The Democratic National Convention in Chicago will see a gathering of top Democrats, including President Joe Biden and former presidents, to celebrate the nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s presidential nominee. With President Biden stepping aside from his re-election bid, the convention will serve as a platform for Harris to solidify her candidacy and rally support for the upcoming election.
President Biden is expected to speak at the convention on Monday night, marking the opening of the week-long event. This will be his first public appearance since suspending his re-election campaign following a challenging primary election cycle. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will also address the convention on Monday night, highlighting her own history as the first woman to be a presidential nominee for a major political party in 2016. Former President Obama is scheduled to speak on Tuesday night, with sources indicating that a group of his allies and former advisers, including David Axelrod and George Clooney, played a role in urging Biden to drop out of the race. Obama, who served with Biden as his vice president for two terms, eventually endorsed Harris after Biden’s withdrawal.
Former President Bill Clinton is expected to address the convention on Wednesday night, joined by his wife, Hillary Clinton, who quickly endorsed Harris after Biden’s departure. Clinton’s speech will precede the address of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, who is set to highlight his progressive policy victories in Minnesota, including advocating for abortion rights, legalizing recreational marijuana, and enacting gun control measures. Walz, a long-time member of the House of Representatives and governor of Minnesota, brings a strong record of experience to the ticket.
The highlight of the convention will be Vice President Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech on Thursday night. Harris will formally accept the Democratic presidential nomination and address the party and the nation. Notably, Harris has not held a press conference or participated in a one-on-one interview with the media since becoming the presumptive nominee almost a month ago. This lack of media engagement has raised questions and concerns about her communication strategy and transparency. This will be Harris’ second presidential campaign after her initial run in 2019 for the 2020 election. Harris participated in debates during that cycle but ultimately suspended her campaign before the Iowa caucuses.
