The recent Republican and Democratic conventions were both characterized by feelings of confidence and euphoria among their respective partisans. The GOP convention in Milwaukee focused on unifying the party following an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, but fell short of presenting a new, more moderate Trump to skeptical voters. Instead, the convention appealed mainly to younger working-class men. The Democrats in Chicago, on the other hand, made efforts to reassure skeptical moderates about the party’s direction, addressing concerns about domestic security and perceptions of being too “woke.” While some progressives pressed for more attention to Gaza protesters, the party remained disciplined in its messaging.
The Democrats aimed to appeal to independent and disaffected Republican voters, emphasizing that a vote for Kamala Harris did not mean giving up conservative beliefs. The convention was tightly controlled, with organizers monitoring delegations with “uncommitted” delegates to prevent disruptions. Although the impact of conventions on elections historically has been limited, there is a possibility that Harris could receive a significant bounce in the polls after the convention.
The strategy employed by the Democrats in this convention is reminiscent of past conventions that successfully rebranded candidates and shifted the momentum of the election, such as Bill Clinton in 1992 and Al Gore in 2000. Despite the positive reception of the convention, there is a sense of unease among Democratic strategists about potential future developments that could impact the campaign.
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