On Monday, Democrats convened in Chicago to support Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign for the presidency against Republican Donald Trump, and to pay tribute to President Joe Biden, whose withdrawal from the race revitalized his party's prospects. The four-day Democratic National Convention's launch is anticipated to attract tens of thousands of protesters, many of whom are critical of the Biden administration's backing of Israel's Gaza offensive, planning to march along a mile-long route through the city outside the security zone.
Biden, aged 81, who stepped down from his reelection campaign a month ago under pressure from senior Democrats concerned about his age, is scheduled to speak at 10:50 p.m. Eastern time (0250 Tuesday GMT) to advocate for Harris' election and Trump's defeat. Amid efforts to foster a sense of unity following the unprecedented shift in candidates, sources indicate that Harris, 59, may join Biden on stage in a symbolic gesture. Harris is set to formally accept the nomination on Thursday night with a much-awaited speech, potentially making history as the first female president if elected on November 5.
A coalition of approximately 200 social justice organizations, including many pro-Palestinian groups, will assemble outside the convention. Some pro-Palestinian delegates are urging the party to alter its platform to restrict arms to Israel, though their request may not be granted. The party is slated to vote on a 92-page policy platform on Monday, which does not advocate for an arms embargo against Israel.
Harris enters the convention amid a historic surge: her campaign has shattered fundraising records, filled arenas with supporters, and shifted opinion polls in Democrats' favor in some key states. However, Chauncey McLean, head of Future Forward, which has raised hundreds of millions for Harris' election, cautioned against excessive optimism. Biden withdrew his reelection bid following a disastrous debate with Trump on June 27, which led longtime allies, major donors, and party supporters to call for his withdrawal. Recent polls showed Harris narrowing the gap with Trump both nationally and in several competitive states, including Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a potential running mate, noted that Trump is unnerved by Harris. Harris embarked on a bus tour in western Pennsylvania on Sunday with her vice presidential candidate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, where she characterized Trump's politics as cowardly and divisive. She will spend much of the week in Chicago but will visit Milwaukee on Tuesday for a campaign event, returning to hear her husband, Doug Emhoff, speak at the convention that evening. Trump plans to visit key battleground states during the convention week to divert attention from Harris.
He is scheduled to discuss economic policy at a small business in southern Pennsylvania on Monday afternoon, followed by events in North Carolina, Michigan, Arizona, and Nevada later in the week. Some major allies and donors have advised Trump to avoid racial and gender-based attacks on Harris and focus instead on critiquing her policy record. On Monday, Trump declared his intent to curb crime in cities like Chicago, describing it as a war zone that would be dealt with accordingly.
