GOP lawmakers from NC, SC urge Cooper to work to keep RNC in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Republican lawmakers from North and South Carolina urged Gov. Roy Cooper to do what it takes to keep the Republican National Convention in Charlotte.

Congressmen Ralph Norman, Dan Bishop and Ted Budd stood in front of the Spectrum Center Tuesday morning and called the Republican National Convention an “economic lifeline.”

They said they were advocating for all the businesses who desperately need the financial boost.

“At a time when 1 million North Carolinians, we include South Carolina as well, just a few miles from here -- lost over 1 million jobs. Small businesses are struggling. We have an incredible opportunity from the RNC to come back from one of the worst economic crises we’ve ever had,” Budd said.

The lawmakers asked Cooper to look past party affiliation and reflect back on the millions of dollars the Democratic National Convention brought to Charlotte 8 years ago.

Channel 9 told you last month, President Donald Trump threatened to move the RNC out of Charlotte if the governor couldn’t promise there could be full attendance at the Spectrum Center.

The coronavirus pandemic has forced organizers to rethink how they’ll welcome so many people inside.

Over the weekend, the RNC committee wrote a letter to the state saying it not only wants 19,000 people at the event but also wants hotels, bars and restaurants to be at full capacity.

The letter said North Carolina needs to tell them by Wednesday if that’s possible.

The RNC said it’s planning to do temperature checks, test people before and during the convention, make masks available and sanitize public areas.

Cooper released a letter Tuesday afternoon saying he cannot guarantee the RNC a full-scale convention in August, but would be willing to discuss a scaled-down event.

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