Political conventions can be a bubble. Then it鈥檚 back to the real world.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris accepts the Democratic Party's nomination for president at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Aug. 22, 2024.
Kent Nishimura/Reuters
Chicago
A political convention is a big bubble, filled with energy toward what can seem like inevitable victory. That was the feeling at Chicago鈥檚 United Center last Thursday night as Vice President Kamala Harris took the stage. And that has been the feeling at every convention, Democratic and Republican, I鈥檝e attended since 1996.
The Republican bubble 鈥� which was likewise filled with energy and optimism about a win in November 鈥� burst shortly after the convention, when President Joe Biden suddenly dropped out of the race and was quickly replaced by Vice President Harris.
The news Friday that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was suspending his independent bid for president, and endorsing former President Donald Trump, presented yet another twist that could affect the race.
Why We Wrote This
Hype and hope are perennial features of political conventions. But our longtime politics reporter sees some unusual plot twists as she recaps the DNC and RNC, with the presidential race moving toward the home stretch.
Still, this year鈥檚 Democratic convention just felt different. The Biden-to-Harris switch-up had added a new layer of emotional intensity to the proceedings 鈥� as does Democratic fear around the potential of another Trump presidency.
It has been an election season like no other. But in some other ways, the Democratic convention was utterly typical, including convention-goers decked out in full political regalia.
Tina Duryea, an artist from Norwalk, Connecticut 鈥� and a convention delegate 鈥� sported 鈥淜amala wear鈥� she designed herself,聽a dress covered with images of the VP and a jacket featuring what she calls 鈥渟heroes,鈥� or female heroes. Her take on the convention?
鈥淚鈥檓 calling it a four-day rock concert and family reunion and the greatest experience of my life,鈥� Ms. Duryea says. 鈥淭his has been amazing.鈥�
OK, so Beyonc茅 didn鈥檛 appear on stage Thursday night, as was widely expected, for a live performance of Ms. Harris鈥� campaign anthem, 鈥淔reedom.鈥� Nor did Taylor Swift, despite reports that her plane had just touched down at O鈥橦are Airport. But we did get Pink 鈥� and Stevie Wonder and John Legend the night before.
As much as polls show Ms. Harris with momentum, the race is neck and neck. Over lunch Thursday, I asked a European ambassador to the U.S. who he thought had the edge.
鈥淚 still think Trump,鈥� said the diplomat, who also attended the GOP convention. Ms. Harris, he says, must convince Americans she has a solid plan for the economy.
Now the hoopla is over. Onward to the Trump-Harris debate Sept. 10 鈥� and Election Day, Nov. 5.
The Monitor has been pleased to provide on-scene coverage from both conventions, supplemented by other Monitor reports adding context and insight.
Here are my colleague Cameron Joseph鈥檚 from the Democratic convention. I wrote about how Ms. Harris has . Cameron also wrote about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.鈥檚 and about how the Gaza protests as feared. We published two stories centered on running mate (and former teacher) Tim Walz, one on and another on in the race.
Early in the week, I wrote about the and (with Cameron) the around President Biden鈥檚 convention appearance Monday night.
Our coverage from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee also stands up.
The Monitor鈥檚 Story Hinckley, along with Cameron, wrote about . Cameron also covered how some Republicans see a in former President Trump鈥檚 鈥渘ear miss鈥� and changed him. I wrote about the after the Trump shooting.
Sophie Hills and Caitlin Babcock covered how the GOP platform shows how Mr. Trump . Simon Montlake , Trump running mate and MAGA heir. And Story described how Republicans at their convention. But then, Mr. Biden was still the presumed Democratic nominee.
Expect more twists and turns to come.聽