At convention, Dana White extols Trump for backing UFC early on

By Megan Messerly

Published Tuesday, July 19, 2016 | 7:17 a.m.

Updated Tuesday, July 19, 2016 | 5:45 p.m.

CLEVELAND — The Republican National Convention enters its second day with a theme, “Make America Work Again.”

The Sun’s Megan Messerly will update us throughout the day below:

5:45 p.m.

UFC President Dana White may be an unusual speaker for a national convention stage.

The Nevadan is a fight promoter, not a politician, as White acknowledged in the opening lines of his address to the convention Tuesday night. In fact, no Nevada politicians are scheduled to take the convention stage this year — only White and Treasure Island owner Phil Ruffin, who will speak Wednesday.

White said he was “blown away” to be invited, but that he was honored to talk about his friend, Trump.

He painted a picture of Trump as the “guy” who “shows up.”

White told the crowd how Trump stood by the UFC in its early days.

He said that when he and his partners bought the UFC in 2001 it was considered a “blood sport,” that state athletic commissions didn’t support them and that arenas around the world wouldn’t hold their events. White said Trump was the only one who took them seriously.

Trump was the first person to recognize what the UFC could become, and hosted their first two events at his properties, White said. He said that Trump “championed the UFC before it was popular,” and that he was grateful for Trump’s early support.

“So tonight, I’m standing with Donald Trump,” White said.

He said that Trump’s business experience will help the U.S. economy succeed, that his work ethic would help him get things done as president, and that Trump’s loyalty and commitment will translate into the way he runs the country.

He said Trump always reaches out to him when something is going well in his career.

“You can really tell a person's true character when they are happy for someone else's success,” White said.

He finished by calling Trump a “fighter.”

“Donald Trump is a fighter, and I know Donald Trump will fight for this country,” White said.

5:05 p.m.

The Nevada delegation officially cast its votes for president this evening — 16 for Donald Trump, seven for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, six for Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, and one for Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt introduced state party chair Michael McDonald, who introduced the state and read off the votes.

"The great state of Nevada, where Blue Lives Matter,” McDonald began, to the applause of delegates. "We are battle born, brought in by the first Republican president in 1864."

"We are very proud of our nation,” he continued. "From the great shores of Lake Tahoe to the most entertaining capital city Las Vegas, Nevada. What happens in Las Vegas will not stay in Las Vegas.”

Some on Twitter immediately pointed out McDonald’s error — Las Vegas is not the capital of Nevada, Carson City is.

“Note to the Just For Men customer-delegate representing Nevada — the state capitol is Carson City, not Las Vegas,” tweeted Jimmy Kimmel, host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!

There was some immediate confusion over Nevada’s roll call vote however, since the secretary read it back to the convention crowd as 14 for Trump and two for retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson. However, Carson unbound his two delegates after he dropped out of the race, meaning they were free to vote for whomever they like.

McDonald spoke with the assistant to the secretary and asked for the votes to be clarified. He said he wasn’t sure whether they would make a formal announcement to the convention body, or whether it would just be corrected in the official record.

RNC chair Reince Preibus noted some state rules allowed for shifting of delegates, such as when a candidate drops out of the race. He noted that though the original vote totals were read from the stage, correct totals would be reflected in the vote tally.

However, even without those votes, Trump easily hit the threshold needed to secure the nomination. New York’s totals, presented by the Trump children, sent the count over the top.

Delegates celebrated the moment by holding up “Trump” signs and swaying to a rendition of “New York, New York.”

10:40 a.m.

The Nevada delegation had its first official activity today — a luncheon at a restaurant near its hotel outside of Cleveland — ahead of this evening’s session.

At the luncheon, several surrogates for Donald Trump, including retired neurosurgeon and former presidential candidate Ben Carson, Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Florida, veteran Amber Smith and actor John Ratzenberger, drummed up support among delegation members.

There was much love for Carson, who received a standing ovation when he entered the restaurant. “I feel like I’m back in Nevada again,” he said, grinning.

Carson said the Republican Party needed to reach out to different communities that it has “traditionally ignored.”

“We need to extend a hand,” he said.

In an interview after his brief speech, Carson said he didn’t think Trump had hurt efforts to diversify the party but has been misinterpreted by people.

Yoho told the delegation the U.S. is a government of “we the people” and that “Donald Trump is the man who is going to stand behind that.”

“These are exciting times,” Yoho said. “We’re on the precipice of change.”

Yoho criticized former House Speaker John Boehner, saying he hadn’t done enough to work with members of the Republican Party, particularly on a bipartisan budget bill the House passed.

“I’m here and he’s not. We’re on a different path,” Yoho said to the applause of delegation members.

Smith, speaking from experience serving in the Army, said she was looking for a commander in chief “not afraid to say ‘radical Islamic terrorism.’”

Ratzenberger, known for appearing in the TV show “Cheers” and Pixar films, talked about ensuring young people have the skills to keep them out of trouble and get jobs. He asked the Nevada delegation to go back to their school districts and press for home economics and woodshop classes.

“When it looked like Donald Trump was going to be the candidate, I said, ‘Thank God,’ because he’s a builder,” Ratzenberger said.

The Nevada delegation will join the Colorado delegation for a reception at 4 p.m. local time in downtown Cleveland before the convention is called to order at 5:30 p.m..

Tonight, conventiongoers will proceed with the nominating process for president, along with hearing from a number of speakers on the theme “Make America Work Again.” UFC President Dana White, a Nevadan, is slated to speak.