OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) – As Bernie Sanders suspends his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination – the landscape for the November election is becoming somewhat clearer here in Wisconsin.
While the Democratic National Convention is being pushed until August due to concerns over COVID-19, Milwaukee is still set to host the event.
“Right now, politics takes a backseat to everyone staying safe. So I hope we can re-emerge sometime in the summer and things will go back a little bit closer to normal,” says UW Oshkosh Political Science Professor Dr. David Siemers.
Joe Biden is widely presumed to become the Democratic challenger to President Donald Trump – but Wisconsin will likely see more activity from the party, no matter who is named as their final nominee.
“The way things went down in 2016 was significantly different than the way things are going down in 2020,” Siemers says, “I think you learn from past mistakes, and Hillary Clinton not appearing here was definitely a mistake.”
But Siemers also believes Sanders might also make a different move than he did in 2016, when he didn’t back the eventual nominee.
“One of the advantages for Biden in this scenario is that Bernie Sanders is not going to be lukewarm about his interest in endorsing Biden,” Siemers says.
An in-person Democratic National Convention – as opposed to a potential virtual convention – could also have a major impact on the election, especially here in Wisconsin.
“If they do not have a face-to-face convention, then they don’t get a huge weeklong advertisement for themselves,” Siemers tells WTAQ News, “Probably 93% of people have made up their mind already and it’s a very narrow section of people who are A) Persuadable, or B) You can induce them either to stay home or come out to the polls.”
Another major factor in the election could also be the timing of that convention. The date being pushed back also cuts into the amount of time candidates will have to campaign in a general election for president.
“One of the beneficial changes could be that the presidential campaign is, in earnest, only two-plus months,” Siemers says, “That would be a good thing for our country. Congress and the President need to concentrate on relief bills and doing the best that they can for the American people at the moment.”
While there are concerns regarding the expected candidates on both sides of the ballot, Siemers points out that many of those talking points are very similar. But due to the potential dangers of COVID-19 for older individuals, it’s important to take a look at those around the candidates.
“You just don’t know and you need someone to be a backup. That’s what the vice presidency is for,” Siemers explains.
He expects Biden to make an announcement on a potential running mate within the next few weeks.
