, America is getting to know the man he is outside of the spotlight.
“People are seeing him in both lights,” she said, adding that the public is also becoming more endeared with Trump’s children, several of which are convention speakers.
According to Brewer, one of the primary reasons people are learning more about Trump is the public’s willingness to forgive some of his — or his campaign’s — gaffes.
“We have a forgiving constituency out there and they realize that it’s Donald Trump and that in the heat of the matter, especially at rallies, you say things because of the excitement and everything,” she said.
Brewer said the New York billionaire reminds her of herself when she first ran for office.
“He’s like what I used to say about me when I first ran for office, ‘I’m a breath of fresh air,’” she said with a smile.
KTAR’s Jim Sharpe and Carter Nacke are in Cleveland for the Republican National Convention all week. Stay with us for ongoing coverage, both on-air and online.
