Progressives irked by spotlight on GOP at Dem convention

WASHINGTON (AP) — For nearly three minutes at this week’s Democratic National Convention, Cindy McCain recounted Joe Biden’s friendship with her late husband, John McCain, the Arizona senator and former Republican presidential candidate. Colin Powell, President George W. Bush’s secretary of state, praised Biden for two minutes. Former GOP Govs. John Kasich of Ohio and Christine Todd Whitman of New Jersey also got prominent speaking slots.

Meanwhile, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of the most dynamic young stars of the Democratic Party, spoke for just 60 seconds.

The GOP’s prominent billing reflects one of Biden’s core arguments in the closing months of the campaign: He can appeal to and work with Republicans to bring stability to a Washington paralyzed by the chaos of Donald Trump’s presidency. But progressive Democrats seeking to exert influence over Biden argue that such outreach risks undermining the party’s principles and harkens back to an era of bipartisan cooperation that no longer exists.