The Republican National Convention enters its third day on Wednesday, with a prime-time speech from Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) set to be the highlight of the day.
Vance is expected to formally accept the party’s nomination for vice president, and other speakers scheduled to appear include Donald Trump Jr., North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum (R-North Dakota) and Rep. Nancy Mace (D-Lausanne).
Here are three things to watch on day three of the Republican National Convention:
Vance’s big moment
Vance will be in the spotlight on Wednesday when he formally accepts the Republican nomination for vice president.
Thursday’s speech will be a key moment for the first-term senator, as he attempts to introduce himself to a key part of the country and articulate Trump’s vision for a second term.
Vance is expected to talk extensively about his background, including his Appalachian childhood, his experiences growing up in poverty and his service in the Marines, as well as how he became one of Trump’s most staunch defenders.
Organizers hope Vance’s message will resonate with working-class Americans, especially in the Rust Belt and battleground states like Pennsylvania.
Wednesday’s speech will be Vance’s first at a political convention.
How violent will the attacks be?
The first day of the convention saw few personal attacks on President Biden or Democrats, as lawmakers from both parties called for restrained rhetoric in the wake of Saturday’s assassination attempt at Trump’s rally.
But by the second day, the attacks became more frequent and, at times, more instinctive.
West Virginia Senate candidate Jim Justice (R-West Virginia) warned that the country would “go completely crazy” if Biden wins in November. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) painted a bleak picture of a crime-ridden America, and former Housing Secretary Ben Carson accused the media of “trying to divide us along lines of race, class and gender rather than uniting us in our common bonds as Americans.”
Trump and his team have said multiple times that in the wake of Saturday’s tragedy they scrapped Thursday’s original speech, rewriting it to be more toned down and to urge unity.
The question is whether other companies will follow suit.
The day’s theme is “Make America Strong Again,” and it will focus on border security and foreign policy, with scheduled speakers including firebrands such as Donald Trump Jr., former acting director of national intelligence Richard Grenell, former Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro, and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.).
Biden’s Countermeasures
For the first time, the Biden campaign is sending both candidates out on the road to compete against the Republican National Convention.
President Biden, who spoke at an NAACP rally on Tuesday, is scheduled to address the Latino community at a UnidosUS event in Nevada on Wednesday.
Vice President Harris will attend a campaign event in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where she is scheduled to speak with former Trump administration official Olivia Troy and Amanda Stratton, a former Republican supporter who has spoken out about the Republican Party’s efforts to strip away abortion rights.
Harris is scheduled to visit North Carolina on Thursday, her seventh visit to the state this year as Democrats seek to win the election in November.
Biden campaign officials have in recent days begun to denounce Trump’s policies following Saturday’s assassination attempt, with Harris accusing him of being the person who would “sign off” on Trump’s second term in office.
