The opening night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago set the stage for a significant transition within the Democratic Party, as President Joe Biden formally endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor in the 2024 presidential race.

Biden, reflecting on his tenure, called the selection of Harris as his running mate in 2020 the “best decision” of his career, underscoring his confidence in her ability to lead the nation. “She’ll be a president our children can look up to,” Biden declared, emphasizing that Harris would be a leader respected by world figures and a historic first as the potential first woman to hold the presidency in the United States. 

This moment marked a critical shift for Democrats, who, just a month earlier, were deeply divided over Biden’s candidacy. As CNN reports, the party has since united behind Harris, focusing their efforts on opposing her Republican challenger, former President Donald Trump.

The message was clear: under Harris, Democrats would continue to fight for a more inclusive and just America.

The convention also served as a platform for Democrats to launch a series of pointed attacks against Trump, particularly targeting his stance on abortion rights and his numerous legal challenges. According to Politico, Hillary Clinton took the stage during prime time to deliver a scathing critique of her former rival, portraying him as a criminal who Democrats now have “on the run” against Harris. Clinton’s remarks were met with enthusiastic chants from the crowd, and the atmosphere in the convention hall was charged with a sense of vindication as Democrats highlighted the stakes of the upcoming election and the potential for Harris to break the ultimate glass ceiling.

However, one of the most contentious issues—the ongoing war in Gaza—was notably downplayed during the convention. As Reuters reports, thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched through the streets of Chicago on the convention’s opening day, expressing their anger over the Biden administration’s support for Israel during the conflict in Gaza. 

The Associated Press noted that while some speakers, such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, briefly mentioned the conflict, the topic was largely absent from the evening’s discourse. President Biden, however, did address the issue directly, acknowledging the loss of innocent lives on both sides and reaffirming his commitment to working towards a ceasefire and lasting peace in the Middle East. “Those protesters out in the streets have a point,” Biden conceded, highlighting the complexities and sensitivities surrounding the issue within the Democratic Party.

The restrained approach to discussing the Gaza conflict during the convention highlights the Democratic Party’s delicate balancing act. On one hand, they must address the concerns of a diverse voter base, including those who are deeply critical of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. On the other, there is an evident reluctance to alienate pro-Israel voters or deepen internal party divisions over the issue. As noted by CNN, the decision to largely sidestep the conflict during prime time suggests that Democrats see little electoral benefit in highlighting such a polarizing topic at this critical juncture in the campaign.

The convention’s first night also sought to paint a stark contrast between the Democratic ticket of Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and the Republican ticket led by Trump and his vice-presidential pick, JD Vance. 

“She’ll be a president our children can look up to.”

As Politico highlights, Biden used his speech to remind voters of the challenges the country has faced over the past four years, including the global pandemic, racial unrest, and the rollback of abortion rights following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The message was clear: under Harris, Democrats would continue to fight for a more inclusive and just America, in contrast to what they described as Trump’s divisive and regressive policies.

In sum, the Democratic National Convention’s opening night was a carefully orchestrated event aimed at uniting the party behind Kamala Harris while drawing sharp distinctions between her vision for America and that of Donald Trump. As the convention unfolds, it remains to be seen how effectively Democrats can maintain this unity and whether Harris can galvanize the electorate to secure a historic victory in November.

Featured image source: Austin Steele, CNN