Republicans gear up for their convention as Dems struggle over Biden as nominee

BUTLER, Pa. (AP) — Republicans are gearing up for their convention next week while Democrats are still struggling with whether President Joe Biden should stay on as their candidate in the November election.

In a sign of how important Pennsylvania is for both parties, Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump and first lady Jill Biden are all campaigning in the state Saturday.

Ever since President Joe Biden's dismal debate performance Democrats have wrestled with whether he should continue on as their presumptive nominee. Biden has vowed to continue in the race.

He's expected to meet virtually with members of the two largest Democratic caucuses on Capitol Hill as he looks to rebuild momentum for his reelection campaign, even as the number of Democrats calling for him to step aside increases.

The town hall in Philadelphia where Harris is speaking is filled with hundreds of AAPI voters.

A few are wearing shirts that say "Stop Scapegoating Asian Americans."

Democrat U.S. Rep. Judy Chu of California is speaking about discrimination against Asians in American history, including the Chinese Exclusion Act and when Japanese Americans were incarcerated during WWII.

"Because we have a seat at the table, we're pushed for the needs of our communities," she said pointing to passage of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act.

She said Asians went from being the "marginalized to being the margin of victory."

'Let's flex our power'

A Philadelphia town hall hosted by APIAVote, an advocacy group focused on mobilizing Asian American voters, is getting underway.

The first speaker is Nina Ahmad, a Muslim woman from Bangladesh, who is the first Asian American elected to Philadelphia City Council.

"Representation looks like having people at the highest levels of government where impactful decisions are made," she said.

She lists Asian American cabinet members, including the vice president slated to speak shortly, Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su.

"Let's flex our power, " Ahmad said.

Who's speaking at the RNC?

Speakers at next week's Republican National Convention have been announced. The list includes Trump's family members and the men on Trump's vice presidential shortlist.

Other speakers:

1. ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson

2. Singer Lee Greenwood

3. Rapper and model Amber Rose

4. Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White

5. Evangelist Franklin Graham

6. Teamsters President Sean O'Brien

7. Trent Conaway, the mayor of East Palestine, Ohio

8. Trump's attorney, Alina Habba

9. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (Nikki Haley, however, was not invited)

10. Former White House trade advisor Peter Navarro who will be released from prison later this week

11. Former administration officials, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo