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CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) There are some who say political conventions are dinosaur events. These used to be the forums where parties would pick their political nominees. The days of the smoke-filled back rooms are over.
The only political drama about the Republican convention, which opens today in Milwaukee, is who Donald Trump’s running mate will be. The VP announcement also tells us something about the candidate and his campaign. Trump has said for weeks now that he’s made up his mind for VP. Surely over the last few days, Trump has told his choice that he’s the one. And certainly that person has shared the news with his immediate family. The fact that it hasn’t leaked yet shows that Trump’s campaign is much more disciplined than it was 4 and 8 years ago. That kind of discipline is necessary for victory in the fall.
I’ve come to favor Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, who was a Trump candidate when he won his senate seat. He’s an excellent debater, and is the most conservative of the choices. I also have no objection to North Dakota Governor Doug Bergam and Florida Senator Marco Rubio. New York Congresswoman Elise Steffanik would be a fine choice too, although she has apparently faded from consideration.
WISN radio host Mark Belling says he would not be surprised if Joe Biden drops out during or immediately after the GOP convention. He may be right. Democrats can’t afford another 2 or 3-point swing in the polls, and something that overshadows Donald Trump may be the only way to change the narrative.
The only political event that gets so much media coverage are inaugural addresses and states of the union… and those are one-man shows, dominated by the president. Conventions are more of a shared platform.
The convention is where rising political stars appear. Barak Obama, then with only two years of experience in Washington, put himself on the national stage in 2004. Ronald Reagan had Republican delegates saying they picked the wrong candidate when he spoke at Gerald Ford’s convention in 1976. Someone will stake their claim to higher office by introducing themself from the debate podium over the next four days. I have no idea who it will be, but I’ll be watching.
Chris Conley
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