Democrats in the United States will hold an almost entirely virtual convention in August in Milwaukee where Joe Biden is expected to accept the nomination.
While Biden plans to accept the presidential nomination in person, it remains to be seen whether there will be a significant in-person audience there to see it.
The Democratic National Committee said in a statement that official business, including the votes to nominate Biden and his yet-to-be-named running mate, will take place virtually through online streaming and live broadcast, with delegates asked not to travel to Milwaukee.
It is the latest sign of how much the COVID-19 pandemic has changed American life and the 2020 presidential election, leading Biden and the party to abandon the usual trappings of an event that draws tens of thousands of people to the host city to mark the start of the general election campaign. Not even during the Civil War or World War II did the two major parties abandon in-person conventions with crowded arenas.
Biden's campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon said the drastically altered convention would not be an impediment to his bid for office.
"Vice President Biden intends to proudly accept his party's nomination in Milwaukee and take the next step forward towards making Donald Trump a one-term president," she said, adding that Biden's campaign will continue to highlight Wisconsin as a key battleground state.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden will accept his party's nomination during a nearly all-virtual convention in August [File: Andrew Harnik/AP Photo]
Democrats had offered strong signals before Wednesday that they would curtail convention activities, including when Party Chairman Tom Perez pushed back the original convention dates in mid-July.
The new details were released the same day that Biden's team announced its leadership team in Wisconsin, one of three key states that helped propel Trump to an Electoral College victory four years ago. He won Wisconsin by fewer than 23,000 votes - less than 1 percentage point.
Congressman Bennie Thompson of Mississippi will serve as convention chair, party officials said.
Perez said scaling back Democrats' festivities is a matter of public health.
He sought to draw a contrast with Trump's push for a traditional convention in North Carolina, clashing with the state's Democratic governor, Roy Cooper, and public health officials over the details amid the pandemic.
The Republican National Committee has confirmed its official business will be conducted in Charlotte. But Trump has said he plans to accept his nomination in Jacksonville, Florida, because Cooper would not guarantee Republicans the ability to host a large-scale event in Charlotte's professional basketball arena.
"Unlike this president, Joe Biden and Democrats are committed to protecting the health and safety of the American people," Perez said.
Besides events in Wisconsin, Democrats plan other events in satellite locations around the country to broadcast as part of the convention.
"accept" - Google News
June 25, 2020 at 06:16AM
https://ift.tt/37Zj5uN
Biden to accept nomination at near virtual Democratic convention - Al Jazeera English
"accept" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2YsXkRf
https://ift.tt/3d2Wjnc
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Biden to accept nomination at near virtual Democratic convention - Al Jazeera English"
Post a Comment