http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/279146-manafort-unrealistic-to-expect-everyone-to-come-togetherMay 08, 2016, 09:24 am
Manafort: 'We have plenty of time to put the party together'
By Rebecca Savransky
Getty Images
Donald Trump's convention manager, Paul Manafort, said it will take time for the Republican Party to unite behind the presumptive GOP presidential nominee.
"To expect everyone to come together the day after the primary process ended, it was a bit unrealistic," Manafort said in an interview on "Fox News Sunday."
"But, frankly, I'm very pleased to say that it's happening even faster than we thought."
Manafort said Republican leaders in Washington were saying a week ago there was going to be a contested convention. When Trump won the Indiana primary last Tuesday, he added, the race ended "much sooner than anybody expected, except maybe the people supporting Donald Trump."
Following Trump's win, the candidate's former rivals, Ted Cruz and John Kasich, ended their presidential bids.
"So Washington was in a little bit of an uncertain phase ... but it's a healing process that will happen over time," Manafort said.
Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said last week he was "just not ready" to support Trump. Several other Republican leaders have come out since and said they don't plan to support Trump as the nominee of their party.
But Manafort said many Republican leaders and several of Trump's former presidential rivals are uniting behind him.
He said the candidate wants the Republican Party to get behind him and support him, but there is time.
"There will be no contested convention," Manafort said.
"We have plenty of time to put the party together, and I think you're going to see a successful, united party in Cleveland."