Republicans formally backed President Donald Trump’s re-election on the first of four days of a scaled-back convention meant to highlight his pre-pandemic record and sow doubts about Democratic challenger Joe Biden.
Trump formally secured the votes he will need to claim the party’s renomination in Charlotte, North Carolina, where party members are meeting amid a coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 176,000 Americans, erased millions of jobs and eroded the President’s standing among voters.
The partly virtual, partly in-person extravaganza studded with Trump family members will feature the President speaking every day, even as protesters target the convention site.
It marked a contrast with Democrats, who opted for a virtual format to nominate Biden and running mate
Senator Kamala Harris.
That change was intended to reduce the risk of the virus being spread at the political event.
