Election 2024: Increased importance on RNC after Trump assassination attempt

DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Television Iowa Capitol Bureau) - The race for the White House is now officially underway for Republicans.

Longtime Iowa Republican political operative Nicole Schlinger says it’s an important time to communicate the party’s vision to voters. “It’s important to make sure that you, that you’re telling your case in the most succinct, concise way that’s going to get the broadest reach amongst the people you need to reach and that’s folks who are concerned about things like crime and inflation and immigration,” Schlinger said.

Schlinger says the convention is also a time to fire up their delegates, who are often campaign volunteers and supporters.

“These are the people who make our party tick and run on a grassroots basis. Oftentimes they’re toiling behind the scenes in thankless volunteer roles. This is our opportunity to go an get energized,” Schlinger said.

University of Iowa Political Science Professor Tim Hagle says that all things considered, conventions aren’t typically all that important to voters. Throughout the day there are speeches from various political figures who often aren’t very well known and won’t make much news. There’s also no speculation on who the presidential nominee will be on the Republican side this year. Hagle says this year the convention may be important given the assassination attempt on Former President Donald Trump on Saturday.

If you’re planning to watch, here’s what Hagle says will be something to look out for. “Given the events on Saturday, that people will tune in to see will how if at all will the speakers change their rhetoric, change their tone if at all. How are they going to approach this issue if they do at all? Or are they going to stick to the message and, you know, talk about economics and policy and things of that nature?” Hagle said.

This year, two prominent Iowa Republicans – state Republican Party Chair Jeff Kaufmann and Attorney General Brenna Bird are being given speaking roles. “It seems to suggest that Trump is still happy with Iowa. You know, despite the fact that, you know, the caucus. He won the caucuses handily obviously but that Reynolds didn’t endorse him initially so maybe he doesn’t have any particular ill will about that,” Hagle said.

Hagle says former President Trump announcing Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate generates interest since he waited to do that until the convention started.

Hagle says parties usually get a bump in the polls after their convention but it doesn’t last long. He says one thing to watch is whether the assassination attempt on Trump boosts the polls a little longer than normal after the convention.

How to watch:

ABC News will have convention coverage for an hour each night through Thursday beginning at 9:00 p.m. CST.

NBC News will air convention coverage for two hours each night through Thursday beginning at 8 p.m. CST. Monday, convention coverage starts a little later as NBC is airing a special sit-down interview with President Biden at 8:00 p.m.

FOX is only airing the RNC on Wednesday and Thursday and will do so during their primetime lineup.

CBS will air coverage beginning at 9:00 p.m. CST.

Streaming: Viewers can watch live coverage from our Local News Live and Washington Bureau teams in Milwaukee on their local Gray Television station streaming and mobile apps. Coverage begins at 8:00 p.m. CST and runs until 10:00.

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Conner Hendricks covers state government and politics for Gray Television-owned stations in Iowa. Email him at [email protected]; and follow him on Facebook at Conner Hendricks TV or on X/Twitter @ConnerReports.

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