Coronavirus may force Trump nominating convention outdoors
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[July 15, 2020]
By Steve Holland and Jeff Mason
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans are
planning to move their convention formally nominating President Donald
Trump for a second White House term from an indoor arena to an outdoor
venue as Florida's coronavirus cases surge, two party sources familiar
with the conversations said on Tuesday.
They said the plan, which Trump tentatively accepted on Monday during a
White House meeting with top Republican National Committee (RNC)
officials, emerged as the party scrambles to host a large-scale event
next month amid the health crisis.
"We're not blind to the health concerns in Florida," a Republican
official said. "But at the same time, we're committed to holding an
in-person celebration of the president's nomination."
Organizers had planned to host the Aug. 24-27 convention at VyStar
Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. They now will move the
main events - including Trump's acceptance speech - to one of two
outdoor arenas in the area, the two Republican sources said.
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Sources emphasized the plans still could change. The RNC declined to
comment.
Skepticism has grown about the likelihood of a full-scale convention,
with some members of Congress saying they will skip it and some donors
wary of bankrolling an event in a state with rising infections.
Democrats are planning a mostly virtual convention.
Florida's virus count has soared since it was chosen to host the
convention after Trump scrapped long-laid plans to accept the party's
nomination in Charlotte, North Carolina. That state's governor, a
Democrat, would not commit to allowing large gatherings with
restrictions in place because of the pandemic.
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![](../images/071520PICS/news_r33.jpg)
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a post
Republican Convention campaign event in Cleveland, Ohio, July 22,
2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegrio
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Health officials reported the highest daily increase of deaths in
Florida residents from COVID-19 on Tuesday. On Sunday, the state
reported more than 15,000 new cases, marking the highest single-day
total of known cases in any state.
Trump's desire for large rallies has been stymied by the virus.
"He wants rallies but he only wants rallies if they're filled and
over-capacity, and at the same time we’re seeing a surge in the
virus," said a former senior administration official close to the
White House. "That's going to be a tough square to circle. I don't
know that there is a good answer."
(Reporting By Steve Holland and Jeff Mason; additional reporting and
writing by Jarrett Renshaw; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Howard
Goller)
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