CHICAGO — The most unusual Democratic convention in generations is set to kick off Monday and make history by nominating Kamala Harris for president just one month after Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign.
Vice President Harris rapidly unified the party and locked up the nomination, even though she didn’t compete in any primaries at the top of the ticket — and her campaign has since surged into a statistical tie or narrow leads in national and battleground surveys against Donald Trump.
Here are five big things to watch at the four-day convention here, where Democrats will seek to continue their momentum.
Will the joyful theme continue?
Harris’ success so far owes in part to her ability to turn the doom-and-gloom environment that surrounded Biden’s race against Trump into a more joyous atmosphere. Her upbeat persona — with a laugh Republicans have ridiculed for years — has found an organic fan base, sparking countless positive memes and viral clips on platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Biden’s exit appears to have unlocked an enthusiasm among Democrats and unaligned voters desperate for a candidate who isn’t trying to be president in his 80s.
Democrats are well aware of this asset and will seek to capitalize on that energy at the convention. But they’ll have a balance to strike: Persisting with a joyful and optimistic theme could have its limits for a party that continues to warn that a Trump presidency could spell doom for American democracy.
Joy and fear are both motivators. Biden leaned more heavily on fear of a Trump return, prophecies of doom and appeals to America’s goodness. Harris’ approach has been different. She has swapped those out for a more hopeful core message of “freedom and opportunity.” And, with an assist from her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris has sought to give Democrats a sense of confidence by mocking Trump and his allies as “weird.”
Vibes or policy?
The Harris surge has been predicated largely on good vibes. So far she has kept tight control of her message and avoided media interviews, and that is expected to continue through the convention week. It will be a history-making nomination — the first Black woman and first Indian American ever to be nominated by a major party — that creates ample opportunity for feel-good moments.
But how heavily will Harris and Democrats lean on that? Conversely, will Harris use the convention as an opportunity to fill out her governing vision and explain how she would try to improve people’s lives as president? Facing criticism for largely avoiding policy details, Harris began to roll out economic proposals in the days before the convention that focus on lowering costs — of rent and housing, groceries, child care and prescription drugs. Will the convention be her moment to unveil more policy plans? Or does she keep her vision broad without filling in more blanks?
Does Harris break with Biden?
One of the more sensitive questions for Harris is whether she seeks to continue the Biden legacy or chart her own path. Inevitably, it’ll be a mix of both. But which elements of the Biden presidency does she embrace and promise to continue? And in what areas does she propose to go her own way? Does she make an overt break with any of Biden’s executive actions, legislative proposals and foreign policy decisions — and if so, what does she propose, instead?The answers are likely to come in the form of subtle clues. Harris is seeking to unify the party, and that begins with solidifying the passionate base of support Biden continues to enjoy. But many voters are unsatisfied with their economic situation and the status quo under the Biden administration.
Trump’s campaign is portraying Harris as a continuation of Biden’s policies, saying in a recent statement that she “can’t shake the stench of Bidenomics, which she repeatedly praised.” And it’ll be up to Harris to convince those disaffected voters she can offer a fresh vision rather than more of the same.
Fire up the base or appeal to independents?
A quadrennial question for presidential candidates at conventions is how to balance the task of firing up the base with appealing to independents and persuadable voters who often decide elections. For Harris, who has little time, the convention is a key opportunity.
Harris has made significant progress in improving her support levels among the Democratic-leaning constituencies who have soured on Biden — particularly young voters, Black Americans and Latinos. But she has more work to do to solidify the support of those groups.
And while some “double haters” — voters who dislike both Biden and Trump — appear more open to Harris, she has plenty of work to do with undecided voters. Independents typically decide the outcomes of presidential elections, and many of them are notoriously difficult to win over. How will Harris use the convention to reach them? The answer could provide hints about her strategy for the final stretch.
How does Harris handle Gaza protests?
It has become routine for Democratic politicians to get heckled by protesters demanding a more confrontational U.S. posture toward Israel for its bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Protests were already underway in Chicago on Sunday, before the start of the convention, and convention organizers and city officials are expecting more this week. How will Harris handle them?
The answer has political implications. Democrats have privately debated whether most of the protesters are winnable voters or radical agitators who are unavailable to them. But there are Arab Americans and Muslim voters, most notably in the swing state of Michigan, who have threatened to stay home. They want to see Harris take a more aggressive stance and dial up the pressure on Israel to negotiate a cease-fire. She has been more open in her criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but it’s unclear she’ll break with Biden administration policy.
Harris has already faced protests at her rallies. In a speech early this month, she snapped at them, saying: “You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I’m speaking.” A few days later, she showed more patience when pro-Palestinian hecklers interrupted her, telling them, “I respect your voices,” and adding: “I have been clear: Now is the time to get a cease-fire deal and get the hostage deal done.”
