“Our convention is an opportunity to bring the story of our party to the American people—not just the story of what we’ve achieved under the Biden-Harris administration, but how the Harris-Walz ticket is planning to build on that historic record for a new way forward into the future,” said Convention Chair Minyon Moore. “The story here is simple and it’s one that will resonate with Americans across the country: Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are fighting for the American people and America’s future—Donald Trump is only fighting for himself.”
One of the key factors in this convention planning was to explore ways to reach more Americans who may not follow traditional media. Democrats have utilised their innovative programming from 2020, inviting about 200 content creators to the DNC aiming to tap into the young voters, a key voting bloc that could propel them to the White House. Earlier this week, the Democratic National Convention announced 16 options for watching the 2024 Democratic National Convention, ensuring that this year’s convention will reach more Americans than ever before, both inside and outside the hall.
The convention will take place over four nights from Monday, August 19 to Thursday, August 22, 2024. Convention programming will air live from the United Centre in Chicago between 6:15-11 PM Eastern on Monday, and 7-11 PM Eastern for all other days. The themes for each night are as follows:
Monday, August 19: For the People – Key Speakers President Biden and FLOTUS
On Monday, both President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will speak, setting the stage for the week’s events. This will be closely watched by many in the Democratic Party, especially with the infighting that led to Joe Biden’s exit from the Presidential campaign. Reports say that Joe Biden is still miffed at fellow party leaders including Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer. He has also had a fraught relationship with Obama, something his orbit has mentioned in the press recently. This will be an opportunity for him to quell any rumours and untie the party behind Kamala. He will broadly talk about his accomplishments in the office from Infrastructure to reducing healthcare costs for Americans.
Tuesday, August 20: A Bold Vision for America’s Future – Key Speaker – Barack Obama
Barack Obama has shined at the DNC since his debut in 2004, when he was running for a Senate seat. Unlike anyone else at the DNC, his speech will be watched by millions. Per a source at the campaign, his job is to galvanise the same coalition that helped him get elected in 2008 while speaking to independent voters, who hold the key for the Race to the White House. His speech will be aimed at presenting the vision democrats have for the future drawing stark contrast from Republicans. He will talk about Abortion rights, Healthcare, Economy and Foreign Policy.
Wednesday, August 21: A Fight for Our Freedoms – Key Speakers – Bill Clinton & VP Candidate Walz
Former President Bill Clinton will be giving his 10th consecutive speech at the DNC. Clinton will remind democratic base about the importance of freedom a theme the democrats have stuck since Project 2025 was unveiled earlier this year. As a stalwart of the Democratic Party, he and Hillary quickly endorsed Kamala when Biden bowed out. It is expected that Hillary will also speak at the DNC. The other headliner on Wednesday will be VP Candidate Gov. Walz. Walz has not had an easy outing since he was picked as a running mate. This will be an opportunity for him to calm any nerves and deliver on the big stage, reminding voters of the choice between Trump and Harris.
Thursday, August 22: For Our Future – Key Speakers Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff & VP Kamala Harris
On Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris will be introduced by her husband, Doug Emhoff, before delivering her address, highlighting the historic nature of this ticket. To say this is the biggest stage for Kamala Harris will be an understatement. She is aware that her speech will be watched all over the globe, every word every sentence and every gesture will be scrutinised. She will try to win voters with her policy, her personality and her record, a daunting task when the odds are stacked against her in terms of history and the polarised nature of current American politics. She will be introduced by her husband, Doug Emhoff who will remind America why they should choose her.
The Harris-Walz ticket is historic in its nature, marking the first time a woman of South Asian and African American descent is at the top of the Democratic ticket, paired with a progressive governor who has championed working families and civil rights. This combination brings together a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to advancing justice and equality for all Americans.
