The Democratic Party in the United States began the official confirmation of Vice President Kamala Harris as the presidential candidate at the convention held in Chicago on the 19th (local time). The Democratic Party is expected to gather support for Vice President Harris, who is leading in the polls, with President Joe Biden, Barack and Michelle Obama, and celebrities all rallying behind her. The party also revealed policy guidelines ahead of the event.
According to CNN and other major foreign media outlets, the Democratic Party will hold the convention at the home stadium of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls, the United Center, from the 19th to the 22nd. It is expected that around 50,000 people, including 5,000 party delegates, will attend the convention. During this period, policy announcements, key policy proposals, and endorsement speeches by key figures will take place, and the presidential and vice presidential candidates will deliver acceptance speeches.
The Democratic Party is regaining momentum with Vice President Harris at the center following Biden’s resignation. According to opinion polls released by The Washington Post and ABC on the 18th, Vice President Harris surpassed former President Donald Trump (Republican) with a 49% approval rating against his 45%.
On the first day of the convention on the 19th, President Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will take the stage, followed by former President Barack Obama and his wife on the 20th. On the 21st, with an introduction by former President Bill Clinton, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the vice presidential candidate, will deliver his acceptance speech, and Vice President Harris will close out the event with her acceptance speech on the last day.
Hollywood and pop stars’ support is also anticipated. John Legend, who attended the Democratic convention in the last two presidential elections, is scheduled to perform on the 20th. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who portrayed the first female vice president in the drama “Veep,” will host a discussion with female Democratic governors on the 21st. Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, known supporters of the Democratic Party, may make surprise appearances. Swift recently posted a photo on Instagram with a shadow resembling Vice President Harris, leading to speculation of an impending endorsement from her.
However, tension is reported around the convention venue as pro-Palestinian demonstrators plan to protest against Biden’s support for Israel. The scale of the protest is expected to reach tens of thousands, posing challenges for the Democratic Party as these demonstrators are among their support base.
On the policy front, the Democratic Party released guidelines late on the 18th to demonstrate their policy direction. The guidelines, passed as a draft six days prior to Biden’s resignation on July 16, mention Biden’s name 287 times in the 92-page document. The name of Trump is mentioned 150 times, illustrating the stark differences in vision between the two sides.
Regarding foreign policy, the guidelines emphasize support for democratic nations with allies and opposition to authoritarian states, stating that President Biden will not turn his back on allies. Regarding Korea, it is mentioned that Trump directly threatened the withdrawal of U.S. forces stationed in South Korea over a trade dispute, while the Democratic government has sided with Korea before and will continue to do so.
On economic issues, the guidelines emphasize rewarding labor over capital, providing support and benefits to the middle class and workers, and committing to taxing millionaires at least 25% of their income. However, the guidelines do not include contents such as the federal legislation push towards cracking down on food company price gouging measures revealed by Vice President Harris last week.
In terms of climate change policies, the guidelines promise to continue investing in clean energy, and in immigration policies, they vow to welcome legal immigrants while ensuring border security. They also commit to protecting abortion rights, enhancing background checks for gun owners, among other promises.