Republican convention: Donald Trump showcases optimism, hope

Republicans hope this week’s convention will mark the start of Donald Trump’s political comeback against Joe Biden.

The Republican Convention this week will showcase a message of optimism and hope for America which Republicans believe will mark the start of Donald Trump’s political comeback against his opponent Joe Biden.

Mr Trump will be renominated by his party Tuesday (AEST) to kickstart the four day convention which Republicans say will be starkly different from the “doom-and-gloom” portrait of the US painted by Mr Biden and Democrats at last week’s Democrat Convention.

“I think we’re going to see something that is going to be very uplifting and positive, that’s what I’d like it to be,” Mr Trump said at the weekend.

Hundreds of boaters parade on Lake Winnipesaukee to support Donald Trump in Laconia, New Hampshire. Picture: AFP.

The president sought to inject some positive news ahead of the Convention on Monday (AEST) by announcing that the FDA had approved the emergency authorisation of convalescent plasma for COVID-19.

The plasma, rich in antibodies, is derived from patients who have survived COVID-19 and it has already been used on more than 70,000 COVID-19 patients with mostly good results.

Mr Trump described the FDA approval, which will expand the use of the plasma treatment, as a “truly historic announcement” that would “save countless lives.”

The convention will feature headline speakers each night with the president’s son Donald Trump Jr and the former ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley speaking on the first night.

On Wednesday (AEST) First Lady Melania Trump will speak, as will Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and two of Mr Trump’s children Eric Trump and Tiffany Trump.

Excited to honor history & celebrate the future in our beautiful @WhiteHouse Rose Garden this evening. Thank you to all who helped renew this iconic & truly gorgeous space. pic.twitter.com/ggiqLkdGbw

— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) August 22, 2020

On Thursday Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen will speak as will the president’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump and top adviser Kellyanne Conway.

Mr Trump will give his nomination acceptance speech on Friday (AEST) at the White House where he will be introduced by his daughter Ivanka.

“The big contrast you will see between the Democrats’ doom-and-gloom Donald Trump obsessed convention will be a convention focused on real people and their stories, how the policies of the Trump administration have lifted their lives, and then an aspirational vision towards the next four years,” said the Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel.

Mr Trump, who will speak on each of the four nights, is under pressure to persuade Americans that he has a positive plan for the nation at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 175,000 Americans and the economy is in recession.

Supporters on Lake Winnipesaukee in Laconia, New Hampshire. Picture: AFP.

Unlike the Democrat Convention which featured speeches by each former Democrat president, the only surviving Republican former president, George W Bush, will not be speaking. Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney will also not be speaking, having become a Trump critic in recent years.

Among the stories which the Republicans plan to showcase is that of Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the Missouri couple who face felony charges after brandishing weapons against black protesters in June – charges which outraged pro-gun Republicans.

It will also feature teenager Nicholas Sandmann whose videoed confrontation with a Native American protester in Washington last year went viral.

The convention will portray the former Vice President as a native of the radical left of the Democrat Party and someone whose mental faculties are not up to the job of president.

The convention will focus on law and order, with the president portraying himself as tougher on law and order than Democrats who he says have allowed protesters and rioters to overrun many large Democrat-run cities like Portland and Chicago.

Each night a Latino speaker will talk about the dangers of socialism in their home country and about Mr Trump’s commitment to banish socialism in the US.

The convention will be mostly virtual but there will be some in-person events including a formal roll call by 336 delegates at the convention centre in Charlotte, North Carolina on Tuesday to renominate the president.

A limited live audience is also expected to watch Mr Trump’s speech at the White House and Mr Pence’s speech at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, the site of the 1812 battle that is described in the national anthem The Star Spangled Banner.

Republican strategists believe the Convention could provide the springboard which Mr Trump needs to give momentum to his election campaign and make him more competitive against Mr Biden.

Mr Biden currently enjoys a solid but not unbeatable advantage against Mr Trump, with a 7.6 point lead nationally according to the RealClear Politics average of polls. This includes leads of between 5 and 6.7 points in key battleground states such as Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Florida.

Republican point out that Mr Trump was also behind in the polls at this stage in 2016 but still recovered to defeat Hillary Clinton.

Cameron Stewart is also US Contributor for Sky News Australia