WASHINGTON (SPECTRUM NEWS) — The spotlight from the 2020 Democratic National Convention's national stage has noticeably sparse on Milwaukee.

The city was chosen to host back in March of 2019 but is now feeling the impact of taking on that responsibility during a pandemic.

“I think night one struck me. There wasn’t a view of the Milwaukee lakefront or anything about Milwaukee,” said Jeff Mayers, President of wispolitics.com. “And then I don’t think there was a mention — if there was, I missed it — of Milwaukee or Wisconsin until Congresswoman Gwen Moore was introduced.”

Just over a year ago, prospects looked good for the businesses throughout the city to receive an economic boost. But the COVID-19 outbreak changed plans and for the past few days, many of those streets outside of those same businesses were empty. 

Mayers said that, coupled with the lack of significant virtual fanfare for the city during the program, has been less of a shot in the arm and more of a body blow.

“The photo and the video of the Milwaukee video sites does not say excitement and ‘whoa, hey, look at the big party in Milwaukee,’” said Mayers. “There isn’t a big party in Milwaukee and the bars and restaurants aren’t afraid to admit it.”

But could this also hurt Democrats in November? Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden adjusted his plans to give his acceptance speech at the Wisconsin Center when the DNC announced the move to online-only. Weeks later, he announced he would make the address in Delaware instead.

President Donald Trump narrowly clinched the state in 2016 partly because of then-Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s absence.

“I don’t think it’s the most crucial thing in order for Democrats to win Wisconsin,” said Mayers. “I think there are a lot of other things but I think it is a symbolic thing that checks the box. I think at some point they got to try to do it.”​

WisPolitics is a partner of Spectrum News 1.