CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Republicans are ready to formally nominate President Donald Trump for reelection at a scaled-down convention kickoff in Charlotte, North Carolina, that begins a week long effort to convince the American people that he deserves a second term.
Despite the ongoing pandemic, delegates will hold an in-person roll-call vote at the Charlotte Convention Center.
It’s a sharp contrast to the approach of Democrats, who created a video montage from states across the country to avoid a large-scale gathering at their well-received virtual convention last week.
This convention theme is called ‘Honoring the Great American Story’. The Trump campaign released the four-day speaker lineup on Sunday.
It includes members of the president's family and cabinet, like Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and HUD Secretary Ben Carson.
There are still about 300 delegates in Charlotte for the RNC. Chair Ronna McDaniel says they're taking precautions.
"We tested everybody before they came to Charlotte. We have been testing people on-site. We are doing the things that are allowing people to live their lives, have a convention and do it in a healthy and safe way," explained McDaniel.
So, who's up first to speak tonight? Former UN Secretary Nikki Haley and Mark and Patricia McCloskey - the couple that notoriously waved guns at protesters marching by their home in a gated Missouri neighborhood.
Over the last four years, the Grand Old Party has been fundamentally redefined by the instinct, attitude and social media posts of the most divisive president in the modern era. Given an opportunity to present a more thoughtful message during this week’s national convention, Trump’s GOP must now decide whether it has the capacity or the willingness to expand its appeal beyond the president’s die-hard base.
A collection of Republican officials described this week as a pivotal moment for their party just 10 weeks before Election Day.
