Milwaukee mayor: Biden won't accept nomination here

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden will not travel to Milwaukee to accept his party's White House nomination because of concerns over the coronavirus.

Party officials confirmed the change in plans on Wednesday.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says that he's disappointed, but understands the decision given the circumstances.

"We can't forget the fact that we are in the middle of a pandemic," he said during a Zoom briefing on Wednesday. "As disappointed as I am that we can't show off the city, our priorities have to be on helping people get their lives back in order. And that means working our way through the COVID-19 crisis."

The move is the latest example of the pandemic's sweeping effects on the 2020 presidential election and the latest blow to traditional party nominating conventions that historically have marked the start of fall general election campaigns.

Neither the Biden campaign nor Democratic National Committee officials offered details about how Biden might accept the nomination.

A DNC official said all speakers and presenters for the Aug. 17-24 convention are now expected to speak from remote locations.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms. But it can cause severe symptoms in and be fatal for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems.

(Representative Image)