Vice President Harris is set to build on her recent success as she heads to the Democratic National Convention next week, aiming to reintroduce herself to voters nationwide. With just a month into her candidacy, Harris has invigorated the Democratic Party in ways that President Biden has struggled to achieve. However, she will also need to outline what a Harris presidency would entail and present a compelling new agenda.
David Thomas, a Democratic strategist and former aide to Vice President Al Gore, emphasized the importance of this moment, saying, “Most Americans haven’t really focused on what Vice President Harris has accomplished over the past four years, making this convention a crucial opportunity for her.”
Vice President Harris is set to use the Democratic National Convention to build on her recent achievements and lay out her presidential vision
Harris has spent the last month fundraising, releasing ads that highlight her journey, and testing new messaging strategies for her campaign. She has warned that another term under former President Trump would be detrimental to the country while promising a fresh path forward.
Her newly revealed economic plan, which she refers to as an “opportunity economy,” is a key priority for her first 100 days in office. The plan includes a federal ban on price gouging, strategies to address the housing shortage by building new units, and an expansion of the child tax credit.
The momentum she has generated in such a short period will be on display when she delivers her acceptance speech on Thursday night, where she is expected to receive the same enthusiastic response she has garnered on the campaign trail.
“Democrats are energized,” said Clayton Cox, former DNC national finance director. “The enthusiasm gap has closed, with supporters attending large rallies, volunteering, and contributing record amounts of grassroots funding. The post-convention push will be crucial to maintaining this momentum.”
Harris’s rapid rise has raised questions about whether she can sustain this energy. Democrats will closely watch her speech on Thursday to see how she plans to secure a victory over Trump in November and help down-ballot Democrats.
Supporters of Harris are confident in her abilities. “She’s going to keep the party united and energized,” a former Harris aide stated. “I have no concerns. She’s going to be phenomenal.”
Harris has shaken up the campaign by taking charge and narrowing the gap on Trump in national polling. She now leads by 0.3 points and is ahead in six of the seven key battleground states.
“There’s a lot of excitement around her being the leader of the party in this pivotal moment,” Thomas said. “The energy in the convention hall will be electric when she takes the stage.”
Last month, Republicans showed strong unity behind Trump at their convention in Wisconsin. However, since Harris took over the Democratic ticket, Trump’s campaign has struggled with her rising poll numbers.
Republicans argue that Harris is currently enjoying a honeymoon period that will likely fade after the convention. Marc Lampkin, a GOP lobbyist, noted, “The real test will come after the convention when voters start to evaluate their lives compared to four years ago.”
Harris’s speech will follow remarks from three current and former presidents. Biden will open the convention with a speech on Monday, followed by former Presidents Obama and Clinton on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
In a sign of what’s to come, Harris and Biden presented a united front at a recent event in Maryland, with Biden now taking on the role of attacking Trump—a role he’s expected to continue as he supports Harris.
“She’s going to be an incredible president,” Biden told the audience.
Barbara Perry, a professor of presidential studies at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center, noted that Harris has been “gracious and poised” in her new role. Perry added, “Harris has been pitch-perfect so far, but she will need to maintain that momentum as she formally accepts the nomination.”
