It was the first day of the new normal in American politics and it was a poor substitute for the real thing.
The streets and the bars of Milwaukee were all but empty when they should have been heaving with journalists and political junkies for the big party known as the Democratic National Convention. The 17,000 seat Fiserv Forum which would have hosted Joe Biden and the roars of the Democrat faithful, stood silent.
Instead, Milwaukee was all but abandoned by political operatives except a small group of technicians toiling at the modest Wisconsin Center in the city’s downtown to help broadcast to the nation a two hour made-for-TV package of speeches, videos and music.
So it was that on Tuesday (AEST) Americans tuned in to watch something they never imagined they would ever see – a virtual presidential nominating convention with no balloons, crowds, hoopla or raw passion.
It was forced on the country by the rampant coronavirus pandemic but no matter how hard the technicians tried, the whole Democrat show on this first day of the four-day convention just ended up feeling scripted and contrived.
Many of the speeches from around the country were prerecorded, often from the speaker’s homes, including the keynote speech by Michelle Obama. The former First Lady’s speech was recorded so long ago that it was finished before Kamala Harris was chosen as Biden’s running mate last week. It was a strong speech and the highlight of an otherwise dull night, but so much for spontaneity.
Actress Eva Longoria anchored the first night throwing up a program dripping with patriotism and diversity but lacking any sense of emotion. She conducted a series of clunky and surprisingly uninspiring interviews with Americans about their businesses, their schools, their life and their health, explaining why they will vote for Biden. The speeches, the videos and the music were littered with editing glitches and awkward silences which shows that even the best producers are novices when it comes to this new kind of political show.
The opening night was proof that political speeches are not nearly as fun to watch – or as effective – as they are when there is a big crowd roaring their approval at the best, or the worst, lines.
The big television networks have committed to covering only one of the two hours each night, but without the real life drama of a real life crowd and live speeches, one wonders if they – or their audience – will all last the distance.
The Republicans will have the same problem for their virtual convention next week, but they will be watching the Democrats closely to see what they get right and wrong.
Either way, it should not be a precedent for political campaigning in the future. People and passion are what brings a campaign alive and that’s what will be sorely lacking during this 2020 campaign as we watch pre-taped speeches, staged videos and slick commercials. For voters it must be like eating a cone without the ice-cream.
A coronavirus vaccine, when it comes, will change the world for the better. Let’s hope it also ensures that the 2020 presidential race is the only virtual political campaign of this kind.
Cameron Stewart is also US Contributor for Sky News Australia
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