With her opening speech at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday, August 22, Kamala Harris will consolidate a surprising political transformation: from a vice president whose campaign and leadership ability was constantly questioned by her fellow Democrats, to a candidate who has taken the helm of a newly galvanized party.
Harris weathered awkward weeks in which Joe Biden’s electoral viability was questioned by publicly voicing her loyalty. After the US president dropped out of his re-election campaign, the vice president posted record fundraising, took advantage of a social media frenzy and even won over potential rivals for her nomination.
Today’s speech also marks a transition to the most difficult phase of the campaignwhen Harris will be challenged to show that her recent momentum is more than a short-lived honeymoon fueled by relief at Biden’s departure.
The event will test whether Harris can leverage a high-stakes speech to win over independent and undecided voters, and offer clues about the messaging her campaign will use to win them over.
Some polls show Kamala Harris holding a lead over her Republican rival, Donald Trump. At the convention, grassroots Democrats, as well as some of the party’s biggest stars, have compared the energy surrounding his campaign to that of Barack Obama.
“There is a tremendous amount of pent-up demand, enthusiasm and anxiety in the Democratic coalition,” said Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, who spoke in a personal capacity.In a short period of time, it basically filled the gap”.
How does Harris see herself heading into the election?
The vice president still describes herself as “the underdog,” a stance that aims to create a safety net of lower expectations in a tight race. show humility as voters still consider their options. “We have a lot of work to do to earn the vote of the American people,” Harris told reporters Sunday.
Many respondents also view Trump in a better light than when he left office, despite the series of legal problems he faces, including a felony conviction and a court finding him liable for sexual assault.
“Donald Trump’s performance rating is as high as it’s ever been,” said Democratic pollster John Anzalone, speaking at the Democratic National Convention hosted by the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics.
But Harris’s nomination represents an extraordinary reversal of fortune. At the start of Biden’s term, the vice president had an unglamorous portfolio, including heading the White House space council and addressing the root causes of migration from certain Central American countries.
In addition, he faces obstacles such as defending the Biden Administration’s economic record, as well as the racism and sexism that have closed the doors to generations of political aspirants.
Harris has yet to give a one-on-one interview since Biden handed her the baton, nor has she laid out many detailed policy positions, potentially fueling the impression of a short-lived campaign. She has committed to an interview later this month. Meanwhile, Team Trump, caught off guard by Harris’s promotion, is honing its lines of attack.
In recent months, Harris has thrived on tackling issues that were more popular with the Democratic base, including preventing armed violence and the right to abortion.
Tough competition
Democratic pollster Celinda Lake said many turned out to vote, especially those under 50, who are eager to see more women and diverse politicians. Harris would be the first Asian American woman to occupy the presidency.
Harris’ convention speech will highlight her middle-class upbringing and career as a prosecutor while contrasting her with Trump, according to a campaign official.
It will be the conclusion of a week that began with a Biden’s farewell speech and hosted audiences enthused by the harsh criticism of Trump that Barack and Michelle Obama launched in their speeches.
In a race that will likely be decided by narrow margins in a small group of key states, the stakes for Harris in her speech are extremely high.
“She’s had a great run, but our numbers are much less optimistic than what you see in the public,” Chauncey McLean of Future Forward said at an event Monday at the Democratic National Convention hosted by the University of Chicago Institute of Politics.It’s very close”.
