Vice President Harris will be tasked with keeping up the momentum ahead of next week’s Democratic National Convention, as she looks to reassert herself to the American people.
Harris’ month-long campaign has reinvigorated the party in a way that Biden has struggled to do, but she will also face the challenge of planning what her presidency would look like and selling herself on new policies.
“I don’t think most Americans have spent much time thinking about what Vice President Harris has done over the last four years, which is why this convention is such an important moment,” said David Thomas, a Democratic strategist and former aide to then-Vice President Al Gore.
“This is a way to introduce her to the country, to people who may not follow what’s going on in Washington as much as we do. I think it’s going to introduce her to the country, to people who say, ‘Oh, I know she was vice president, but who is she?'” he added.
Harris has spent the last month raising funds, releasing ads that draw on her background and personal story and trialling a new messaging strategy for her campaign, warning that another term under former President Trump would take the country backwards and promising a new path forward.
She also unveiled her economic plan, which she called a way to create an “opportunity economy” and made it a priority for her first 100 days in office, including an end to federal price gouging, a plan to build new homes to help fill the housing shortage, and an expansion of the child tax credit.
The groundwork she has laid in record time will be on full display in her acceptance speech on Thursday night, where she will be met with the same excitement she has witnessed throughout her weeks of campaigning across the country.
“Democrats are full of enthusiasm. They’re now leading by the much-vaunted enthusiasm margin, showing up to massive rallies, signing up to volunteer and giving record amounts of grassroots donations. The impetus from the convention will be what keeps everyone’s foot on the gas,” said Clayton Cox, former Democratic National Committee finance director.
But a lingering question throughout her fast-paced campaign is whether she can maintain her momentum. Democrats will be closely watching her speech on Thursday to hear her plan for beating Trump in November’s election and for Democrats to win lower-level races.
Harris’ allies argue she is up to the task.
“The momentum is great and she will continue to unite the party, this time in a celebratory way. I’m not worried. She’ll be great,” one former aide to Harris said.
Harris has upended the race, leading Trump by 0.3 percentage points in the Decision Desk HQ/The Hill average of national polls and leading Trump in six of the seven battleground states.
“I think people are excited to see her lead the party in this first big moment and I think when she steps on the floor, there’s going to be so much energy and excitement that it’s going to blow through the United Center,” Thomas said.
“It’s going to be a very exciting moment, so I’m not sure whether she mentions any specific policy proposals or not is going to matter all that much as long as we have a leader who’s going to take over in November and lead the way,” he added.
Republicans appeared completely united in supporting Trump at their convention in Wisconsin last month, and the Trump campaign has struggled to track Harris’ surge in the polls since she took over the Democratic nomination just days after the convention ended.
Republicans continue to argue that Harris’ honeymoon period will end after next week’s convention.
“The real challenge is going to be when the honeymoon period of Harris’ promotion is over and we get down to business,” said Mark Lumpkin, a Republican lobbyist and former deputy campaign manager for Bush’s presidential campaign. “Once we get out of the conventions, we’re going to have to take stock of both sides and decide whether a lot of voters are better off now than they were four years ago.”
Harris’ speech will follow speeches from three current and former presidents: Biden will kick off the week with a speech on Monday, followed by former presidents Barack Obama and Clinton on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
In a preview of things to come, Ms Harris and Mr Biden appeared united at an event in Maryland last week, but the president has now taken on the role of attack dog against Mr Trump and is likely to maintain that role through November as a way of supporting his chosen successor.
“She’ll be a great president,” Biden told the crowd.
Barbara Perry, a professor of presidential studies at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center, said Harris has played her role as being “totally polite and gracious” to the president after topping his shortlist on his behalf.
“She was flawless from start to finish,” Harris said, acknowledging that now that she has formally accepted the nomination, Harris must keep up the momentum.
“She’s going to have to hit another home run,” she said.
