Conventions Are Still On ... For Now

Emily Glazer and John McCormick at The Wall Street Journal:

When the Democratic National Committee decided to move its convention up to mid-July—roughly two weeks earlier than in 2016—it was billed as a way to give the party’s nominee more time to focus on President Trump and spend general election dollars earlier.

The coronavirus pandemic is making that move seem riskier in retrospect, as Democrats face the possibility that much of the nation will be hunkered down for weeks or months to come. The earlier timetable is placing greater pressure on the party to decide whether the convention will move forward as planned.

Organizers of the Milwaukee gathering held hastily scheduled calls last week with groups involved in planning to discuss contingency scenarios, people familiar with the discussions said. Options mentioned on some of the calls included shortening the four-day convention by a day or holding a mostly remote event.

DNC spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa said the committee is “not considering a rules change at this time,” which would be required for a remote option to move forward. Chairman Tom Perez also said earlier this month that such changes weren’t in the works.

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Blair Ellis, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Convention planned for late August in Charlotte, N.C., declined to answer questions about whether specific contingency plans are being discussed or donors are asking questions. That gathering is also expected to draw about 50,000 people.