BATTENFELD: PRESIDENT AT CENTER STAGE OF RNC... EVERY NIGHT
Trump to be star of show, appearing on all 4 event days
This week’s GOP convention will be historic — not just because of coronavirus but because organizers plan to pummel viewers with wall to wall coverage of the one and only star of the show — Donald Trump.
The incumbent president is slated to speak every night of the four-day affair, giving him an unprecedented chance to make his case for re-election with voters.
It should be no surprise that Republicans will saturate the airwaves with Trump — he’s governed that way all along and even held a rare Sunday press conference on convention eve.
But it’s risky for the GOP to showcase only Trump — who has low approval ratings and is now trailing Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the national polls.
For Americans who’ve had their fill of the TV-loving president, the convention could be a turn off.
There are speakers besides Trump every night, with former U.N. AmbassaFirst dor Nikki Haley leading off the show tonight along with RNC chair Ronna McDaniel.
Also slated to appear today are Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis couple who infamously pointed their guns at Black Lives Matter protesters.
This is obviously not anything like the Democratic convention, which deliberately tried to showcase men and women of color as well as progressives like Sen. Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez and even Republicans who have deserted their party and Trump to support Biden.
Democrats are also planning counter-programming during the RNC, with events planned every day to denounce Trump and his policies.
Lady Melania Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are the featured speakers at the RNC on Tuesday night, along with an anti-abortion activist and a woman whose son was killed by an illegal immigrant. Trump’s son, Eric and daughter Tiffany will also be speaking on Tuesday. Daughter Ivanka has a special speaking slot on Thursday before her father.
Wednesday is devoted to nominating Vice President Mike Pence in the same role he played four years ago, and Thursday is the final night when Trump gives his acceptance speech from the lawn of the White House. Another risky move by Republicans is giving former New York City mayor and Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani a speaking role on Thursday night.
The RNC will be centered in North Carolina but will also feature virtual appearances by speakers, giving it less of an impact than a full arena full of cheering supporters.
Another huge difference in the Republican convention will be how it’s covered by the mainstream media, which gave Democrats overwhelmingly positive spin — and that’s putting it mildly. Don’t expect the same glowing coverage during the RNC from the media, which is openly hostile to Trump and Republicans.