ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.</s>TAPPER: And welcome to THE LEAD. I'm Jake Tapper. We begin this hour with breaking news in our 2020 LEAD. In a matter of hours the Democratic National Convention is set to kick off from virtually everywhere really. The deadly coronavirus pandemic has forced the Democratic Party to scrap a crowded convention in Milwaukee. Instead, there will be four nights of speeches and performances from locations across the country, making the pitch for a Biden presidency before Biden formally accepts the nomination later this week. Among the top speakers this evening, former first lady Michelle Obama, Biden primary rival Senator Bernie Sanders, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn of South Carolina. A Republican, former Ohio Governor Jan Kasich, will also speak in support of Biden today with tonight's focus on three crises facing the nation right now. Racial injustice, the coronavirus pandemic, and the economic catastrophe as a result of the pandemic. CNN' senior Washington correspondent Jeff Zeleny joins us now from Vice President Biden's hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. And Jeff, obviously, this is an unusual convention. How are Democrats hoping to generate any enthusiasm without crowds?</s>JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jake, the enthusiasm the Democrats hope to inspire is the enthusiasm they believe that is driving people to the polls and being excited about the election. It is on the issues. As you mention, coronavirus, racial injustice, the economy as well. So, this is going to be a much more serious convention in the sense that there is not going to be the applause, at least from inside one room. But there is still excitement that we saw throughout this primary campaign that led us to this point.
Democratic National Convention Begins Tonight.