RNC 2024 Day 2 updates: Trump rivals take center stage along with divine intervention
The theme of Tuesday's session is "Make America Safe Again."
The second day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee ended Tuesday with appearances from some of former President Donald Trump's former rivals: former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy -- all calling for Republican Party unity.
They were joined by some of Trump's longest allies including Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Ben Carson in bashing the Democrats over what they claimed were harmful and failed policies.
The program focused on law and order with a theme of making the country "safe again."
Trump, with a bandage on his ear, made an appearance again Tuesday evening -- just days after he was wounded in an assassination attempt at one of his rallies in Pennsylvania over the weekend. Several speakers touched on that God spared Trump in the shooting, saving him for a divine plan for the presidency.
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Haley supporters react to speech
ABC News contacted several of Nikki Haley's supporters to ask their reactions to her speech at the RNC Tuesday night.
Jack LaFrankie, a voter in Tennessee, told ABC News that he agreed with much of Haley's speech and that if the election were held today, he would reluctantly vote for Trump.
Eli Raykinstein, an incoming sophomore at Michigan State University, said her speech resonated with him.
"I also like how she spoke to the people who weren't totally sold on Trump, not just to the base he already has," Raykinstein said.
Thalia Flores from New Hampshire said she would never vote for Trump.
"Never. She just bought herself a cabinet position -- probably Secretary of State," she said.
After Haley's speech, Louis Hibbs, an undecided voter from Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, told ABC News that he's still undecided.
"I still can't help looking back at the debate and the way Biden was stumbling over his own words," he said.
Undecided North Carolina voter Roger Stewart told ABC News that Haley is a true Republican.
"I'm still undecided. That's my official and honest declaration. I loved her speech, though," Stewart said.
-ABC News' Hannah Demissie, Kelsey Walsh and Isabella Murray
Rubio urges fighting 'with our voices and our votes'
In a message of party unity, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio called on Republicans to fight "with our voices and our votes."
"Our country has been injured by bad decisions and weak leaders," he said. "But now, though bloodied by our wounds, we must stand up and we must fight. Fight not with violence or destruction, but with our voices and our votes."
Rubio tried to counter against more extremist portrayals of the party, saying what Trump supporters want is "not extreme," but things like lower prices, secure borders and security.
"And they want for our leaders to care more about our problems here at home than about the problems of other countries far away. There is absolutely nothing dangerous, or anything divisive about putting Americans first," he said, as the crowd broke out into a chant of "USA! USA! USA!"
'First they tried to ruin his reputation ... then last weekend they tried to kill him': Ben Carson
Dr. Ben Carson, Trump's Housing and Urban Development secretary and former 2016 presidential rival, took the stage and argued that last week's assassination attempt was part of a long line of attacks against the former president.
"First, they tried to ruin his reputation, and he's more popular now than ever. And then they tried to bankrupt him, and he's got more money now than he had before. And then they tried to put him in prison, and he's freer and has made other people free with him. And then -- and then, last weekend they tried to kill him. And there he is over there, alive and well," Carson said to applause.
Carson did not specify who "they" were.
He went on to criticize the media and the government for dividing the nation contending the latter was "shredding our constitution and upending the rule of law.
'Corey, Corey, Corey' chant breaks out
During Florida Sen. Marco Rubio's remarks, the crowd chanted in honor of Corey Comperatore, the man killed during the assassination attempt on Trump during Saturday's rally.
"He was described as the best dad a girl could ever ask for," Rubio said. "He was a man of God who loved Jesus fiercely. He looked after members of his church. Corey was one of the millions of everyday Americans who make our country great."
Rubio continued, "He wasn't rich. He wasn't famous. And the only reason why we know his name and story now is because last Saturday, he shielded his wife and daughter from an assassin's bullet and lost his life the way he lived it, a hero."
The crowd then broke out into a chant of "Corey, Corey, Corey!"