Published19 August 2024, 12:50
Chicago: Democratic Party Convention begins with 2,500 police officers and high-profile speakers
Starting today, thousands of Democratic delegates from across the country will gather for the party convention in Chicago – with the who’s who of the party, of course.
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Ann Guenter
The four-day US Democratic Party convention begins in Chicago. After Kamala Harris secured the nomination in an electronic vote lasting several days at the beginning of August, she will formally accept the candidacy in a speech scheduled for Thursday. According to US media, she will also appear together with President Joe Biden on Monday.
The party convention speakers will also include vice presidential candidate Tim Walz and former President Barack Obama, as well as his wife Michelle and former President Bill Clinton. The four-day meeting will take place under strict security measures, with 2,500 police officers on duty.
Will Kamala Harris now be officially nominated?
Yes and no. The Democratic Party had brought forward the selection of candidates and carried out the process digitally – due to deadlines for printing ballot papers in one state. The more than 4,500 delegates from all states who attended the party convention in Illinois cast their votes in an online vote at the beginning of August and officially nominated Kamala Harris (59) as their presidential candidate.
Her running mate, Tim Walz, has also already been chosen. The party had previously determined that no separate vote would be necessary for the running mate after the candidate had selected him. However, according to the party, there will be “solemn and ceremonial” votes for both candidates in Chicago. However, this is purely symbolic.
Who is expected at the meeting?
Harris and her vice president, Tim Walz, will appear at the convention and give big speeches celebrating their nomination, riling up the base and outlining their plans for the future. A number of other high-profile figures from the party will also speak, including Biden. Appearances from former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton are expected, as well as Hillary Clinton, who was the party’s first female presidential candidate in 2016.
Harris and Walz’s partners are also expected to appear. There will also be some show performances. And the party will decide on its program for the election.
Outside, however, there is likely to be a contrasting program: some protests are expected around the party convention hall – especially against the Middle East policy of the Biden-Harris administration.
How exactly does it work?
The main program of the party conference, which runs until Thursday, takes place in the evening according to local time – in our case, that is, at night. The meeting will therefore continue into Friday. The party has not yet published the exact program – but some dates have already been set.
In keeping with the tradition of previous party conventions, Harris will speak at the grand finale on the last evening, i.e. in Luxembourg on Friday night. Her vice-president Walz is expected to speak the day before. Biden is expected to speak in Luxembourg on Tuesday night. His appearance is also likely to serve as an attempt by the Democrats to demonstrate unity again after a few very heated and confrontational weeks within the party before his exit.
Is the party conference primarily about the show?
In a way, yes. After long, paralyzing debates about Biden’s condition, the Democrats have experienced a new surge of enthusiasm. It is completely unclear whether Harris will actually be able to prevail against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in the end. The party is trying very hard to maintain the momentum and is likely to stage the convention as a major display of new beginnings.
Harris’ appearances have so far been strictly choreographed. Since she started as the new front woman, she has not given any interviews or press conferences, but has restricted herself to scheduled campaign appearances – probably in an effort to stick to a fixed script and not make any mistakes. In the weeks after the party conference until the election, she is unlikely to be able to get away with this. Then her real test will be ahead.
What about security?
A contingent of around 2,500 police officers will ensure security. Several pro-Palestinian activist groups have announced that they will protest against the US government’s support for Israel in the conflict with the Islamist Hamas.
The Chicago venue brings back memories of the 1968 Democratic Party Convention. At that time, protests against the Vietnam War led to bloody clashes between security forces and demonstrators. However, a similar escalation is not expected at this convention.
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