Organizers in Florida are racing to prepare Jacksonville for the Republican National Convention, though safety questions are mounting.
“I can't imagine, quite frankly, what they’re going through,” said David Gilbert, CEO of the host committee for the 2016 RNC in Cleveland. “You know, [in 2016] there were some issues along the way, but nothing like what they’d be dealing with now.”
“Nobody knows where we’re going to be 40 days from now,” he added.
In Florida, coronavirus cases are posting near-record highs.
In Duval County, where Jacksonville is located, less than a quarter of hospital ICU beds are available.
And the city’s mayor, Lenny Curry, is in self-quarantine after exposure to the virus.
The city now mandates that masks be worn indoors when social distancing isn't possible, and officials are reportedly considering moving the event to an outdoor stadium.
“We all know this president thrives on big crowds,” Republican strategist Matt Terrill told Newsy.
“In this upcoming convention, the big thing that … [the RNC] need[s] to do is manage expectations,” Terrill said. “Under-promise and over-deliver, in terms of the outcome of the convention.”
What the convention will look like is still anyone’s guess.
At least six senators have said they’re planning on skipping it over coronavirus concerns, and more, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, say they’re still unsure about attending.
