thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-23--Trump runs as protector of the Republican base

As Democrats savaged his leadership for four nights running , President Trump positioned himself as the protector of his base .
`` They want to cancel you , totally cancel you , ” Trump said in a speech in Pennsylvania during the Democratic National Convention .
“ Take your job .
Turn your family against you for speaking your mind , while they indoctrinate your children with twisted , twisted world views that nobody ever thought possible . ''
Even Trump ’ s call to boycott Goodyear — controversial in no small part because the tire manufacturer is an employer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Ohio — was an intervention on behalf of his supporters , workers who wear MAGA hats and other pro-Trump paraphernalia .
“ What happened is , there was an image that was put out that showed that certain speech was acceptable — Black Lives Matter insignia , for instance — but what was not allowed was Blue Lives Matter ; what was not allowed was MAGA hats , ” White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters at a briefing .
“ What was clearly targeted was a certain ideology.
” A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the third night of the Democratic convention summed up the message well : “ All of these Radical Democrats HATE me and they HATE you.
” Such a strategy does push back against the Democrats ’ attempts to portray themselves as empathetic toward ordinary people .
It also has the potential to pump up base enthusiasm in what figures to be a challenging fall campaign .
“ I think the Democrats expressed , in no uncertain terms , their ambivalence about the whole concept of American exceptionalism , ” said Republican strategist John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that America and its free market system are both exceptional and need to be protected from the likes of Bernie and AOC.
” But there ’ s a risk that simply appealing to the Trump base won ’ t be enough to close the gap — currently , 7.4 points in the RealClearPolitics national polling average — with Democratic challenger Joe Biden .
It could also hurt Trump to be talking about MAGA hats and cancel culture while Democrats focus on COVID-19 .
“ Trump ’ s challenge will be twofold , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First , he has a chance to convince Americans that he ’ s done a better job battling coronavirus than they think .
It is the biggest challenge of his presidency , and he needs to convince people that he ’ s got us on the right path as they deal with so much disruption in their lives .
As he ’ s taken it more seriously and the COVID numbers have come down , his polling has gotten better .
That ’ s not a coincidence.
” “ The second challenge is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far-left elements of the Democratic Party that supports defunding the police , creating an expensive Green New Deal , and jacking up taxes , ” DuHaime continued .
“ The Democrats skillfully avoided much mention of these policies , so the GOP will likely want to show that contrast.
” Beginning Monday , the party will get its chance as the convention to renominate Trump and Vice President Mike Pence kicks off .
“ I expect we 'll see a very different presentation at the Republican convention , ” said GOP strategist Alex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which lend themselves to speeches with more applause lines and red meat .
Trump will talk about the economy and argue that Biden 's liberal agenda would hurt job creation.
” “ While I thought the mechanics of the DNC convention went well , they tried to paint a very dismal picture regarding America without providing policy specifics on what they would do to change the country ’ s direction , ” said Republican strategist Ron Bonjean .
“ The RNC convention should be realistically positive about the future direction of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way back to the way things were before COVID-19 .
Trump needs to provide a specific vision for the future and contrast it with Biden ’ s failure to lead for the 47 years he ’ s been in public service.
” “ Over the last week , the Democrats held the darkest and angriest and gloomiest convention in American history .
They spent four straight days attacking America as racist and a horrible country that must be redeemed , ” Trump said at the conservative Council for National Policy meeting on Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season of American darkness.
” Trump plans to accept the Republican presidential nomination for a second term at the White House on Thursday .

As Democrats savaged his leadership for four nights running, President Trump positioned himself as the protector of his base.
"They want to cancel you, totally cancel you,” Trump said in a speech in Pennsylvania during the Democratic National Convention. “Take your job. Turn your family against you for speaking your mind, while they indoctrinate your children with twisted, twisted world views that nobody ever thought possible."
Even Trump’s call to boycott Goodyear — controversial in no small part because the tire manufacturer is an employer in the mostly Republican-led, must-win state of Ohio — was an intervention on behalf of his supporters, workers who wear MAGA hats and other pro-Trump paraphernalia.
“What happened is, there was an image that was put out that showed that certain speech was acceptable — Black Lives Matter insignia, for instance — but what was not allowed was Blue Lives Matter; what was not allowed was MAGA hats,” White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters at a briefing. “What was clearly targeted was a certain ideology.”
A Trump campaign fundraising email sent out on the third night of the Democratic convention summed up the message well: “All of these Radical Democrats HATE me and they HATE you.”
Such a strategy does push back against the Democrats’ attempts to portray themselves as empathetic toward ordinary people. It also has the potential to pump up base enthusiasm in what figures to be a challenging fall campaign.
“I think the Democrats expressed, in no uncertain terms, their ambivalence about the whole concept of American exceptionalism,” said Republican strategist John Feehery. “Trump needs to stress that America and its free market system are both exceptional and need to be protected from the likes of Bernie and AOC.”
But there’s a risk that simply appealing to the Trump base won’t be enough to close the gap — currently, 7.4 points in the RealClearPolitics national polling average — with Democratic challenger Joe Biden. It could also hurt Trump to be talking about MAGA hats and cancel culture while Democrats focus on COVID-19.
“Trump’s challenge will be twofold,” said Republican strategist Mike DuHaime. “First, he has a chance to convince Americans that he’s done a better job battling coronavirus than they think. It is the biggest challenge of his presidency, and he needs to convince people that he’s got us on the right path as they deal with so much disruption in their lives. As he’s taken it more seriously and the COVID numbers have come down, his polling has gotten better. That’s not a coincidence.”
“The second challenge is to create an ideological contrast with the far-left elements of the Democratic Party that supports defunding the police, creating an expensive Green New Deal, and jacking up taxes,” DuHaime continued. “The Democrats skillfully avoided much mention of these policies, so the GOP will likely want to show that contrast.”
Beginning Monday, the party will get its chance as the convention to renominate Trump and Vice President Mike Pence kicks off. “I expect we'll see a very different presentation at the Republican convention,” said GOP strategist Alex Conant. “Trump loves live audiences, which lend themselves to speeches with more applause lines and red meat. Trump will talk about the economy and argue that Biden's liberal agenda would hurt job creation.”
“While I thought the mechanics of the DNC convention went well, they tried to paint a very dismal picture regarding America without providing policy specifics on what they would do to change the country’s direction,” said Republican strategist Ron Bonjean. “The RNC convention should be realistically positive about the future direction of the country and that we are making our way back to the way things were before COVID-19. Trump needs to provide a specific vision for the future and contrast it with Biden’s failure to lead for the 47 years he’s been in public service.”
“Over the last week, the Democrats held the darkest and angriest and gloomiest convention in American history. They spent four straight days attacking America as racist and a horrible country that must be redeemed,” Trump said at the conservative Council for National Policy meeting on Friday. “Joe Biden grimly declared a season of American darkness.”
Trump plans to accept the Republican presidential nomination for a second term at the White House on Thursday.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-24--No new platform: Republicans extend 2016 party document through 2024

CHARLOTTE , North Carolina — Republican National Committee members voted to extend the party 's 2016 platform through 2024 .
Members of the RNC 's executive committee voted in June to re-use the 2016 platform instead of crafting a new one due in part to the coronavirus pandemic , and Saturday 's vote made the platform extension official .
They cited logistical challenges because of the coronavirus pandemic that prevented all delegates from gathering at the 2020 national convention .
Republicans opted to send a handful of delegates from each state to Charlotte for in-person party business on Friday through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted to forego the Convention Committee on Platform , in appreciation of the fact that it did not want a small contingent of delegates formulating a new platform without the breadth of perspectives within the ever-growing Republican movement , '' the resolution said .
`` The RNC , had the Platform Committee been able to convene in 2020 , would have undoubtedly unanimously agreed to reassert the Party ’ s strong support for President Donald Trump and his Administration . ''
Democrats did produce a new party platform this year despite the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new party platform virtually and via remote voting .
Trump is put in a somewhat awkward position with the extension of the platform because of its many negative references to the `` current administration , '' which referenced President Barack Obama 's administration when it was crafted .
The resolution takes swipes at the press , in an apparent reference to or anticipation of pushback to delegates not crafting a new platform when Democrats did , and the awkward phrasing that accidentally criticizes the current administration .
`` The media has outrageously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adopting a new platform in 2020 and continues to engage in misleading advocacy for the failed policies of the Obama-Biden Administration , rather than providing the public with unbiased reporting of facts , '' it says , adding that `` All platforms are snapshots of the historical contexts in which they are born , and parties abide by their policy priorities , rather than their political rhetoric '' and that `` the Republican Party has and will continue to enthusiastically support the President ’ s America-first agenda . ''

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — Republican National Committee members voted to extend the party's 2016 platform through 2024.
Members of the RNC's executive committee voted in June to reuse the 2016 platform instead of crafting a new one due in part to the coronavirus pandemic, and Saturday's vote made the platform extension official.
They cited logistical challenges because of the coronavirus pandemic that prevented all delegates from gathering at the 2020 national convention. Republicans opted to send a handful of delegates from each state to Charlotte for in-person party business on Friday through Monday.
"The RNC has unanimously voted to forego the Convention Committee on Platform, in appreciation of the fact that it did not want a small contingent of delegates formulating a new platform without the breadth of perspectives within the ever-growing Republican movement," the resolution said. "The RNC, had the Platform Committee been able to convene in 2020, would have undoubtedly unanimously agreed to reassert the Party’s strong support for President Donald Trump and his Administration."
Democrats did produce a new party platform this year despite the coronavirus pandemic, conducting the work of creating a new party platform virtually and via remote voting.
Trump is put in a somewhat awkward position with the extension of the platform because of its many negative references to the "current administration," which referenced President Barack Obama's administration when it was crafted.
The resolution takes swipes at the press, in an apparent reference to or anticipation of pushback to delegates not crafting a new platform when Democrats did, and the awkward phrasing that accidentally criticizes the current administration.
"The media has outrageously misrepresented the implications of the RNC not adopting a new platform in 2020 and continues to engage in misleading advocacy for the failed policies of the Obama-Biden Administration, rather than providing the public with unbiased reporting of facts," it says, adding that "all platforms are snapshots of the historical contexts in which they are born, and parties abide by their policy priorities, rather than their political rhetoric" and that "the Republican Party has and will continue to enthusiastically support the President’s America-first agenda."
Republicans adopted additional resolutions Saturday that included defending Christopher Columbus and blasting "cancel culture."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-23--'They’re not that different': Obama justifies Biden’s leftward lurch toward Sanders

Former President Barack Obama argued that it is not strange that Joe Biden has adopted policies further Left than what he ran on in the primary that are closer to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders 's governing vision .
`` If you look at Joe Biden ’ s goals and Bernie Sanders ’ s goals , they ’ re not that different , from a forty-thousand-foot level , '' Obama told the New Yorker in a recent interview that was published Sunday .
`` They both want to make sure everybody has healthcare .
They want to make sure everybody can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wage .
They want to make sure every child gets a good education . ''
Obama suggested that the difference is tactics rather than policy and that the coronavirus pandemic , along with other political changes , has changed more than Biden has .
`` A lot of times , the issue has to do with ‘ How do we go about that , and what are the coalitions we need ? '
'' Obama said .
`` What I think the moment has done is to change some of those calculations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but because circumstances have changed . ''
Biden ran on a more centrist platform that rejected his left-wing competitors ’ visions of single-payer healthcare and student loan debt forgiveness .
Soon after it became clear that he was the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , however , Biden adopted key proposals from the two biggest leftists in the primary field : a proposal from Sanders to make all public higher education free for those with annual family incomes less than $ 125,000 and a proposal favored by Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren to reform the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with aides and allies of Sanders , including New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , to form a `` Unity Task Force '' that created recommendations for the Democratic Party platform .
Sanders has said that he thinks Biden could be `` the most progressive president since FDR . ''
Despite that left-wing turn , last week 's virtual Democratic convention focused heavily on emotion and dislike of President Trump in an effort to court Republicans and centrists rather than highlighting the left wing of the party .

Former President Barack Obama argued that it is not strange that Joe Biden has adopted policies further Left than what he ran on in the primary that are closer to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders's governing vision.
"If you look at Joe Biden’s goals and Bernie Sanders’s goals, they’re not that different, from a forty-thousand-foot level," Obama told the New Yorker in a recent interview that was published Sunday. "They both want to make sure everybody has healthcare. They want to make sure everybody can get a job that pays a living wage. They want to make sure every child gets a good education."
Obama suggested that the difference is tactics rather than policy and that the coronavirus pandemic, along with other political changes, has changed more than Biden has.
"A lot of times, the issue has to do with ‘How do we go about that, and what are the coalitions we need?'" Obama said. "What I think the moment has done is to change some of those calculations, not because necessarily Joe’s changed but because circumstances have changed."
Biden ran on a more centrist platform that rejected his left-wing competitors’ visions of single-payer healthcare and student loan debt forgiveness. Soon after it became clear that he was the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, however, Biden adopted key proposals from the two biggest leftists in the primary field: a proposal from Sanders to make all public higher education free for those with annual family incomes less than $125,000 and a proposal favored by Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren to reform the bankruptcy system.
The Biden campaign worked with aides and allies of Sanders, including New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, to form a "Unity Task Force" that created recommendations for the Democratic Party platform.
Sanders has said that he thinks Biden could be "the most progressive president since FDR."
Despite that left-wing turn, last week's virtual Democratic convention focused heavily on emotion and dislike of President Trump in an effort to court Republicans and centrists rather than highlighting the left wing of the party.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-23--Trump campaign unveils base-driven Republican convention lineup

CHARLOTTE , North Carolina — President Trump will be boosted by some of his most loyal supporters and fans before he officially accepts his party 's renomination .
Trump will cap the Republican National Convention on Thursday from the White House South Lawn , according to his campaign , though the New York Times reported Sunday morning he might address the party faithful every night of the four-day program airing nightly from 9-11 p.m .
Organized around the theme of `` Honoring the Great American Story , '' the Trump family features heavily in the lineup , including first lady @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their partners .
But echoing the Democratic convention last week , the schedule also relies on ordinary people and celebrities to tout the president 's achievements after almost four years in the Oval Office .
Alice Johnson , whose life sentence for cocaine trafficking was commuted by Trump in 2018 , will speak in support of the incumbent 's reelection .
She 'll be joined by Andrew Pollack , who worked with the administration after his daughter Meadow died during the 2018 Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland , Florida .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , along with former Covington Catholic High School student Nicholas Sandmann .
Sandmann this year settled multimillion-dollar lawsuits with the Washington Post and CNN over their coverage of his 2019 confrontation with Native American elder Nathan Phillips .
Mark and Patricia McCloskey , the St. Louis couple who pointed their guns at Black Lives Matter protesters over the summer , will appear as well .
While the list mostly reflects Trump 's base general election strategy and his `` law and order '' message ahead of the fall fight , it does respond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the political center and the other side of the ideological aisle .
New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew , a Democrat who defected to the Republican Party last year over the president 's impeachment , will address the convention .
Party heavyweights , such as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , will speak at the largely virtual gathering too , as will potential 2024 Republican White House hopefuls Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina Gov .
Nikki Haley , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has allowed Republicans to learn from the Democrats ' experiment with the digital format amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Plans for the GOP convention to be hosted in Charlotte , North Carolina , were scrapped , but for GOP business meetings and a convention delegate vote on this cycle 's nomination .
`` The Republican Party is feeling great after the Democrat convention , '' Florida GOP national Committeewoman Kathleen King told the Washington Examiner in Charlotte .
`` We are the party of optimism — they are the party of doom and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have nothing but complaints .
We believe in America — they believe in socialism . ''

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — President Trump will be boosted by some of his most loyal supporters and fans before he officially accepts his party's renomination.
Trump will cap the Republican National Convention on Thursday from the White House South Lawn, according to his campaign, though the New York Times reported Sunday morning he might address the party faithful every night of the four-day program airing nightly from 9-11 p.m.
Organized around the theme of "Honoring the Great American Story," the Trump family features heavily in the lineup, including first lady Melania Trump, his adult children, and their partners. But echoing the Democratic convention last week, the schedule also relies on ordinary people and celebrities to tout the president's achievements after almost four years in the Oval Office.
Alice Johnson, whose life sentence for cocaine trafficking was commuted by Trump in 2018, will speak in support of the incumbent's reelection. She'll be joined by Andrew Pollack, who worked with the administration after his daughter Meadow died during the 2018 Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida.
Pollack's involvement was announced last week, along with former Covington Catholic High School student Nicholas Sandmann. Sandmann this year settled multimillion-dollar lawsuits with the Washington Post and CNN over their coverage of his 2019 confrontation with Native American elder Nathan Phillips. Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis couple who pointed their guns at Black Lives Matter protesters over the summer, will appear as well.
While the list mostly reflects Trump's base general election strategy and his "law and order" message ahead of the fall fight, it does respond to Democratic efforts to pull support from the political center and the other side of the ideological aisle. New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a Democrat who defected to the Republican Party last year over the president's impeachment, will address the convention.
Party heavyweights, such as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, will speak at the largely virtual gathering too, as will potential 2024 Republican White House hopefuls Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton.
Going second has allowed Republicans to learn from the Democrats' experiment with the digital format amid the coronavirus pandemic. Plans for the GOP convention to be hosted in Charlotte, North Carolina, were scrapped, but for GOP business meetings and a convention delegate vote on this cycle's nomination.
"The Republican Party is feeling great after the Democrat convention," Florida GOP national Committeewoman Kathleen King told the Washington Examiner in Charlotte. "We are the party of optimism — they are the party of doom and gloom. We have a vision — they have nothing but complaints. We believe in America — they believe in socialism."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-23--Biden did not get tested for COVID-19 like others around him for virtual convention

Joe Biden has not been tested for coronavirus , his presidential campaign said on Sunday , meaning that he did not follow some of the protocols in place for others around him during his Democratic convention address last week .
`` He has not had the virus .
We have put in place really strict protocols , as I think all of your journalists who attended our convention in Delaware this week saw .
We 've put in place incredibly strict protocols to ensure that everybody involved who is around Vice President Biden , who is around Senator Harris , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield said Sunday on ABC News .
`` He has not been tested , however , we have put the strictest protocols in place , '' she added .
Members of the press who traveled to Wilmington , Delaware , to cover Biden 's acceptance speech and other live-streamed parts of the Democratic convention last week were required to take coronavirus tests .
Last month , Biden said that he had not been tested for the virus .
This Week host George Stephanopoulos said that Biden 's campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refused to answer whether he had been tested for the virus .
When a CBS reporter yelled to Biden asking about testing when he was onstage with his running mate , California Sen. Kamala Harris , after accepting the Democratic Party 's presidential nomination on Thursday , a Biden aide replied , `` Are you kidding me ? ''
The campaign for President Trump , who is often tested for coronavirus , mocked the Biden camp for saying the candidate has not been infected with COVID-19 without actually testing him .

Joe Biden has not been tested for coronavirus, his presidential campaign said on Sunday, meaning that he did not follow some of the protocols in place for others around him during his Democratic convention address last week.
"He has not had the virus. We have put in place really strict protocols, as I think all of your journalists who attended our convention in Delaware this week saw. We've put in place incredibly strict protocols to ensure that everybody involved who is around Vice President Biden, who is around Senator Harris, is undergoing the appropriate testing," Biden deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield said Sunday on ABC News.
"He has not been tested, however, we have put the strictest protocols in place," she added.
Members of the press who traveled to Wilmington, Delaware, to cover Biden's acceptance speech and other live-streamed parts of the Democratic convention last week were required to take coronavirus tests.
Last month, Biden said that he had not been tested for the virus. This Week host George Stephanopoulos said that Biden's campaign on two occasions in the past week refused to answer whether he had been tested for the virus.
When a CBS reporter yelled to Biden asking about testing when he was onstage with his running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, after accepting the Democratic Party's presidential nomination on Thursday, a Biden aide replied, "Are you kidding me?"
The campaign for President Trump, who is often tested for coronavirus, mocked the Biden camp for saying the candidate has not been infected with COVID-19 without actually testing him.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-23--'Absolutely': Biden open to second term if elected president

Joe Biden , 77 , could be the oldest president ever to take office , but the two-term vice president is n't ruling out serving eight years if he wins the White House this fall .
Biden , who last week accepted the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination , was asked whether he was leaving open the possibility of leading the country for two terms if he and running mate California Sen. Kamala Harris beat President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence in the general election .
“ Absolutely , ” Biden told ABC in a preview of an interview that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden said one of his objectives this cycle is to boost Democrats down ballot , repeating his desire to be `` bridge '' to future Democratic leaders .
“ So [ what ] I want to do is make sure when this is over , we have a new Senate , we won back statehouses , we ’ re in a position where we transition to a period of bringing people up to the visibility that they need to get to be able to lead nationally , '' he told ABC .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ first joint TV interview as the official Democratic 2020 ticket .
They gave their first print interview to People magazine last week .
Biden will be 78 by Inauguration Day on Jan. 20 , 2021 .
President Ronald Reagan , the oldest commander in chief to date , was 77 at the end of his tenure in 1989 .
By comparison , Trump is 74 .
Voters and reporters frequently pressed Biden on his age , mental capacity , plans for a second term , and his potential vice presidential pick during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on her ability to step up at a moment 's notice now positions her as the presumptive front-runner for the top job after Biden , whether that be for the 2024 or 2028 elections or sooner .
Harris was chosen after George Floyd , a black man , died following a white Minneapolis police officer pressing a knee to his neck during an arrest this summer , sparking protests over racial injustice across the country .
But Biden on Sunday insisted he did n't feel pressure to elevate a black woman .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country are women .
As that old expression goes , ‘ women hold up half the sky , ’ and in order to be able to succeed , you 've got to be dealt in across the board , '' he said , quoting a phrase made famous by Chinese communist dictator Mao Zedong .

Joe Biden, 77, could be the oldest president ever to take office, but the two-term vice president isn't ruling out serving eight years if he wins the White House this fall.
Biden, who last week accepted the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, was asked whether he was leaving open the possibility of leading the country for two terms if he and running mate California Sen. Kamala Harris beat President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence in the general election.
“Absolutely,” Biden told ABC in a preview of an interview that will be aired in full Sunday night.
Biden said one of his objectives this cycle is to boost Democrats down ballot, repeating his desire to be "bridge" to future Democratic leaders.
“So [what] I want to do is make sure when this is over, we have a new Senate, we won back statehouses, we’re in a position where we transition to a period of bringing people up to the visibility that they need to get to be able to lead nationally," he told ABC.
The sit-down is Biden and Harris's first joint TV interview as the official Democratic 2020 ticket. They gave their first print interview to People magazine last week.
Biden will be 78 by Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, 2021. President Ronald Reagan, the oldest commander in chief to date, was 77 at the end of his tenure in 1989. By comparison, Trump is 74.
Voters and reporters frequently pressed Biden on his age, mental capacity, plans for a second term, and his potential vice presidential pick during the primary. His selection of Harris based on her ability to step up at a moment's notice now positions her as the presumptive front-runner for the top job after Biden, whether that be for the 2024 or 2028 elections or sooner.
Harris was chosen after George Floyd, a black man, died following a white Minneapolis police officer pressing a knee to his neck during an arrest this summer, sparking protests over racial injustice across the country. But Biden on Sunday insisted he didn't feel pressure to elevate a black woman.
"Fifty-one percent of the people in this country are women. As that old expression goes, ‘women hold up half the sky,’ and in order to be able to succeed, you've got to be dealt in across the board," he said, quoting a phrase made famous by Chinese communist dictator Mao Zedong.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-24--Jeff Flake endorses Biden along with two dozen former GOP House members

Jeff Flake is among more than two dozen former Republican members of Congress to endorse Joe Biden , the Democratic presidential nominee 's campaign announced on Monday .
The announcement came on the day that Republicans will vote to renominate President Trump as their presidential nominee and the first day of the mostly virtual Republican National Convention .
Flake spent just a single , six-year term in the Senate and left office in 2019 , explaining his decision in a Senate floor speech that condemned the state of political discourse and Trump .
Before that , he represented Arizona in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slate of 27 Republicans endorsing Biden includes some who previously announced their support : former Pennsylvania Rep. Charlie Dent , who left office in 2018 , and former New York Rep. Susan Molinari , who represented a Staten Island and Brooklyn district from 1990-97 .
The new endorsers follow a number of Republicans who praised Biden during the Democratic National Convention last week , including former Ohio Gov .
John Kasich and Cindy McCain , widow of the late Sen. John McCain .
The bulk of former Republican House members backing Biden are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with their time on Capitol Hill overlapping with his 36 years in the Senate representing Delaware .
Several are a throwback to days when the GOP 's more moderate wing had sway in Congress , while others in office were fierce Republican partisans .
Former Rep. Ray LaHood , a Republican House member from 1995-2009 , was President Barack Obama 's transportation secretary in the administration 's first term .
Though LaHood 's son , Rep. Darrin LaHood , is currently a Republican House member representing his old Peoria , Illinois , district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Eastern Shore for 18 years before losing a 2008 Republican primary challenge from the right by now-Rep. Andy Harris ( though Harris lost in the general election that year , he beat the incumbent Democratic House member two years later ) .
Former Rep. Bob Inglis of South Carolina similarly got tossed out of Congress in 2010 , when he overwhelmingly lost his Republican renomination bid to a more conservative challenger , Trey Gowdy , who was a House member 2011-19 .
Other former Republican members backing Biden for president over Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even liberalism , while in Congress .
Chris Shays represented a Connecticut district for more than 20 years and was a driving force behind the signature campaign finance law of the 21st century , McCain-Feingold .
Shays lost his seat in 2008 to now-Rep. Jim Himes , as Barack Obama swept into office and took many House Democrats with him to Washington .
Former Rep. Peter Smith of Vermont , meanwhile , was a single-term House member , from 1989-91 .
In 1990 he lost his reelection bid to an independent candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name of Bernie Sanders .
The former Burlington , Vermont , mayor , now a senator and twice a Democratic presidential candidate , in some ways actually ran to Smith 's right in that race , emphasizing his support for gun rights and earning support from the National Rifle Association .
The full list of former Republican members of Congress who endorsed Biden is below :

Jeff Flake is among more than two dozen former Republican members of Congress to endorse Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee's campaign announced on Monday.
The announcement came on the day that Republicans will vote to renominate President Trump as their presidential nominee and the first day of the mostly virtual Republican National Convention.
Flake spent just a single, six-year term in the Senate and left office in 2019, explaining his decision in a Senate floor speech that condemned the state of political discourse and Trump. Before that, he represented Arizona in the House for 12 years.
The slate of 27 Republicans endorsing Biden includes some who previously announced their support: former Pennsylvania Rep. Charlie Dent, who left office in 2018, and former New York Rep. Susan Molinari, who represented a Staten Island and Brooklyn district from 1990-97. The new endorsers follow a number of Republicans who praised Biden during the Democratic National Convention last week, including former Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Cindy McCain, widow of the late Sen. John McCain.
The bulk of former Republican House members backing Biden are of the 1980s and 1990s vintage, with their time on Capitol Hill overlapping with his 36 years in the Senate representing Delaware. Several are a throwback to days when the GOP's more moderate wing had sway in Congress, while others in office were fierce Republican partisans.
Former Rep. Ray LaHood, a Republican House member from 1995-2009, was President Barack Obama's transportation secretary in the administration's first term. Though LaHood's son, Rep. Darrin LaHood, is currently a Republican House member representing his old Peoria, Illinois, district.
Former Rep. Wayne Gilchrist represented Maryland's Eastern Shore for 18 years before losing a 2008 Republican primary challenge from the right by now-Rep. Andy Harris (though Harris lost in the general election that year, he beat the incumbent Democratic House member two years later).
Former Rep. Bob Inglis of South Carolina similarly got tossed out of Congress in 2010, when he overwhelmingly lost his Republican renomination bid to a more conservative challenger, Trey Gowdy, who was a House member 2011-19.
Other former Republican members backing Biden for president over Trump include New Englanders known for their centrism, even liberalism, while in Congress. Chris Shays represented a Connecticut district for more than 20 years and was a driving force behind the signature campaign finance law of the 21st century, McCain-Feingold. Shays lost his seat in 2008 to now-Rep. Jim Himes, as Barack Obama swept into office and took many House Democrats with him to Washington.
Former Rep. Peter Smith of Vermont, meanwhile, was a single-term House member, from 1989-91. In 1990 he lost his reelection bid to an independent candidate, and self-declared socialist, by the name of Bernie Sanders. The former Burlington, Vermont, mayor, now a senator and twice a Democratic presidential candidate, in some ways actually ran to Smith's right in that race, emphasizing his support for gun rights and earning support from the National Rifle Association.
The full list of former Republican members of Congress who endorsed Biden is below:


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-24--Republicans urge Trump to make the convention all about Biden

President Trump needs to use his party convention to heap pressure and headlines on his Democratic opponent , Joe Biden , while resisting the temptation to hog the spotlight , according to Republican strategists and allies .
They say time is running out to reverse a poll deficit and that the Republican National Convention could be Trump 's last , best chance to prevent the election from being purely a referendum on his record .
Republican strategist Ron Bonjean , a former Senate GOP leadership aide , said they had to present voters with a choice between two visions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be realistically upbeat about the future of the country while showcasing the president ’ s record and contrasting it with Biden ’ s failure to lead over the past 47 years he ’ s been in Washington , ” he said .
A former White House official said the best way would be to present an upbeat tone to contrast with the Democratic convention ’ s air of doom .
“ I think it ’ s important to define Biden and contrast him with the president , but because of the general depressing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I think it ’ s extra important for Republicans to paint a positive message of hope next week , ” he said .
The challenge is similar to that faced by incumbents down the ages : how best to ensure the election campaign is not merely a granular dissection of every decision and every misstep they have made in office .
This time , they have advantages .
Not only do they face a challenger with a long record in Washington , but they have had a week to digest the lessons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge of putting on a convention during a time of pandemic .
The aim is to deliver a more engaging package than what some observers said was an overproduced , sterile Democratic infomercial .
Trump plans to deliver his speech on the White House South Lawn in front of an audience , with fireworks to follow .
“ The Trump people have a template to work from , so they have a huge advantage that the Biden people didn ’ t , ” said veteran Republican strategist Rich Galen .
“ The disadvantage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make the election about Biden ’ s lack of capacity — whether it ’ s mental , or his ability to fend off progressives — Trump will tweet all through the day and all through the night and turn it upside down , making it all about him again.
” The comparison does not necessarily have to just be about the top of the ticket but can have a partywide focus , said a senior Republican source , with an eye on down-ballot races .
“ The main focus should be on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become these last four years .
No other message will win swing voters , ” he said .
Trump allies privately worry about the president ’ s ability to keep the focus on Biden .
Previous attempts to define his opponent have had mixed results , with Trump sometimes leaving viewers to decide whether the Democratic nominee is a confused , incapacitated old man or a dangerous threat to American democracy .
On other occasions , the message got lost .
A rally in Tulsa in June was designed to showcase attack lines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive COVID-19 tests among staffers .
On Friday , Trump delivered his response to Biden ’ s convention speech and the Democrats ’ bleak vision on America in what may be a forerunner to the Republican convention .
“ They want to punish America and its citizens instead of holding them high , ” he told the Council for National Policy in Arlington , Virginia .
“ When Joe Biden sees American darkness , I see American greatness .
”

President Trump needs to use his party convention to heap pressure and headlines on his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, while resisting the temptation to hog the spotlight, according to Republican strategists and allies.
They say time is running out to reverse a poll deficit and that the Republican National Convention could be Trump's last, best chance to prevent the election from being purely a referendum on his record.
Republican strategist Ron Bonjean, a former Senate GOP leadership aide, said they had to present voters with a choice between two visions of the country.
“They need to be realistically upbeat about the future of the country while showcasing the president’s record and contrasting it with Biden’s failure to lead over the past 47 years he’s been in Washington,” he said.
A former White House official said the best way would be to present an upbeat tone to contrast with the Democratic convention’s air of doom.
“I think it’s important to define Biden and contrast him with the president, but because of the general depressing and dour tone of the Democrat convention, I think it’s extra important for Republicans to paint a positive message of hope next week,” he said.
The challenge is similar to that faced by incumbents down the ages: how best to ensure the election campaign is not merely a granular dissection of every decision and every misstep they have made in office.
This time, they have advantages. Not only do they face a challenger with a long record in Washington, but they have had a week to digest the lessons learned by Democrats who grappled with the challenge of putting on a convention during a time of pandemic.
The aim is to deliver a more engaging package than what some observers said was an overproduced, sterile Democratic infomercial.
Trump plans to deliver his speech on the White House South Lawn in front of an audience, with fireworks to follow.
“The Trump people have a template to work from, so they have a huge advantage that the Biden people didn’t,” said veteran Republican strategist Rich Galen.
“The disadvantage they have is that in this attempt to make the election about Biden’s lack of capacity — whether it’s mental, or his ability to fend off progressives — Trump will tweet all through the day and all through the night and turn it upside down, making it all about him again.”
The comparison does not necessarily have to just be about the top of the ticket but can have a partywide focus, said a senior Republican source, with an eye on down-ballot races.
“The main focus should be on defining how radical the Democratic Party has become these last four years. No other message will win swing voters,” he said.
Trump allies privately worry about the president’s ability to keep the focus on Biden. Previous attempts to define his opponent have had mixed results, with Trump sometimes leaving viewers to decide whether the Democratic nominee is a confused, incapacitated old man or a dangerous threat to American democracy.
On other occasions, the message got lost. A rally in Tulsa in June was designed to showcase attack lines but was overshadowed by poor attendance and positive COVID-19 tests among staffers.
On Friday, Trump delivered his response to Biden’s convention speech and the Democrats’ bleak vision on America in what may be a forerunner to the Republican convention.
“They want to punish America and its citizens instead of holding them high,” he told the Council for National Policy in Arlington, Virginia. “When Joe Biden sees American darkness, I see American greatness.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-25--Matt Gaetz revs up MAGA faithful at GOP convention

Rep. Matt Gaetz offered up a helping of red meat to the Republican base on Night One of the GOP convention , warning in remarks geared toward motivating President Trump ’ s loyal voters that the Democratic nominee could not be trusted to keep the United States safe and prosperous .
The Florida Republican , among Trump ’ s most committed lieutenants on Capitol Hill , urged voters to set a high bar for leadership ahead of the Nov. 3 elections and avoid settling for the “ bad decisions by basement-dwelling Joe Biden.
” Gaetz said the president “ has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an army of patriots ” to keep the country safe , utilizing the sort of nationalistic rhetoric Trump often uses to frame the values that undergird his agenda .
`` I ’ m speaking from an auditorium emptier than Joe Biden ’ s daily schedule , '' Gaetz said Monday as he opened his remarks .
`` Settle for Biden — that ’ s the hashtag promoted by AOC and the socialists , '' Gaetz added , referring to socialist Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York , who endorsed socialist Sen. Bernie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential primary .
`` The woke-topians will settle because they will make him an extra in a movie written , produced , and directed by others .
It 's a horror film . ''
Gaetz ’ s speech during a largely virtual Republican convention sought , as did others who spoke on the first night of the convention , to rebut the contention by Biden during last week ’ s Democratic gathering that Trump is a failed leader .
Trump often refers to Biden as `` Slow Joe . ''
The president claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an excuse to take refuge in the basement of his Delaware home and avoid the rigors of the campaign , contrasting himself as physically formidable and mentally sharp .
Gaetz echoed that message in his remarks .
`` Donald Trump , like all builders , is a visionary , '' Gaetz said .
Gaetz , a second-term congressman from the Florida Panhandle , hails from an establishment Republican family but has embraced Trump with the gusto of the president ’ s loyal , anti-Washington political base .
The 38-year-old regularly jabs at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same provocative tactics on social media as the president .
Such behavior led the House Ethics Committee to investigate him for witness tampering after he tweeted about former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen prior to his testifying on Capitol Hill .
The committee determined that Gaetz `` did not violate witness tampering and obstruction of Congress laws . ''
However , the congressman was admonished for the incident , with House Ethics saying that he failed to meet the standards by which `` Members of the House should govern themselves . ''
Gaetz rarely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he voted with House Democrats last year to limit the president ’ s ability to wage war against Iran .

Rep. Matt Gaetz offered up a helping of red meat to the Republican base on Night One of the GOP convention, warning in remarks geared toward motivating President Trump’s loyal voters that the Democratic nominee could not be trusted to keep the United States safe and prosperous.
The Florida Republican, among Trump’s most committed lieutenants on Capitol Hill, urged voters to set a high bar for leadership ahead of the Nov. 3 elections and avoid settling for the “bad decisions by basement-dwelling Joe Biden.” Gaetz said the president “has what it takes” to “raise an army of patriots” to keep the country safe, utilizing the sort of nationalistic rhetoric Trump often uses to frame the values that undergird his agenda.
"I’m speaking from an auditorium emptier than Joe Biden’s daily schedule," Gaetz said Monday as he opened his remarks.
"Settle for Biden — that’s the hashtag promoted by AOC and the socialists," Gaetz added, referring to socialist Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, who endorsed socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont in her party's presidential primary. "The woke-topians will settle because they will make him an extra in a movie written, produced, and directed by others. It's a horror film."
Gaetz’s speech during a largely virtual Republican convention sought, as did others who spoke on the first night of the convention, to rebut the contention by Biden during last week’s Democratic gathering that Trump is a failed leader. Trump often refers to Biden as "Slow Joe." The president claims the Democratic nominee has used the pandemic as an excuse to take refuge in the basement of his Delaware home and avoid the rigors of the campaign, contrasting himself as physically formidable and mentally sharp.
Gaetz echoed that message in his remarks.
"Donald Trump, like all builders, is a visionary," Gaetz said.
Gaetz, a second-term congressman from the Florida Panhandle, hails from an establishment Republican family but has embraced Trump with the gusto of the president’s loyal, anti-Washington political base. The 38-year-old regularly jabs at Trump’s critics, employing the same provocative tactics on social media as the president. Such behavior led the House Ethics Committee to investigate him for witness tampering after he tweeted about former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen prior to his testifying on Capitol Hill.
The committee determined that Gaetz "did not violate witness tampering and obstruction of Congress laws." However, the congressman was admonished for the incident, with House Ethics saying that he failed to meet the standards by which "Members of the House should govern themselves."
Gaetz rarely breaks with Trump on policy, although he voted with House Democrats last year to limit the president’s ability to wage war against Iran.
Madison Dibble contributed to this report.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-25--Delegates hope to dazzle with virtual GOP convention and contrast Democrat 'doom and gloom'

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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 from Billy Porter , and the last night had .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from out of state due to the coronavirus .
And Republicans ’ 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 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 gon na be an inspirational convention , ” said Michigan Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 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 .

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.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-24--Trump supporters fear convention will neglect the Rust Belt

The Republican National Convention will feature wall-to-wall coverage of President Trump , but some supporters are wondering if the program does enough to appeal to the voters who turned Pennsylvania , Michigan , and Wisconsin into red states , however narrowly , for the first time since Ronald Reagan was in the White House .
“ There are a lot of different types of voters they need to appeal to and only so many hours in prime time over four days , ” said a Republican strategist .
“ But this does seem like an omission.
” “ If they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them addressing the RNC from pivot counties in the Midwest , Florida , and the Rust Belt that Trump flipped from Obama , ” tweeted commentator Ryan James Girdusky in response to a report that a major convention participant will be speaking from Jerusalem .
Girdusky co-authored a book on national populism with Harlan Hill , a political strategist who sits on the Trump campaign ’ s advisory board .
The announced roster of GOP convention speakers is brimming with Trump family members , including first lady Melania Trump , sons Donald Jr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Tiffany Trump .
The president himself will be featured daily in addition to delivering the traditional acceptance speech Thursday night .
Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to give his acceptance speech on Wednesday night .
Also participating is a bevy of Republican heavyweights : Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , Sen. Rand Paul , Gov .
Kristi Noem , former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani , Sen. Tim Scott , Rep. Dan Crenshaw , and former U.S .
Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strongest supporters in Congress will also take the stage : Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida , Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio , Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas , Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee .
Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri did not appear on the initial publicly released lineup .
Turning out Republican voters and convincing suburbanites the Democratic ticket of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris is radical rather than centrist are important parts of the convention ’ s mission .
But Trump Democrats , as well as infrequent voters of all stripes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were pivotal in 2016 .
Without them , Trump suffers the same fate as Mitt Romney before him , and Hillary Clinton becomes president .
According to estimates by the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group and the Cooperative Congressional Election Study , Clinton lost somewhere between a fifth and a quarter of white Barack Obama voters without a college degree .
These voters were overrepresented in Rust Belt states .
Clinton also conspicuously failed to campaign in places such as Wisconsin , the intended site of the 2020 Democratic convention , in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump campaign released a 50-point second-term agenda on Monday that was heavy on populism : creating 10 million new jobs in 10 months , bringing back a million manufacturing jobs from China , pursuing fair trade deals , making critical medicines and medical supplies in the United States , stopping “ endless wars , ” and making allies pay their fair share of defense costs .
Donald Trump Jr. is expected to make the case that Biden is bad for American workers .
The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost entirely virtual Democratic convention , Republicans are combining remote speeches with some live events from Charlotte , North Carolina , after the coronavirus disrupted both parties ’ original plans .
“ They were smart to embrace the medium and tone things down — they did not try to replicate the pomp of an actual convention , ” Republican strategist Alex Conant said of the Democrats .
“ The speeches were more like conversations , which worked well for their somber message.
” Conant noted that Trump , by contrast , feeds off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party operatives have said for days that they are striving for a more upbeat , less gloomy tone .
Trump and Pence were both renominated by the delegates on Monday .
The Republican platform is being preserved intact from 2016 .
In remarks in Charlotte Monday that went longer than Biden ’ s formal acceptance speech , Trump thanked the delegates and urged people to “ think of your life just prior to the plague .
”

The Republican National Convention will feature wall-to-wall coverage of President Trump, but some supporters are wondering if the program does enough to appeal to the voters who turned Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin into red states, however narrowly, for the first time since Ronald Reagan was in the White House.
“There are a lot of different types of voters they need to appeal to and only so many hours in prime time over four days,” said a Republican strategist. “But this does seem like an omission.”
“If they had any brains they’d have them addressing the RNC from pivot counties in the Midwest, Florida, and the Rust Belt that Trump flipped from Obama,” tweeted commentator Ryan James Girdusky in response to a report that a major convention participant will be speaking from Jerusalem. Girdusky co-authored a book on national populism with Harlan Hill, a political strategist who sits on the Trump campaign’s advisory board.
The announced roster of GOP convention speakers is brimming with Trump family members, including first lady Melania Trump, sons Donald Jr. and Eric Trump, and daughters Ivanka and Tiffany Trump. The president himself will be featured daily in addition to delivering the traditional acceptance speech Thursday night. Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to give his acceptance speech on Wednesday night.
Also participating is a bevy of Republican heavyweights: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Sen. Rand Paul, Gov. Kristi Noem, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Sen. Tim Scott, Rep. Dan Crenshaw, and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley.
Some of Trump’s strongest supporters in Congress will also take the stage: Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri did not appear on the initial publicly released lineup.
Turning out Republican voters and convincing suburbanites the Democratic ticket of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris is radical rather than centrist are important parts of the convention’s mission. But Trump Democrats, as well as infrequent voters of all stripes, especially among the white working class, were pivotal in 2016. Without them, Trump suffers the same fate as Mitt Romney before him, and Hillary Clinton becomes president.
According to estimates by the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group and the Cooperative Congressional Election Study, Clinton lost somewhere between a fifth and a quarter of white Barack Obama voters without a college degree. These voters were overrepresented in Rust Belt states. Clinton also conspicuously failed to campaign in places such as Wisconsin, the intended site of the 2020 Democratic convention, in the waning weeks of that campaign.
The Trump campaign released a 50-point second-term agenda on Monday that was heavy on populism: creating 10 million new jobs in 10 months, bringing back a million manufacturing jobs from China, pursuing fair trade deals, making critical medicines and medical supplies in the United States, stopping “endless wars,” and making allies pay their fair share of defense costs.
Donald Trump Jr. is expected to make the case that Biden is bad for American workers.
The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
Unlike the almost entirely virtual Democratic convention, Republicans are combining remote speeches with some live events from Charlotte, North Carolina, after the coronavirus disrupted both parties’ original plans. “They were smart to embrace the medium and tone things down — they did not try to replicate the pomp of an actual convention,” Republican strategist Alex Conant said of the Democrats. “The speeches were more like conversations, which worked well for their somber message.” Conant noted that Trump, by contrast, feeds off of speaking to live crowds, and party operatives have said for days that they are striving for a more upbeat, less gloomy tone.
Trump and Pence were both renominated by the delegates on Monday. The Republican platform is being preserved intact from 2016.
In remarks in Charlotte Monday that went longer than Biden’s formal acceptance speech, Trump thanked the delegates and urged people to “think of your life just prior to the plague.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-24--Kelli Ward on Jeff Flake's 'vain pursuit of political gain' and Trump chances in Arizona

CHARLOTTE , North Carolina — Kelli Ward dug into her old never-Trump nemesis Jeff Flake for endorsing Joe Biden over President Trump and offered an optimistic picture of the president 's chances of winning the hotly contested 11 Electoral College votes in Arizona .
`` Jeff Flake is in no man 's land .
His predicament today is a direct result of his own grandstanding and virtue signaling — actions that alienated him from anyone and everyone who believes in Republican values , and that resulted in his failure to run for reelection after a single term in the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Ward , chairwoman of the Arizona Republican Party , said Monday .
`` Flake has done this to himself , allowing anger , jealousy , and a deep-seated personal vendetta against President Trump to poison his relationship with Republicans . ''
`` It 's clear now to any reasonable observer that Flake has turned his back on Arizonans and Republicans nationwide in his vain pursuit of political gain , '' Ward added .
Flake , who left office last year after declining to run for a second term in 2018 , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican members of Congress who endorsed Biden rather than Trump on Monday , the first day of the 2020 Republican National Convention .
`` Indifference to the truth or to the careful stewardship of the institutions of American liberty is not conservative .
Disregard for the separation of powers — the centerpiece of our constitutional system — is not conservative .
Governing by tweet is not conservative , '' the former Arizona senator said in a statement .
Fresh off Republican delegates voting to renominate Trump to lead their presidential ticket in Charlotte @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ward gave an impassioned defense of Trump in an interview with the Washington Examiner .
“ He makes promises that he keeps , that he 's not a typical politician who tells you one thing on the campaign trail and stab you in the back from the political office , '' Ward said of the president , making an implied dig at politicians such as Flake .
Ward , a former Arizona state senator and family practice doctor , announced in 2016 that she would try to defeat Flake in the Republican Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge against Sen. John McCain that year .
She led Flake by double digits in early primary polls and took credit for pushing him to decline to seek another term in 2018 , though Ward eventually lost that primary to now-Sen. Martha McSally .
McSally lost the 2018 general election to Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema , who was appointed to the late McCain 's vacant seat and now faces a tough 2020 reelection bid against Democrat Mark Kelly .
But despite McSally having a war chest half the size of Kelly 's , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ projecting confidence about that race .
`` Sen. McSally is on the road every single day , working hard , meeting with constituents , and she is going to stay in the United States Senate , without a doubt , '' Ward said .
Ward railed against the Democratic agenda and presentation of the party in last week ’ s virtual convention .
`` They did n't talk about their efforts to dismantle the police and weed out the atrocities that are happening in places like Portland and Seattle , Minneapolis , Chicago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and these Democrat-run , you know , hellholes that they have become , '' she said .
“ They have n't been too shy about saying , ‘ Yes , we 're going to give so-called free healthcare to every person who comes here illegally.
’ But they do n't stress the fact that American taxpayers will actually [ be ] footing the bill for that.
” Arizona is a top target for the Biden campaign , too .
Campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon has said that she is `` bullish '' about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winning the state .
Recent polls show that the presidential race is very close , with the RealClearPolitics average of Arizona polls showing Biden with a 2-point edge on Trump .
Ward said that the biggest challenge for Trump , though , does not come from the Democrats .
Rather , it is `` the lies from the media and the Big Tech censorship of Republicans and conservatives across the board . ''
“ He ’ s got the momentum , he ’ s got the enthusiasm .
He not only has the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole new crowd of people that will be voting Republican because of the leadership he ’ s shown , ” Ward said of Trump .
The state party says it 's on pace to reach 4 million voter contacts this week , and Ward said that it has dozens of staff members on the ground and is working to train volunteer poll watchers or poll workers .
“ We 've got new Latino voters , new black voters , new Asian American voters , new women voters , new suburban moms .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ward said .
“ They see what these Democrats have done to cities and suburbs , and even some rural areas across our country , and they do n't want that .
”

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — Kelli Ward dug into her old never-Trump nemesis Jeff Flake for endorsing Joe Biden over President Trump and offered an optimistic picture of the president's chances of winning the hotly contested 11 Electoral College votes in Arizona.
"Jeff Flake is in no man's land. His predicament today is a direct result of his own grandstanding and virtue signaling — actions that alienated him from anyone and everyone who believes in Republican values, and that resulted in his failure to run for reelection after a single term in the Senate due to a lack of support," Ward, chairwoman of the Arizona Republican Party, said Monday. "Flake has done this to himself, allowing anger, jealousy, and a deep-seated personal vendetta against President Trump to poison his relationship with Republicans."
"It's clear now to any reasonable observer that Flake has turned his back on Arizonans and Republicans nationwide in his vain pursuit of political gain," Ward added.
Flake, who left office last year after declining to run for a second term in 2018, is one of more than two dozen former Republican members of Congress who endorsed Biden rather than Trump on Monday, the first day of the 2020 Republican National Convention.
"Indifference to the truth or to the careful stewardship of the institutions of American liberty is not conservative. Disregard for the separation of powers — the centerpiece of our constitutional system — is not conservative. Governing by tweet is not conservative," the former Arizona senator said in a statement.
Fresh off Republican delegates voting to renominate Trump to lead their presidential ticket in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday, Ward gave an impassioned defense of Trump in an interview with the Washington Examiner.
“He makes promises that he keeps, that he's not a typical politician who tells you one thing on the campaign trail and stab you in the back from the political office," Ward said of the president, making an implied dig at politicians such as Flake.
Ward, a former Arizona state senator and family practice doctor, announced in 2016 that she would try to defeat Flake in the Republican Senate primary after failing to win a primary challenge against Sen. John McCain that year.
She led Flake by double digits in early primary polls and took credit for pushing him to decline to seek another term in 2018, though Ward eventually lost that primary to now-Sen. Martha McSally.
McSally lost the 2018 general election to Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who was appointed to the late McCain's vacant seat and now faces a tough 2020 reelection bid against Democrat Mark Kelly. But despite McSally having a war chest half the size of Kelly's, as of July 15, Ward is projecting confidence about that race.
"Sen. McSally is on the road every single day, working hard, meeting with constituents, and she is going to stay in the United States Senate, without a doubt," Ward said.
Ward railed against the Democratic agenda and presentation of the party in last week’s virtual convention.
"They didn't talk about their efforts to dismantle the police and weed out the atrocities that are happening in places like Portland and Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago, New York, across the board and these Democrat-run, you know, hellholes that they have become," she said. “They haven't been too shy about saying, ‘Yes, we're going to give so-called free healthcare to every person who comes here illegally.’ But they don't stress the fact that American taxpayers will actually [be] footing the bill for that.”
Arizona is a top target for the Biden campaign, too. Campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon has said that she is "bullish" about the Democratic presidential nominee's chances of winning the state.
Recent polls show that the presidential race is very close, with the RealClearPolitics average of Arizona polls showing Biden with a 2-point edge on Trump.
Ward said that the biggest challenge for Trump, though, does not come from the Democrats. Rather, it is "the lies from the media and the Big Tech censorship of Republicans and conservatives across the board."
“He’s got the momentum, he’s got the enthusiasm. He not only has the base, but he also has a whole new crowd of people that will be voting Republican because of the leadership he’s shown,” Ward said of Trump.
The state party says it's on pace to reach 4 million voter contacts this week, and Ward said that it has dozens of staff members on the ground and is working to train volunteer poll watchers or poll workers.
“We've got new Latino voters, new black voters, new Asian American voters, new women voters, new suburban moms. They are flocking to Donald Trump,” Ward said. “They see what these Democrats have done to cities and suburbs, and even some rural areas across our country, and they don't want that.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-24--Republicans see political gold for Trump in Biden's 'shut it down' comments

Republicans believe President Trump caught a major break on the eve of the GOP convention with Joe Biden ’ s comments that he would be willing to reimpose an economic lockdown if scientists told him it was needed to neutralize the coronavirus .
The Democratic nominee told ABC News he would do whatever is necessary to defeat the coronavirus , emphasizing that reviving an economy stricken by recession and returning American life to normal depends upon arresting the pandemic .
Despite that context , Republican strategists believe Biden extended a lifeline to Trump , arguing that voters worried about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recoil at Biden ’ s consideration of another shutdown .
Trump is attempting to come from behind against the former vice president , who leads nationally and in key battleground states as the GOP convention begins .
“ I have to stop everything and start writing ads against Democrats with ‘ I would shut it down , ’ ” Republican media consultant Brad Todd said Friday evening , soon after a clip of Biden ’ s interview aired .
“ This is the biggest break of the year for Republicans in this campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remarks as well , suggesting the Democratic nominee ’ s position could become a subtheme of this week ’ s four-day celebration of the president ’ s renomination .
Trump tweeted , “ Despite biggest ever job gains and a V shaped recovery , Joe Biden said , ‘ I would shut it down , ’ referring to our Country .
He has no clue !
” “ I would be prepared to do whatever it takes to save lives because we can not get the country moving until we control the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this administration ’ s thinking to begin with , ” Biden said on ABC during his first joint interview with his running mate , California Sen. Kamala Harris .
Asked if he would consider scientists ’ recommendations to “ shut it down , ” Biden said , “ I would shut it down .
I would listen to the scientists.
” Following the recommendations of his administration ’ s medical advisers , Trump urged a shutdown of the nation ’ s economy in mid-March to stop the spread of the coronavirus .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the president credited the policy with saving millions of lives .
But since early May , Trump has urged state and local governments to lift restrictions on economic activities and focus on resuscitating the economy , often saying that the pandemic would soon “ disappear.
” Paired with his strong support for opening the public schools for on-campus and in-person instruction to relieve parents frustrated by distance learning , the president is convinced this message is a political winner .
The approach has yet to boost support for Trump ’ s management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prospects , especially after a summer that saw COVID-19 resurgent across the Sunbelt and in states such as California .
The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment .

Republicans believe President Trump caught a major break on the eve of the GOP convention with Joe Biden’s comments that he would be willing to reimpose an economic lockdown if scientists told him it was needed to neutralize the coronavirus.
The Democratic nominee told ABC News he would do whatever is necessary to defeat the coronavirus, emphasizing that reviving an economy stricken by recession and returning American life to normal depends upon arresting the pandemic. Despite that context, Republican strategists believe Biden extended a lifeline to Trump, arguing that voters worried about the economy and exhausted by pandemic restrictions will recoil at Biden’s consideration of another shutdown.
Trump is attempting to come from behind against the former vice president, who leads nationally and in key battleground states as the GOP convention begins.
“I have to stop everything and start writing ads against Democrats with ‘I would shut it down,’” Republican media consultant Brad Todd said Friday evening, soon after a clip of Biden’s interview aired. “This is the biggest break of the year for Republicans in this campaign year.”
Trump noticed Biden’s remarks as well, suggesting the Democratic nominee’s position could become a subtheme of this week’s four-day celebration of the president’s renomination. Trump tweeted, “Despite biggest ever job gains and a V shaped recovery, Joe Biden said, ‘I would shut it down,’ referring to our Country. He has no clue!”
“I would be prepared to do whatever it takes to save lives because we cannot get the country moving until we control the virus. That is the fundamental flaw of this administration’s thinking to begin with,” Biden said on ABC during his first joint interview with his running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris. Asked if he would consider scientists’ recommendations to “shut it down,” Biden said, “I would shut it down. I would listen to the scientists.”
Following the recommendations of his administration’s medical advisers, Trump urged a shutdown of the nation’s economy in mid-March to stop the spread of the coronavirus. In remarks to Republican delegates Monday in Charlotte, the president credited the policy with saving millions of lives. But since early May, Trump has urged state and local governments to lift restrictions on economic activities and focus on resuscitating the economy, often saying that the pandemic would soon “disappear.”
Paired with his strong support for opening the public schools for on-campus and in-person instruction to relieve parents frustrated by distance learning, the president is convinced this message is a political winner. The approach has yet to boost support for Trump’s management of the coronavirus or improve his reelection prospects, especially after a summer that saw COVID-19 resurgent across the Sunbelt and in states such as California.
The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-24--Republicans cement Trump and Pence as their ticket for the 2020 election

CHARLOTTE , North Carolina — Republicans have renominated President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence as the GOP 's standard-bearers for the 2020 general election .
`` This is a historic moment as we make official the nomination of Donald Trump and Mike Pence as our nominees for president and vice president of the United States , '' Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said Monday .
The nominations of Trump and Pence were approved by 336 Republican convention delegates gathered in-person at North Carolina 's Charlotte Convention Center .
More than 2,500 delegates were expected to descend on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic forced organizers to scuttle two year 's worth of planning so they could adhere to virus-related crowd restrictions .
`` Our party is unified , our supporters are energized , and now , we will go forward confident in our cause of reelecting President Trump , '' McDaniel told the party faithful 70 days before Election Day .
The 2020 Republican National Convention 's roll-call vote in Charlotte precedes four nights of prime-time TV programming , anchored from Washington , D.C. Trump is expected to appear every night , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gaetz , Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan , former U.N .
Ambassador Nikki Haley , as well as Donald Trump Jr. and his partner , former Fox News personality Kimberly Guilfoyle .
McDaniel previewed the broadcast , comparing the lineup to last week 's Democratic convention and its `` depressing doom and gloom . ''
`` It was short on substance , but it was a masterpiece in fiction about President Trump 's record and what he has accomplished for the American people , '' she said .
`` Our convention is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hollywood celebrities , who are going to help tell the great American story and how President Trump 's policies have made their lives better . ''
This cycle 's televised convention will air Monday to Thursday , 9-11 p.m .

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — Republicans have renominated President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence as the GOP's standard-bearers for the 2020 general election.
"This is a historic moment as we make official the nomination of Donald Trump and Mike Pence as our nominees for president and vice president of the United States," Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said Monday.
The nominations of Trump and Pence were approved by 336 Republican convention delegates gathered in-person at North Carolina's Charlotte Convention Center. More than 2,500 delegates were expected to descend on the city for the quadrennial event, but the coronavirus pandemic forced organizers to scuttle two year's worth of planning so they could adhere to virus-related crowd restrictions.
"Our party is unified, our supporters are energized, and now, we will go forward confident in our cause of reelecting President Trump," McDaniel told the party faithful 70 days before Election Day.
The 2020 Republican National Convention's roll-call vote in Charlotte precedes four nights of prime-time TV programming, anchored from Washington, D.C. Trump is expected to appear every night, but Monday's speakers include Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, as well as Donald Trump Jr. and his partner, former Fox News personality Kimberly Guilfoyle.
McDaniel previewed the broadcast, comparing the lineup to last week's Democratic convention and its "depressing doom and gloom."
"It was short on substance, but it was a masterpiece in fiction about President Trump's record and what he has accomplished for the American people," she said. "Our convention is going to feature hardworking, everyday Americans, not Hollywood celebrities, who are going to help tell the great American story and how President Trump's policies have made their lives better."
This cycle's televised convention will air Monday to Thursday.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-24--Destined for character attacks: A national history of ugly rhetoric

At the Democratic National Convention last week , it became clear that the Democrats are messaging on character .
In former first lady Michelle Obama ’ s speech on Monday night , she emphatically argued that the United States is “ a nation that 's underperforming , not simply on matters of policy but on matters of character.
” She targeted her attack later , saying that “ Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country .
He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job , but he is clearly in over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finished , “ It is what it is.
” As a characteristic of human thinking , we tend to believe in the uniqueness of our time .
This mindset dominates our discussion of politics , too .
We assume that we live during the nastiest , ugliest , and most uncivilized period of American politics .
Are the nonstop character attacks in presidential politics and elections worse than ever ?
Not really , no .
In fact , vicious character attacks against presidential candidates are as old as campaigns themselves .
During the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rivals John Adams and Thomas Jefferson openly smeared the opposite candidate .
Insults such as “ hypocrite , ” “ criminal , ” “ tyrant , ” “ hideous hermaphroditical character , ” “ libertine , ” and “ anarchist ” represent just a short list of what was written or publicly said .
Abraham Lincoln six decades later was mercilessly attacked in papers and pamphlets with mockeries calling him an “ ape , ” a “ baboon , ” a “ monster , ” an “ idiot , ” and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the horse-swapper , and the night man.
” A rich and growing database of character attacks that our research group has been accumulating shows that character assassination is not limited to personal insults or cheap shots .
For centuries , character attacks have involved deliberate misquoting , gross exaggerations , anonymous lies , accusations of immorality , conspiracy rumors , falsifications , or even vandalism against presidents ’ images .
Campaigning is an art of calculation and intuition .
It seems a simple task : As a candidate , you design a platform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign on your message , and try to get elected .
Sure , you can criticize your opponent ’ s policy priorities .
So why would you attack other candidates ’ character and personality ?
The answer is straightforward : because character attacks work .
Why ?
Character attacks are effective because they first and foremost create confusion among the public .
When fake letters attributed to George Washington were published in 1776 , they cast him as a cowardly , scared , and neurotic man .
The authors of these fakes did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emotionally .
Their goal was to discourage his supporters within the Army and among the population by portraying Washington as spineless and morally weak .
Character attacks can also sway the undecided .
When Franklin D. Roosevelt ’ s opponents relentlessly attacked him in 1944 for the alleged inappropriate use of the U.S. Navy for personal business , such as taking care of his dog Fala , the goal was not to “ convert ” FDR supporters but to scoop a few uncommitted voters .
If a voter is uncertain , even a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commitment .
Character attacks can also mobilize the base of the attacking side .
They may appear unpleasant , wrong , and even disgusting in the eyes of many , but if tailored to people already opposed to a candidate , they can work .
George H.W .
Bush in 1992 was persistently ridiculed as being aloof and out of touch with ordinary people after he had been visibly amazed by an electronic scanner in a supermarket .
Opponents thought that if this old man does not know how scanners work , how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Research shows that supporters tend to ignore the attacks against their candidates .
Opponents , on the other hand , get more encouraged to vote their way .
A candidate ’ s origin , gender , social status , religion , professional affiliation , and private life are all easy themes of character attacks .
Using an attack to exploit a candidate ’ s family issues , past relationships , or behavioral traits , including mental health , could be effective , too .
Presidents Ronald Reagan , Richard Nixon , Bill Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such attacks .
With a few people here and a few people there , a sliver of doubt in an unsure supporter or an undecided voter caused by a character attack may affect these peoples ’ voting preferences and intentions .
Even the smallest decline of public support for a candidate or increase of support for another can be judged as a character-attack success .
Character attacks , then , as are old as American democracy itself .
As the conventions continue , we ’ ll undoubtedly see more character attacks but also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee Joe Biden ’ s character later .
Michelle Obama , for example , described Biden this way , “ He is a profoundly decent man , guided by faith … He will tell the truth and trust science.
” Will the Republicans focus on character , too ?
Will they continue attacking Biden or guard President Trump ’ s reputation against the attacks ?
We will find out this week .
Eric Shiraev is a professor of political science at George Mason University .
Jennifer Keohane is a professor of communication at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working as part of the Character Assassination and Reputation Politics research lab .

At the Democratic National Convention last week, it became clear that the Democrats are messaging on character. In former first lady Michelle Obama’s speech on Monday night, she emphatically argued that the United States is “a nation that's underperforming, not simply on matters of policy but on matters of character.”
She targeted her attack later, saying that “Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head.” She paused, then finished, “It is what it is.”
As a characteristic of human thinking, we tend to believe in the uniqueness of our time. This mindset dominates our discussion of politics, too. We assume that we live during the nastiest, ugliest, and most uncivilized period of American politics. Are the nonstop character attacks in presidential politics and elections worse than ever?
Not really, no.
In fact, vicious character attacks against presidential candidates are as old as campaigns themselves. During the 1800 presidential campaign, pamphlet writers for the rivals John Adams and Thomas Jefferson openly smeared the opposite candidate. Insults such as “hypocrite,” “criminal,” “tyrant,” “hideous hermaphroditical character,” “libertine,” and “anarchist” represent just a short list of what was written or publicly said. Abraham Lincoln six decades later was mercilessly attacked in papers and pamphlets with mockeries calling him an “ape,” a “baboon,” a “monster,” an “idiot,” and a “cross between the nutmeg dealer, the horse-swapper, and the night man.”
A rich and growing database of character attacks that our research group has been accumulating shows that character assassination is not limited to personal insults or cheap shots. For centuries, character attacks have involved deliberate misquoting, gross exaggerations, anonymous lies, accusations of immorality, conspiracy rumors, falsifications, or even vandalism against presidents’ images.
Campaigning is an art of calculation and intuition. It seems a simple task: As a candidate, you design a platform, explain it to the voter, campaign on your message, and try to get elected. Sure, you can criticize your opponent’s policy priorities. So why would you attack other candidates’ character and personality? The answer is straightforward: because character attacks work.
Why? Character attacks are effective because they first and foremost create confusion among the public. When fake letters attributed to George Washington were published in 1776, they cast him as a cowardly, scared, and neurotic man. The authors of these fakes did not try to hurt the future president emotionally. Their goal was to discourage his supporters within the Army and among the population by portraying Washington as spineless and morally weak.
Character attacks can also sway the undecided. When Franklin D. Roosevelt’s opponents relentlessly attacked him in 1944 for the alleged inappropriate use of the U.S. Navy for personal business, such as taking care of his dog Fala, the goal was not to “convert” FDR supporters but to scoop a few uncommitted voters. If a voter is uncertain, even a small allegation could help in creating a commitment.
Character attacks can also mobilize the base of the attacking side. They may appear unpleasant, wrong, and even disgusting in the eyes of many, but if tailored to people already opposed to a candidate, they can work. George H.W. Bush in 1992 was persistently ridiculed as being aloof and out of touch with ordinary people after he had been visibly amazed by an electronic scanner in a supermarket. Opponents thought that if this old man does not know how scanners work, how could he possibly tackle national problems? Research shows that supporters tend to ignore the attacks against their candidates. Opponents, on the other hand, get more encouraged to vote their way.
A candidate’s origin, gender, social status, religion, professional affiliation, and private life are all easy themes of character attacks. Using an attack to exploit a candidate’s family issues, past relationships, or behavioral traits, including mental health, could be effective, too. Presidents Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama experienced plenty of such attacks.
With a few people here and a few people there, a sliver of doubt in an unsure supporter or an undecided voter caused by a character attack may affect these peoples’ voting preferences and intentions. Even the smallest decline of public support for a candidate or increase of support for another can be judged as a character-attack success.
Character attacks, then, as are old as American democracy itself. As the conventions continue, we’ll undoubtedly see more character attacks but also more attempts to shore up Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s character later. Michelle Obama, for example, described Biden this way, “He is a profoundly decent man, guided by faith … He will tell the truth and trust science.” Will the Republicans focus on character, too? Will they continue attacking Biden or guard President Trump’s reputation against the attacks? We will find out this week.
Eric Shiraev is a professor of political science at George Mason University. Jennifer Keohane is a professor of communication at the University of Baltimore. Both are working as part of the Character Assassination and Reputation Politics research lab.