What Undecided Voters Thought of Trump’s Speech: Mostly, Not Much

Former President Donald J. Trump began his prime-time speech at the Republican National Convention on Thursday with a message of unity, presenting a softer image of himself that appeared aimed at courting undecided voters.

But then he went on for an hour and a half, a long verbal walk through the kinds of exaggerations about his record and attacks on Democrats that have become familiar to voters from Mr. Trump’s previous two campaigns and presidency.

For a group of undecided voters from around the country, who are sharing their thoughts on key moments in the race with The New York Times, the effect was not strong. Some found the speech off-putting. A few found bright spots. None were swayed.

“I still don’t know what I’m going to do,” said Sharon Reed, 77, a retired teacher-turned-farmer in rural Pennsylvania who previously voted for Mr. Trump but is torn this year. “He tried, I think, to be much more unifying at the beginning. But then he got on his high horse there at the end.”

Ms. Reed’s husband, who watched the speech with her and is leaning toward Mr. Trump, was somewhat more positive. “He’s hitting all the points that I like,” Mr. Reed said, mentioning in particular Mr. Trump’s talk about securing the border and “drill, baby, drill.”

Arnel Ramos, 21, a food service worker living in Milwaukee, had hoped that Mr. Trump would talk about his belief systems, and that she would get to know him better before she casts a ballot in her first presidential election.