Vice President Mike Pence said President Donald Trump is making a "very reasonable request" to North Carolina's Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper with his warnings Monday to move the Republican National Convention if the governor cannot guarantee the party will be allowed to have "full attendance" upon concerns about the spread of coronavirus.
"There are states around the country, we think of Texas, we think of Florida, Georgia, the last two states I visited last week that have made tremendous progress on reopening their communities and reopening their economies," Pence told Fox News' "Fox and Friends."
"I think the president is absolutely intent on ensuring that as we see our nation continue to make steady progress on putting the coronavirus epidemic in the past that come this August, we'll be able to come together in a safe and responsible venue and renominate President Donald Trump for four more years," he added.
The convention is scheduled to open the week of Aug. 24 in Charlotte, N.C., and Pence said decisions must be made now because of the preparations necessary in pulling together a convention, and, "moving the national convention to a state that is further along on reopening and can say with confidence we can gather there."
"We all want to be in Charlotte," said Pence. "We love North Carolina, but having a sense now is absolutely essential because of the immense preparations that are involved and we look forward to working with Gov. Cooper (and) getting a swift response."
Trump earlier this month accused Cooper of "playing politics," with the convention and reopening North Carolina, reports The Charlotte Observer and warned that it would be "bad for them" if the convention needed to be delayed, and a spokesperson for the governor responded that the state was merely following the White House's guidelines for reopening.
The Democratic National Committee already has moved its convention, planned for Milwaulkee, from July to August, but is still grappling with whether to hold a virtual event or a live one. Republicans, however, for the most part have said they want a live convention.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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