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Delegates cheer on the floor of the Republican National Convention at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on Wednesday. Much is riding on Donald Trump’s coming address to the convention, expected Thursday.JIM WATSON/AFP / Getty Images

For better or worse, the Trumps have already delivered some memorable speeches at the 2016 Republican convention. There were the affecting words from daughter Tiffany on Tuesday and, the previous night, wife Melania's infamous speech that cribbed from Michelle Obama. The most pivotal address, however, begins Thursday night when Donald Trump himself takes the stage and outlines his battle plan as the Republican nominee for president.

Recovery will likely be a theme for the "Make America Great Again" sloganeer, but some Republicans suggest that they'd like to hear about recovery for the party, too. Beginning with the dismissive unveiling of vice-presidential nominee Mike Pence on Saturday, it has been a damaging five days for the GOP. Many of its leaders didn't even go to the convention. There was an attempted anti-Trump rebellion on the floor. And a Republican congressman explained that whites have done more for civilization than any other "sub-group" at a time when racial tension is especially fraught.

At this point, the quandary for Mr. Trump is how widely or narrow he should cast his message. If he offers more inclusive rhetoric – about minorities, for example – he risks losing his authenticity. If he stays the course, he may lose more party support, alienate swing voters and spark the kind of divisiveness that has led to occasional violence at his rallies.

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Oklahoma congressman Tom Cole said "it would be terrific" if Mr. Trump had a broader message, but taking it further may strain his identity. "He's got to where he is by being who he is," said Mr. Cole, who is also deputy whip in the House of Representatives. "It's a pretty broad message as it is."

Former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson commended Mr. Trump's performance thus far and also offered a few suggestions. "He needs to say that 'There has been some concern about being up to the task, but I love my country, I love this party and I'm going to make this country great.'"

Some Republicans simply suggest that Mr. Trump shouldn't budge an inch. Christos Marafatsos, who works on the National Diversity Coalition for Mr. Trump and advises him on Greek community affairs, said that his leader should revel in who he is. "Everybody is wondering what the plan will be," said Mr. Marafatsos, "but he is the plan."

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Other voices in the Trump camp say that they'd prefer to hear a more inclusive message for party and country. Not only would it help heal internal rifts, but in a general election it is critical. Moving toward the centre is not a new dilemma for any fresh presidential nominee, but many observers have said the GOP is the most fractured they've seen in decades.

"Mr. Trump needs to say that it's time for the Republican Party to come together," said E.W. Jackson Sr., president of Stand America, a Virginia-based conservative group. "Let's put the past behind us, forgive and forget and let's defeat Hillary [Clinton]."

Mr. Jackson said he'd like to hear his leader explicitly say that he's going to make life better for all Americans: blacks, Asians and people of all gender identities.

Joe Borelli, who is co-chair of Mr. Trump's New York campaign, sees a strategic advantage in appealing to a broader swath of voters. "He's already solidified his base, won the Evangelical vote without focusing too much on them, and I think that would allow him to continue to build the tent."

Mr. Borelli, who is also a New York city councilman representing Staten Island, said that there was an overlap of Rust Belt voters between supporters of Mr. Trump and former Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders who believe that globalization has hurt them, and the Trump campaign could reach out to them, too. "The goal is to win in the states where [2012 GOP presidential candidate] Mitt Romney won, and then to move to the Rust Belt voters."

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There are also Republicans who almost don't need to hear from Mr. Trump on Thursday. Wearing star-spangled sunglasses and patchwork star-spangled pants, Timmy Woods was asked what she was hoping for, but she only really wanted to discuss his wife, who appeals to her a lot. "I know there was a lot of criticism about her speech, but I thought it was great," said Ms. Woods, a designer from Beverly Hills. "Name me one politician who doesn't plagiarize."

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