Trump's goal for the Republican convention is to prove Biden is too extreme for suburban voters

President will try convincing suburban voters that Joe Biden and Democrats are too corrupt and 'socialist' to be given power even as he shoots for upbeat RNC, writes Washington Bureau Chief John T Bennett

Donald Trump speaks at the truncated in-person portion of the Republican National Convention in Charlotte. REUTERS (REUTERS)

For Donald Trump, the mission over the next four nights of a Republican National Convention that is all about him is clear: convince enough suburban white voters that Joe Biden is too extreme for their moderate tastes.

The most controversial president in modern US history does not have to draw even with the former vice president and Democratic presidential nominee by the time the GOP convention wraps late on Thursday night. He merely has to pick up a few percentage points in a half dozen or so battleground states.

The strategy is to tighten the race with a series of damaging blows to Mr Biden, not win it with a single haymaker punch.