CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — There are two priorities for Republican delegates from this week’s virtual, celebratory portion of the party’s national convention: Upstage the Democrats with dazzling production values and paint an optimistic, hopeful picture of the country.
“Some of the things that I saw from the Democratic convention, frankly, were embarrassing. They looked like a sixth-grade attempt at a Zoom call,” Arizona Republican Party Chairwoman Kelli Ward told the Washington Examiner. “What we as Republicans are going to present will be much more visually appealing to people that are watching it.”
Last week’s Democratic convention included a few hiccups in the first-ever remote convention, which combined live addresses and reactions with prerecorded video packages and speeches. Sometimes speakers started too early while they were still being introduced. The first night of the convention included an awkward post-convention musical performance from Billy Porter, and the last night had jokes from Veep star Julia Louis-Dreyfus that fell flat.
Overall, though, political analysts found that the convention went smoothly in light of being organized so soon before the convention after officials said that there would not be Democrats in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from out of state due to the coronavirus. And Republicans’ in-person state roll call officially nominating President Trump, with each representative standing in front of a logo background, did not earn the glowing reception that the Democrats’ beautifully staged roll call vote across America did.
More important than production values is the message, though.
Republican officials and delegates who traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina, to participate in the party’s in-person business meeting and renomination of Trump to lead the top of the ticket are looking for optimism rather than anger in order to combat a doom-and-gloom message from Democrats.
“It’s a very different vision of America, the Biden-Harris ticket and the Trump-Pence ticket,” said Hawaii Republican Party Chairwoman Shirlene Ostrov. “The Biden-Harris ticket is based on fear and division, and the Trump vision is one of making America great again and supporting our police and supporting our communities, and everyone.”
“Last week, it was a lot of doom and gloom and negativity, and this is gonna be an inspirational convention,” said Michigan Republican Chairwoman Laura Cox. “We’re talking about the great American story.”
North Carolina national committeewoman Kyshia Lineberger said she is looking for something that was likely to be found at the 2008 Democratic convention, in contrast with President Barack Obama now giving a stark warning about the integrity of democracy under Trump.
“I want to see hope,” she said. “This past week, we saw a lot of fear, we saw a lot of negative energy. I’d like to see positive energy. I’d like to see patriotism. I’d like to see hope for small businesses and funding, and schools to open, and rebounding from this COVID nightmare.”
Speakers at the first night of the Republican convention include Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan.
