The U.S. political convention, a presidential campaign ritual dating to the 1830s, is being reinvented on the fly after being short-circuited by the coronavirus pandemic - much like the campaign itself.

Here is a look at how the Democratic and Republican conventions will be different this year - and maybe for campaigns to come.

For Trump, his speech could be a chance to move beyond the debate about his handling of the coronavirus and allow him to present his broad vision for a second term, said Ford O’Connell, a former Florida Republican congressional candidate who consults with the Trump campaign.

“The campaign believes if they can get past that hurdle, it’s easier to make your other points,” he said. “This is the place for Trump to make his case about where he wants to take the country.”

Read more from John Whitesides at Reuters

Republican strategist Ford O’Connell says Democrats expect the national media to throw them softball questions and will 'blame and shame' journalists for asking hard questions.

With just over three months to go until November’s presidential election, Donald Trump is trying a new tactic: humility.

With more and more national opinion polls giving Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, a widening lead over Mr Trump, the president returned to the White House podium last week for his first coronavirus press briefing in nearly three months with a markedly different tone.

Ford O’Connell, a Republican strategist who is close to the Trump campaign, said the White House “wants to make the case that [the president] is leading the charge to combat the coronavirus and save American lives”. “It is all about being front and centre on the coronavirus,” Mr O’Connell said. “If President Trump continues to make coronavirus briefings as he did this week, where he is succinct, realistic and informative . . . not only will the key voters he needs come home to him . . . but many other voters will be far more receptive to his messages concerning Biden.”

Read more from Lauren Fedor at the Financial Times 

Donald Trump Jr. and Trump campaign aide Boris Epshteyn retweeted images of Portland burning with a similar message: This is Joe Biden’s America.

Then came the rejoinders: But Donald Trump is president.

Republican strategist Ford O’Connell said Trump needs to keep taking his message straight to the public, with “succinct, realistic, and informative” briefings. “Then not only will key voters come home to him because they will see him as front and center in the battle against the virus, but they and others will be far more receptive to his messages concerning Biden being a figurehead for the far-left of the Democratic Party and the need for law and order in our cities,” O’Connell said.

Read more from W. James Antle III and Rob Crilly at the Washington Examiner

The White House daily coronavirus briefings are back. But this reboot of the spring's hottest television series has shed the supporting cast and thrust President Trump back into his starring role, this time as more of a solo act.

Supporters believe the administration has a compelling story to tell. "From fast-tracking a vaccine to making sure the governors have necessary supplies to delivering needed support to hot spot states around the country to even recommending masks, President Trump is leading the charge to combat the coronavirus and save American lives, but that message is not reaching many voters," O'Connell said. "The reason is simple: Many in the national media, along with the Democratic leadership, have nefariously gaslighted the general population into thinking the bubonic plague is outside their front door and that President Trump is solely to blame."

Read more from W. James Antle III at the Washington Examiner

Democrats are seizing on the recent coronavirus spike in Florida, blaming it on the leadership of President Trump and GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis in a critical swing state that could help decide November's general election. 

“There is no question that the coronavirus has put a damper on President Trump’s reelection plans,” said Ford O’Connell, a Florida-based GOP strategist. 

“If DeSantis wasn’t in charge of the most important swing state in 2020, he wouldn’t be under such a media microscope,” O'Connell added. “The reason is simple: Trump has to win Florida.” 

“I think the reason why Trump has a good shot in Florida is because DeSantis has done a good job protecting seniors in Florida,” O’Connell said. “It’s going to be the seniors that decide whether the winner of this election in Florida, at least, is Joe Biden or Donald Trump.” 

Read more from Julia Manchester at The Hill