During an interview with News Channel Nebraska, one of the leading voices in the Nebraska Republican Party, National Committeeman J.L. Spray, had to reach back for the words to describe his reaction to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.

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Joe Jordan, NCN: “When you heard about the attempted assassination, what were your thoughts?”

J.L. Spray, National Committeeman Nebraska GOP: “Well, obviously it was a terrible event and then the fact that other people were injured and or killed was just shocking. I didn't know enough to really draw an opinion until probably this morning, although events just continued to unfold all night. It was you know a long time since something like that's been in my life, and there's a whole lot of people that have never ever experienced an attempted assassination of a president in their lifetime.”

J.L. Spray is a leading voice in the Nebraska Republican Party. The national committeeman is a GOP delegate on the ground in Milwaukee this week at the Republican National Convention, eager to finalize the nomination of Donald Trump for president.

Jordan: “Security at conventions is always ramped up, I've covered half a dozen they're always intense. Have you seen even more security in this brief period of time between yesterday and today?”

Spray: “I saw more military people running around today as I was moving around the city and so it was apparent there were more and more police, military, and I assume Secret Service.”

Jordan: ”What's the general atmosphere there among the delegates?”

Spray: “Pretty upbeat, confident. I think the fact that the president was able to let us all know he's OK and we could visualize that, that was a very big boost to everybody's morale.”

Jordan: “J.D. Vance one of former President Trump's possible picks for vice president, shortly after the event tweeted: ‘Today is not just some isolated incident.’ Went on to say, ‘The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritative fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric went directly to President Trump's attempted assassination,’ are you OK with that type of language?”

Spray: “I don't disagree with it, I just don't know that that's the best tack to take for somebody aspiring to be vice president. I think generally cooler heads need to prevail now all round and that includes both camps, you know the Bannon wing of the Republican Party needs to settle down and so does the progressive wing of the Democrat Party.”

Jordan: “Any expectations between now and November?”

Spray: “Well, it's an eternity between now and November. It's a very long period of time. We've had some significant events in the last two or three weeks. Very significant events, surprising events, October surprise worthy events. But it's July.”

Jordan: “Some Republicans have said the attempted assassination secures Donald Trump victory in November. Do you agree?”

Spray: “Well intellectually I don't want to because it's just a terrible thing that shouldn't affect anybody, except the idea that we need to settle down and choose a president. Now to the extent everybody settles down, yeah. He has a better chance of winning because he's better on all the issues.”

Jordan: “Is there a martyrdom factor now?”

Spray: “Well I hate to elevate anybody to the position of martyr,  it's just an unfortunate thing. And I have to tell you a lump came in my throat when I saw him get up and let us know he's OK.”