Braun commits to Jacksonville GOP convention

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Fort Wayne's NBC) - Indiana U.S. Sen. Mike Braun says he will be in Jacksonville when his party meets to formally nominate Pres. Donald Trump for a second term.

In a Twitter post, Braun noted that Trump helped ensure a Republican majority in the Senate in 2018 -- the year he defeated incumbent Joe Donnelly in a closely watched contest.

Braun ended his tweet with a hashtag to "Keep America Great."

Over the weekend, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration said it was "too early to tell" if the convention could be held safely, leading to speculation that organizers might have to reconsider.

The Democratic Party has already moved away from a massive in-person gathering and will hold what it calls a "virtual convention" next month.

GOP officials said their convention attendees would undergo daily COVID-19 screenings before they entered the main area for the gathering.

The event was initially to be held in Charlotte, but most of the proceedings were moved to Jacksonville because Florida was expected to enact fewer restrictions on large events.

The state, however, has experienced a surge in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks.

Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, who is 86, and Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander, who is 80, are staying away as the coronavirus pandemic spikes in Florida and takes a higher toll on older people.

Grassley was explicit, saying he's skipping the gathering “because of the virus.”

Alexander was less so. His office acknowledged in a statement that choices must be made and said the senator believes the seats "should be reserved for those who have not had that privilege” of attending the event.