[ad_1]
go through Brad Ryan In Chicago
(ABC – Australia) Last month, die-hard Republican fans from across the United States gathered in Milwaukee to celebrate Donald Trump and his vision to “Make America Great Again” at the party’s national convention.
The Democratic Party is in the spotlight this week as it holds its national convention in Chicago on Monday.
Here’s what to expect during the four-day event.
“Nominate” candidates by calling their names
Historically, the purpose of these large conventions was to formally nominate the party’s presidential candidate. Thousands of delegates (i.e., party members representing each state) gathered to pledge their support for the candidate.
But this year, Democrats have done just that because Ohio law meant the convention was held too late to meet that state’s deadline.
As a result, delegates certified Kamala Harris as the nominee via a “virtual roll call” earlier this month.
Harris’ chosen running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz, has also been certified as the party’s vice presidential candidate.
The “roll call” process to nominate Harris and Waltz will still take place at the convention. Thousands of excited delegates will pack the stadium to announce their support state by state. But it will be purely ceremonial.
“The reality is that conventions right now are just big gatherings,” said Suzanne Chod, a political scientist at North Central College in Chicago.
Trying to sell Kamala Harris to American voters
The real purpose of the convention is to drum up support for Harris in hopes of motivating voters on Election Day, November 5.
She joined the campaign only a month ago. Joe Biden steps downwhich means many Americans know little about her.
Harris is expected to deliver the keynote address on the final night of the convention, following days of carefully vetted and inspiring speeches from dozens of other speakers on stage.
and Last month’s Republican conventionTV news channels will broadcast a lot of live broadcasts.
Democrats will be chasing the so-called “convention bounce” — a traditional increase in the polls following a convention — and hoping to maintain that momentum.
“They’re running what they call a happy campaign, while the Republicans are running a more pessimistic campaign,” Dr. Joad said.
“This contrast of joy and hope is very Obama-esque in 2008, and I think it will make them successful at the convention.”
But Dr. Joad said Harris faces unique challenges as a presidential candidate.
“Because she’s a woman, and a woman of color, and because race and gender still define and oppress identity in America, it’s a more difficult dance.
“While this is unfortunate, it is further proof that she is intelligent, professional and capable.”
A group of big-name speakers
As usual, Democratic heavyweights will take the stage.
The list of speakers has not yet been announced, but some have already leaked.
according to CBS Newsthree presidents will speak on the first three nights — Joe Biden will speak on Monday, Barack Obama will speak on Tuesday and Bill Clinton will speak on Wednesday.
NBC News Jason Carter, grandson of former President Jimmy Carter, is also reportedly expected to speak on behalf of his grandfather.
Celebrity influence
The Democratic National Convention is often a star-studded event.
The last one was a COVID-safe virtual conference hosted by four well-known actors in 2020. Eva Longoria, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kerry Washington and Julia Louis-Dreyfus each hosted one of the four nights of the event.
The Dixie Chicks (now The Chicks) sang the national anthem, Billie Eilish sang “My Future” for the first time, and John Legend, Maggie Rogers and Jennifer Hudson performed.
We don’t quite know who will be at this year’s event, but Louis-Dreyfus — whose Veep character Selina Meyer inevitably draws comparisons to Harris — has confirmed that she will host a sideline event with female governors.
There was a lot of speculation about the celebrities’ attendance at the event – even Rumor has it that Beyoncé might appear After she allowed the Harris campaign to adopt her song “Freedom.”
“I expect we’re going to see a lot of Gen Z celebrities emerge to try to really inspire young voters who feel really disenfranchised and uninterested in Biden,” Dr. Joad said.
“Celebrity endorsements don’t usually have a huge impact on things, but I think this election might be different.”
Protesting Middle East policy
The Democratic National Convention has sparked massive protests before, and this year in Chicago there will be similar protests.
The photo shows a young man showing a can to a police officer wearing a helmet
The last time a president decided not to run for reelection, the streets of Chicago descended into chaos.
Perhaps the biggest of these is the Democratic National Committee’s March Coalition — made up of a number of different activist groups — which plans to hold marches on the first and last days of the convention.
They will work together on a range of issues, but the Biden administration’s support for Israel and its supply of billions of dollars worth of weapons to Gaza are the main issues.
Biden’s decision not to run for reelection did not change the plan. “A change in the Democratic leadership’s presidential candidate will not wash away the blood debt committed by more than 50,000 Palestinians,” the coalition said in a statement. “Our coalition is making real preparations for marches of tens of thousands of people.”
There is also the possibility of some form of pro-Palestinian protest inside the convention grounds. About 30 delegates will be in attendance, representing those who cast “undeclared” protest votes in their respective state primaries.
The largest protest outside the Democratic National Convention took place in 1968, when thousands of anti-Vietnam War protesters clashed with police outside the convention, which was also held that year in Chicago.
Some businesses in Chicago have boarded up their doors and windows this year in case violence recurs this year.
Related
[ad_2]
Source link
