Here's what you'll see in The Vote:

• Democrats start to panic as Biden slips in the polls

• why the Republican National Convention is succeeding -- and who's speaking tonight

• nasty attacks from the left against convention speakers (Bette Midler on Melania Trump: "She still can't speak English")

• Democratic strategists worry about the "basement campaign" plan

Not good polling news for Joe: no post-convention bounce and a tight race in battleground states.

"Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden saw no bounce in popular support after last week’s Democratic National Convention, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday, pointing to Americans’ hardened political views." (Reuters)

• What's happening: Normally presidential candidates get a "bounce," i.e. an uptick in support, in the polls after their party's convention. But not this year for Joe Biden. As Reuters shared today, his polling numbers have stayed the same -- which is unexpected.

And in the battleground states, the race is tightening up. Despite the left's (and the media's) dreams of big leads for Biden, he's ahead by just "one point in North Carolina, two points in Arizona and three points in both Florida and Pennsylvania," according to The Hill.

• What's at stake: The mainstream media will blame the polls, the fact that the convention was virtual, and who knows what else. But here are the elements we think are at play:

(1) The Democratic convention focused on style; the Republican convention, substance. The Democrats' convention had celebrity hosts and special musical guests. But very few speakers -- including Biden -- talked about specific policies or results.

In contrast, the Republican convention has emphasized specific policies, policy accomplishments, and the stories of everyday Americans whose lives have been improved as a result. That has the potential to affect peoples' thoughts about the President and the party, unlike Biden's performance last week.

And this also reflects other trends in the campaign:

(2) President Trump "could overperform with African-American men" in voting, as Chuck Todd said yesterday.

Todd said that "both campaigns" had shared that information with him, with the Biden campaign worried about what that may mean for his chances.

(3) National Democrats aren't addressing riots that have continued throughout the summer.

Last night, CNN host Don Lemon warned Democrats on-air: "But guess what, the rioting has to stop. [...] It’s showing up in the polls, it’s showing up in focus groups. It’s the only thing right now that’s sticking."

Why the Republican National Convention is working, even though the media hates it.

"The media worshiped and adored Michelle Obama’s speech, which included lines suggesting that if you disagreed with it, it was because you were racist. Both she and her husband were seething with disdain and hatred in their speeches, which the media found very compelling. Melania Trump, by contrast, gave an incredibly positive and empathetic speech." (The Federalist)

• What's happening: The Republican National Convention is continuing to succeed, with a balance of Trump campaign staff and surrogates with everyday Americans whose lives have been affected by their policies.

Melania Trump was the marquee speaker of the night. However, Nicholas Sandmann is also in many of the headlines of last night's convention thanks to his speech -- and blunt talk about how the mainstream media went after him. You can watch it in full here.

Tonight's speakers include:

-- Gov. Kristi Noem (SD)

-- Rep. Dan Crenshaw (TX)

-- Kellyanne Conway

-- Second Lady Karen Pence

-- Vice President Mike Pence

And check out the full schedule for tonight here.

• What's at stake: Here's why the Republican National Convention is striking a chord in a way that the Democrats' did not seem to.

(1) Republicans are focusing on a message of "redemption and opportunity," as Mollie Hemingway wrote in her piece at The Federalist.

It's optimistic and forward-looking, unlike the oftentimes grim Democratic National Convention last week. It's also the perfect antidote to the progressive left's "cancel culture."

(2) It's the perhaps "most strongly pro-life convention in history," as David Harsanyi wrote in National Review.

The protection of innocent life is an important issue for many Republican voters, and it's also one in which the extreme pro-abortion policies of the Biden-Harris ticket is out of touch with Americans.

The ugly attacks from the left against Republican National Convention speakers.

"Midler's comments, especially about Melania's English-speaking abilities, triggered immediate backlash. That tweet in particular has received more than 50,000 comments as of Wednesday morning." (The Blaze)

• What's happening: Unsurprisingly, speakers at the Republican National Convention are facing ugly attacks from the media and the left:

-- Bette Midler called First Lady Melania Trump an "illegal alien" and later added, "Oh, God. She still can't speak English."

-- A CNN contributor referred to Nicholas Sandmann, the Covington Catholic student who spoke last night, as a "snot nose entitled kid."

-- And, of course, this week Speaker Nancy Pelosi referred to President Trump and all congressional Republicans as "enemies of the state" and "domestic enemies." To be fair, she wasn't talking about the convention; but her comments are shameful and part of a broader, concerning pattern nonetheless.

• What's at stake: Nothing shows the double standard -- and the deep disdain -- of the media and the left than their coverage of the Republican National Convention this week.

First they'll make nasty attacks like this ... and then there will be zero media coverage of their terrible remarks, let alone any apologies for the people they were directed against.

And they won't let the convention coverage move along without editorializing, either. As Newsbusters reported, last night the media interrupted the Republican convention four times but only did that once for the Democrats.

Basement Biden no more? Democrats starting to worry about his campaign strategy.

"Some Democrats say they’re increasingly nervous watching Trump on the go. [...] Democrats held their convention virtually—with only a handful of speakers holding down the fort in Wisconsin. Instead of flying to the Badger State, Biden, 77, accepted the nomination and spoke before an empty room." (The Hill)

• What's happening: Democrats were happy to leave Joe Biden to campaign from his basement, especially as they pursue an intense lockdown strategy in response to COVID-19. But now that President Trump is traveling -- and having a great convention week -- Democrats' concerns about the plan are growing.

• What's at stake: Biden's "basement strategy" was based on keeping him from the voters and the media. It relies on an assumption that the more the American public sees of President Trump, the less they'll be excited to vote for him. But...

(1) The polls don't show Biden running away with it. He didn't even get a "bounce" from his own convention (see the top story).

(2) Biden's low profile reinforces Trump campaign attacks against him. The Trump campaign has been putting up "Where's Joe?" billboards to underscore the point.