The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is being held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, beginning on Monday, July 25, to Thursday, July 28. Here are five storylines to watch unfold at the convention.
1. How will Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential pick, Tim Kaine, affect the convention and the campaign as a whole? Many were anticipating an all-female ticket with the selection of Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who has not only been vigorously opposing Donald Trump but also simultaneously advocating Hillary Clinton, even joining her on the campaign trail. However, Hillary Clinton’s selection of Virginia Senator Tim Kaine demonstrates her desire to appeal to the undecided and moderate Republican and independent voters. Kaine is a modest but proven politician who has amassed a prolific political career in the purple state of Virginia, where he has served as a member of the Richmond City Council, mayor, lieutenant governor, and governor beginning in 1994. He is also notable for never having lost an election, his Catholic faith, and anti-abortion stance, and will likely serve as a pick to help push Hillary Clinton closer to the center following the conclusion of the Democratic primaries against the liberal Bernie Sanders.
2. How much will Bernie Sanders unite the party behind Hillary Clinton? One of Hillary Clinton’s most important endorsements was probably that of her formal rival, Bernie Sanders. Sanders’s campaign energized millennials and inspired millions of voters across the country to come out and vote for the first time. His far-left positions were fairly stark contrasts to Clinton’s more moderate left positions, and some are criticizing her for being pushed too far to the left by her former opponent. Sanders’s speech at the convention will be intriguing as he attempts to coalesce his support with that of Clinton.
3. Has Hillary Clinton moved to the left? As alluded to earlier, the Democratic primaries have pushed some of Clinton’s positions further to the left. Some examples include raising the wage to $15 per hour (Clinton previously advocated for $12 per hour), making public colleges and universities tuition-free (Clinton previously promised to make college tuition more affordable), and guaranteeing universal health care for all Americans immediately (Clinton has discussed expanding ObamaCare to eventually cover all Americans). As she tries to appeal to undecided, moderate, and independent voters, Clinton must assure the voters that her positions are not too liberal and that she can be a “progressive” by being able to pass laws through Congress.
4. How can Hillary Clinton become a more trustworthy candidate? Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are polarizing figures that are at the top of their respective party’s ticket. While Trump is unappealing for his brash personality and endless string of controversial comments against multiple groups of people, many including Democrats, would rather vote third-party than vote for Clinton due to her inability to gain trust stemming from a history of lying to the public about things from the situation in Benghazi in which four Americans were killed to Bosnia in which she claimed she was under fire as she arrived when video evidence shows otherwise, as well as her e-mail scandal and potential mishandling of classified information while serving as Secretary of State. Many do not believe her promises based on her votes to enter the war in Iraq and secure the border while serving as a senator during the Bush administration. The DNC presents with the opportunity and the spotlight to discuss these topics, address these issues, and attempt to earn back the trust of the voters.
5. How will President Barack Obama have an impact on the convention and how much will he help Clinton’s campaign? Perhaps Clinton’s largest endorsement of all is that of President Barack Obama, which came just as the primaries were ending in early June. His is certainly a powerful voice when it comes to advocating for the next president of the United States, and in his endorsement said of Clinton, “I don’t think there’s ever been someone so qualified to hold this office.” His speech will be one of the most anticipated at the DNC. Other notable speakers include Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, Joe Biden, and Michelle Obama.