Biden Urges Democratic Party to Start Preparing for Virtual Convention
While the coronavirus wreaks havoc on the United States, former Vice President Joe Biden is still preparing for the 2020 presidential election.
Biden is suggesting Democrats start preparing for a different approach to the election as the Democratic National Committee (DNC) pushed the nominating convention back to the week of August 17, as IJR previously reported.
DNC Chairman Tom Perez made a statement on the decision.
“Leadership means being able to adapt, and that’s exactly what our party is doing,” Perez said.
Biden acknowledged the need for a convention but suggested it may be necessary to do it in a safe way.
“Well, we’re going to have to do a convention, may have to do a virtual convention,” Biden said. “We may not be able to put 10, 20, 30,000 people in one place and that’s very possible.”
Watch his comments below:
Joe Biden tells @GStephanopoulos that holding the Democratic convention is “necessary,” but Democrats “may have to do a “virtual” convention amid the COVID-19 threat.
“We may not be able to put 10, 20, 30,000 people in one place and that’s very possible.” https://t.co/IWEd5ppDTB pic.twitter.com/fZUTavPNZN
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) April 5, 2020
Biden went on to explain the measures the nation needs to take between now and then to help mitigate the effects of the coronavirus. He suggested government officials listen to health experts.
Biden discussed how crises have never stopped the United States from practicing democracy.
“We can both have a democracy and elections and at the same time correct the public health,” Biden said. “But I think it’s time we start thinking about how we’re going to hold elections.”
When asked if it was wise to hold a convention, Biden reiterated the government pay attention to the science.
“Well I think they should just follow the science,” Biden said. “Whatever the science says is what we should do.”
The candidates have held virtual events as opposed to in-person rallies. President Donald Trump has also moved his events online.
The latest data shows the United States has reported 321,762 cases and 9,132 deaths, as of Sunday afternoon.
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