WASHINGTON — Just over a month after becoming the presidential nominee in the biggest shakeup in presidential politics in a generation, Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver a highly anticipated speech accepting the Democratic nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Thursday.
Harris’ rise to the top of the ticket after President Joe Biden reversed course and announced he would not seek re-election has breathed fresh life into the Democratic race. Polls show that Harris – who has already the official candidate of the party after a virtual roll call earlier this month – and performed much better than Biden did against his Republican rival Donald Trump.
Over the course of four days, Democrats will seek to capitalize on their base’s newfound enthusiasm for the campaign. Leading speakers will seek to unite supporters behind the party’s positions on reproductive rights, gun safety and voting rights, while appeal strongly to youthful votersIn addition, Harris is expected to further explain her policy positions.
Harris’ nomination is historic. As the daughter of immigrants, Harris is the first black and South Asian woman to be chosen as leader of a major party. She would be the first woman, regardless of race, to lead the country as head of government.
The party has not yet released an official detailed schedule of speakers, but a convention official confirmed that “sitting and former presidents are expected to participate in the convention programming.” Biden and two former presidents, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, as well as former candidate Hillary Clinton, will all speak. according to the New York Times.
Vice presidential candidate and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is expected to speak at the convention on Wednesday night, and Harris’ acceptance speech will close the convention on Thursday, the convention official said.
The evening programming block runs on Mondays from 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time and the rest of the week from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
In addition to the usual television broadcasts, the convention will be live streamed on several social media platforms, including YouTube, X, Instagram and TikTok. The official live stream will be available on DemConvention.com.
Numerous Democratic caucus and town hall meetings, as well as state delegation breakfasts and gatherings, are also scheduled during the daytime hours of the week. Media organizations and outside groups also host events during the day featuring Democratic officials and candidates.
Protests are also expected against the Biden administration’s handling of the war between Israel and Hamas, against the backdrop of a Delegation of unaffiliated voters who oppose war.
According to DemList, a newsletter for Democratic officials and allies, up to 25,000 protesters are expected during the convention.
A competition transforms
Harris’ entry into the race almost immediately after Biden announced on July 21 He would no longer run for re-election, motivating Democrats livid about Biden’s destitute polling performance against Trump, whose re-election bid Biden destroyed in 2020.
A Monmouth University Survey published on August 14 showed a huge augment in enthusiasm for the Democrats. The poll found that 85% of Democratic respondents were enthusiastic about the race between Harris and Trump. By comparison, in June only 46% of Democratic respondents said they were enthusiastic about a race between Biden and Trump.
Harris also fares better in comparisons to Trump, and since Biden dropped out of the race, polls in swing states and nationally have consistently trended toward the Democrats.
Polls in seven swing states published The Aug. 14 poll by The Cook Political Report With Amy Walter showed Harris narrowly leading in five states — Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — tied in Georgia and trailing in Nevada. All of these polls were improvements over Biden’s ranking in the same poll in May.
A Quinnipiac University poll from August 14 Harris was ahead in Pennsylvania, 48% to 45%. Harris’s 3-point lead was within the poll’s margin of error.
Democrats hope to carry their momentum through the convention. Polls typically favor a party during and immediately after its national convention.
Despite recent polls, Harris and Walz continue to describe themselves as as an outsider in the race.
Campaign topics
In her compact time on the campaign trail, Harris has emphasized several key messages.
She has made reproductive rights a central theme, including using the slogan “We’re not going back” in her campaign speech after describing Republicans’ stance on abortion. In addition, a Texas woman who had to leave the state for an emergency abortion will speak at the DNC. according to Reuters.
Harris also highlighted her past as a prosecutor, drawing a contrast to Trump’s legal problems.
Walz emphasized his working-class background and his military service while attacking Republican positions that called for restrictions on reproductive rights and a ban on certain books in schools.
Walz’s first solo campaign stop since Harris chose him as her running mate, took place at a union convention where he emphasized his union background as a high school teacher.
Walz was not originally considered a favorite for Harris’ vice presidency, but his reputation as a man from the Midwest who had won tough elections and pursued progressive policies led to his selection 6.August.
Harris has been criticized for not giving an official media interview or holding a press conference since her candidacy.
Platform in transition
The Democrats have not yet finalized their platform for 2024. The adoption of a party platform is generally one of the official items at a party convention.
The party set a platform design in July, just eight days before Biden withdrew his re-election bid. The document revolved around the theme of “finishing the job” and mentioned Biden, then the presumptive nominee, 50 times and Harris 12 times.
Party spokespeople did not respond this week to a request about plans to update the platform.
Reproductive rights are likely to be a focus on any policy wish list.
Harris led the administration’s message on reproductive rights during her time as vice president after the Supreme Court struck down the constitutional right to abortion in the summer of 2022.
In her campaign speeches, she often stressed that women must be trusted and that the government should not make decisions about reproductive health.
Harris has often promised that if elected, she would restore these reproductive rights. But unless Democrats have a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives and 60 votes in the Senate, it is unlikely that she will be able to keep that promise.
Since The Roe v. Wade ruling was overturned In this Supreme Court decision, Democrats advocated for reproductive rights that go beyond abortion and include protections for assisted reproduction.
The party programme 2020 The focus is on recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, the economy, quality healthcare, investing in education, protecting democracy and combating climate change.
Democrats will likely continue to criticize Project 2025, a blueprint developed by the Heritage Foundation think tank for implementing conservative policies across the federal government if Trump wins in November.
Trump distanced himself from the document, but did not explain his own political plans in detail.
Chicago Congresses
The Democratic National Convention is held in Chicago, a city that has long been considered a host city for the event. The Democrats have held their convention in Chicago eleven times, the first time in 1864 and the last time in 1996.
This year’s Democratic National Convention will be the first to be held in person since 2016. It was turned on its head due to the coronavirus pandemic and held virtually in 2020.
During the four-day convention, there will be speeches and side events moderated by top state Democratic Party leaders.
The ceremonial vote with delegates at the convention will take place on Tuesday. Walz will deliver his vice presidential nomination speech on Wednesday evening and Harris will deliver her acceptance speech on Thursday evening.
The city is also preparing for massive protests by various groups addressing reproductive rights, LGBTQ protection, housing and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. according to WBEZ News.
The Chicago City Council passed a ceasefire resolution in January, with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson playing a key role, making Chicago the city with the most calls for an end to the war between Israel and Hamas. more than 40,000 Palestinians have died.
The war followed a Hamas attack on October 7, in which almost 1,200 people were killed in Israel and hundreds were taken hostage.
Path to nomination
Harris’ acceptance speech will cap her party’s five-year journey to the nomination.
In 2019, the California senator announced that he would run in the presidential election next year, but dropped out before the first votes were cast in the primaries and caucuses, after failing to gain traction among Democratic voters.
Biden later nominated her as his running mate and the two defeated Trump and then-Vice President Mike Pence in the 2020 election.
Biden had launched a re-election campaign for 2024 but resigned after a disastrous performance at the June debate raised doubts about his ability to campaign and serve another four-year term.
After Biden’s withdrawal Harris quickly secured 99% of the delegates to become the party’s likely candidateThe five-day virtual vote secured her official nomination.
Less than three months before Election Day, Harris and Walz have already sprinted through the swing states of Arizona, Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
Her campaign has also raised more than $300 million, according to campaign reports. Official Federal Election Commission filings will be released in mid-October.
Harris and Trump have agreed on 10 September debate hosted by ABC News in Philadelphia. Trump proposed two more debates, and Harris said she would be open to another between the first debate and Election Day.
Walz and Republican vice presidential candidate Senator JD Vance of Ohio have agreed on 1 October Debate at CBS News in New York City.
