I believe a huge chunk of America, many many Democrats among them, were waiting and very eager to see the Donald Trump who presented himself tonight. These are people who agree with his policies, who don't like what they're seeing on the streets, and who want to know that they have a compassionate president.
In short, they wanted to see that it is okay, despite all of the attacks on Trump for the last four years, to vote for him.
They already know that Trump is a take charge guy, they wanted to know that he is a benign, avuncular figure as well as a man who "acts presidential." They want to like him but they have to see it. I think they did.
