The Democratic National Convention kicks off this week with Democratic delegates, grassroots leaders, party favorites and more descending on Chicago to rally the base and coronate Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s presidential nominee.
Similar to the Republican convention, the DNC will feature an array of speakers within the party lobbing attacks at former President Donald Trump, praising Harris and hoping to generate enthusiasm among the base.
“At the 2024 convention, we will get the opportunity to showcase the accomplishments of Democrats, led by the Biden-Harris administration, in our efforts to unify the nation, rebuild our economy and infrastructure, and safeguard the hopes and dreams of the American people,” Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison said in a statement. “Then we’ll formally pass the torch to Vice President Harris and Governor Tim Walz as they lay out their vision for our nation.”
On Monday, the various Democratic interest groups, from Black, Hispanic and Native American caucuses to LGBT and environmental groups, will meet. President Joe Biden is expected to speak Monday night at the United Center, where several hours of speeches will be held each night of the convention.
On Tuesday, the women’s caucus, disabled caucus, veterans’ caucus and others will meet, followed by more evening programming, where former President Barack Obama is expected to speak.
On Wednesday, President Bill Clinton is expected to speak as well as Walz, Harris’ pick for vice president.
Harris will close out the convention on Thursday with her own speech that night, a key moment in a campaign that has largely avoided specific policy ideas and media interviews.
Harris suddenly inherited the presidential mantle from Biden one month ago when Biden withdrew from the race and endorsed her.
Harris was able to quickly cobble together key endorsements from party leaders, including the Obamas, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., House leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and more.
Helping her along, Harris’ greatest potential opponents, former First Lady Michelle Obama and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, did not show any sign of wanting to take on Harris.
Because of that, a convention that could have included party infighting and grappling for delegates is expected to formally nominate Harris with little to no drama.
Polling
In the polls, Harris has been able to close the gap with her opponent, Trump, nationally and even in some swing states. According to Real Clear Politics’ polling average, Harris leads Trump by one point nationally.
In the swing states of North Carolina and Nevada, Trump leads Harris by about 2.5% and 3.5%, respectively.
In Michigan and Wisconsin, Harris leads by about 2% and 1%, respectively.
Trump holds a narrow lead of less than 1% in Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania.
Harris unveiled an economic plan on Friday aimed at addressing elevated costs for Americans, which have risen over 20% since she took office. Polling shows inflation is still the top concern for Americans, and since those price increases during Harris’ vice presidential tenure, she has sought to blame “corporate price-gouging” and pledged to put a stop to it.
Critics widely panned that idea as the kind of price controls seen in failed communist countries with food shortage issues.
Protests
Notably, thousands of pro-Hamas, anti-Israel protesters are expected to demonstrate in Chicago during the convention. Those protesters have a history of inflammatory tactics, drawing condemnation from even Harris herself when they defaced national monuments last month and took down an American flag outside Union Station to replace it with the Palestinian flag.
That protest movement gained traction in protesting Biden’s response to the Israel-Hamas war. On Oct. 7 of last year, Hamas militants entered Israel and killed more than 1,000 civilians, including children and babies, in a brutal attack that sparked a persistent and deadly response from Israel, which has been targeting Hamas sites and militants with air strikes for months.
Israel has taken criticism for civilian casualties and the humanitarian issues caused by the war.
Hamas is officially designated a terrorist group by the U.S. State Department and continues to attack Israel, as does the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.
Pro-Hamas protesters swept college campuses in the U.S. and had become a more common feature at Biden’s events. However, their relationship and support or frustration with Harris has yet to be resolved.
Photos of fencing and barriers appear to show that protesters will be kept a good distance from the DNC, with some estimating that tens of thousands of protesters will take to the streets.
In a press conference last month, federal and local officials laid out the extensive security plan and told local residents to expect road closures and delays.
“We have been training and working with our Federal partners for more than a year to prepare for a safe and successful DNC,” Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said. “We are constantly assessing and reassessing our resources based on intelligence and best practices. We’re doing this as we look ahead to the convention, and we will be doing this in real-time during the convention. Flexibility plays a vital role in our safety planning.”
The U.S. Secret Service, which is under scrutiny after several failings that almost led to the death of former President Donald Trump over the summer, will also be helping secure the event.
“For more than a year, the U.S. Secret Service team here in Chicago has been working with the Chicago Police Department and our other Federal, state and local partners to devise a security plan that will provide a safe and secure environment for those attending the convention, as well as minimizing impacts on the public,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jeff Burnside, the U.S. Secret Service’s 2024 DNC Coordinator. “Security surrounding the DNC is of paramount importance and this plan, which is a result of our combined efforts, will ensure that.”
