Trump seeks 'hopeful' convention to lift campaign
Republicans will make their case this week that the United States' economic and political future depends on the re-election of Donald Trump.
The four-night party convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, will feature Trump speaking every single evening.
And the extravaganza takes place against the backdrop of a coronavirus pandemic that has killed over 175,000 Americans, and an ensuing recession that has seen the loss of millions of jobs and Trump's erosion in the polls.
The RNC follows last week's Democratic National Convention that nominated former Vice President Joe Biden and portrayed Trump as a force for darkness, chaos and incompetence.
Republicans told Reuters they would offer a more hopeful message.
Shirlene Ostrov is a Republican delegate from Hawaii.
"Well, I think the American public is going to be wowed by a very different vision of America that Donald J. Trump has versus the Democrats...one of positivity, one of greatness and one of excitement for our country."
Protesters have demonstrated outside the convention center in Charlotte for three nights ahead of the RNC. Police said two people were arrested Sunday.
Trump continues to receive low marks from the public on his handling of the virus. His nightly speeches are a break from both parties' tradition, in which the nominee typically takes a low profile ahead of the acceptance speech on the final evening.
Another break from tradition: Republicans decided not to bother formulating a platform this year.
The party instead issued a one-page resolution asserting strong support for Trump and re-adopting its 2016 position statement - when Barack Obama was in office - complete with phrases such as,
"The current Administration has exceeded its constitutional authority, brazenly and flagrantly violated the separation of powers, sought to divide America into groups and turn citizen against citizen."
Protesters have demonstrated outside the convention center in Charlotte for three nights ahead of the RNC. Police said two people were arrested Sunday night.
Trump is traveling to North Carolina on Monday.
