Chicago On this third day of the party’s planned introduction of a new candidate, Kamala Harris, and her address to the electorate, the Democratic National Convention will be headlined by vice presidential nominee Tim Walz and former President Bill Clinton.
Walz has two things to do in his Chicago speech. The governor of Minnesota, who has gained recognition from his followers as a quintessential Midwestern educator, coach, and father, will present himself to the national audience. In addition, he must state the main point of the campaign and the evening’s theme, which is that American liberties would be endangered by a second term for Donald Trump.
The lively party atmosphere of Tuesday will give way to a theme known as “a fight for our freedoms” on the third night of the convention. Harris presents the late President Trump as a danger to democracy in general and to the right to an abortion and other personal freedoms in particular.
Clinton, who has experience giving speeches at political conventions, along with a number of the party’s other leading stars, will assist Walz in guiding the campaign’s message. Among them are House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The speeches will be counterbalanced, according to convention organizers, with statements from “everyday Americans” whose liberties depend on the outcome of the next election.
Reproductive rights, which the Harris campaign views as a major motivator for Democratic voters this fall, are the subject of Mini Timmaraju’s expected speech. She is the president and CEO of the nonprofit Reproductive Freedom for All.
Along with several Democratic senators, including Cory Booker of New Jersey, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, the program on Wednesday also features governors Wes Moore of Maryland and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania.
In the meantime, on Wednesday, Trump held his first public gathering since eluding an attempted murder in Pennsylvania earlier this month. At the North Carolina Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame, he spoke while positioned behind a bulletproof glass podium.
Before Harris selected Walz to be a part of her ticket, a lot of Americans had never heard of him. His experience as a teacher and football coach has won over supporters in his first few weeks of campaigning, and he has balanced Harris’ coastal upbringing by positioning himself as a cultural representative of the Midwestern states whose votes she needs this fall.
However, Walz has also come under fire, with some even questioning whether he fabricated his background. This week, his wife made it clear that she used other fertility treatments rather than in vitro fertilization, as Walz has frequently claimed. Republicans have also attacked Walz for remarks he made in 2018 regarding carrying a gun in combat. Despite spending 24 years in the National Guard, he never deployed to a combat zone.
Nevertheless, polling data indicates that Walz, Harris’ running mate, has had a more seamless introduction than Republican JD Vance, Trump’s choice for vice president, despite some early bumps.
According to a recent survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, roughly one-third of American adults think favorably of Walz and roughly one-quarter think favorably of Vance. Moreover, significantly more adults—44% to 25%—hold a negative opinion of Vance compared to Walz.
According to the campaign, Walz would discuss his experiences as a teacher and football coach, his time in the National Guard, his upbringing in Nebraska, and his time in Congress prior to winning the governorship. According to the campaign, John Legend will give a tribute to Prince before going on stage.
For Harris and other Democrats, the past week has been a delicate balancing act between ensuring that their supporters are aware that the election will be a fierce contest and channeling the enthusiasm that has swept through their party since President Joe Biden stepped down.
The second day of the convention in Chicago alternated between jovial celebration and sobering cautions. A symbolic roll call vote was transformed into a dance party with unexpected musical performances by Lil Jon and DJ Snake‘s song “Turn Down for What.”
However, in his keynote address, former President Barack Obama also delivered a sobering message, stating, “Make no mistake, it will be a fight.”
“This election is so important,” Harris declared on Tuesday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, while the convention was still going on ninety miles away in Chicago. She was speaking at a professional basketball arena in a state that is considered a battleground. “Remember, this is not 2020 or 2016. Higher stakes are involved.
On Wednesday, Harris will return to Chicago for the third night of the convention.
This report was written by Associated Press writers Chris Megerian in Washington and Ali Swenson in New York.
