Now it gets real. Campaign 2016 kicks into its four-month finale as Republicans in Cleveland formally nominate businessman Donald Trump for president Tuesday night. The first-time candidate’s vice presidential running mate is Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana, a conservative former congressman who adds political experience to the ticket. The pick draws wide praise from mainstream Republicans. "I can think of no better choice for our vice-presidential candidate," says House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.

Trump, who'll wrap up the four-day Ohio convention with a prime-time speech Thursday night, is a brash candidate who draws huge crowds and makes some people – including Republicans – uneasy. Two former presidents, George H.W. Bush and son George W. Bush, are among prominent party leaders skipping the convention. Trump vows to tighten immigration policies, deport illegal residents and try to change free-trade agreements that he sees as unfair. His dislike of what he considers to be political correctness is a campaign theme. Media commentators and some prominent Republicans feel he encourages racism with remarks against Mexicans, frequent calls for a border wall built at Mexico's expense and a proposed temporary ban on Muslims entering the U.S. if they're not citizens.

Trump is running against Hillary Clinton, a Democratic former secretary of state whose nominating convention is next week in Philadelphia. She hasn't announced a running mate yet. The White House hopefuls already aim personal attacks at each other. Trump calls her "a world-class lair," while she describes him as "a loose cannon" and "temperamentally unfit to hold an office that requires knowledge, stability and immense responsibility."

Trump says: "I am running to give back to this country which has been so good to me. . . . We can't solve any of [America's] problems by relying on the politicians who created them." – June 22 speech in New York City

Backer says: "When he started spelling out more of his economic stances, I liked what he had to say about trade, about how China's been fixing their currency and devaluing their currency to encourage imports from the U.S. . . . The other [Republican] candidates were typical politicians. It was refreshing to see someone who was able to express his views so bluntly. We're at a fork in the road in this country right now. He's the strong leader that would get us to where the country needs to be." -- Mark Fratella, convention delegate from Elmhurst, Ill.

Republican critic says: "I don’t know what I'm getting with Donald Trump. He's seriously too far off the deep end for me." – Rina Shah Bharara, convention delegate from the District of Columbia