Virtual Conventions Kickoff U.S. Campaign Season
Political conventions traditionally mark the start of General Election campaign season — when national parties go all out on pageantry to outline their platforms, officially nominate their candidates and galvanize their supporters. But like almost everything in 2020, the conventions looked different in form and function this year — no balloon drops, no rowdy roll call votes, no crowds roaring with approval.
Still, the end goal remained the same: energize supporters to get out and vote to lead their candidate to victory.
This year, with America’s problems on full display — high unemployment, millions sickened, nearly 180,000 dead and social unrest in American cities — political leaders had their work cut out for them.
With the theme “Build Back Better” former Vice President Joe Biden introduced himself as the Democratic Party’s candidate for president, and his running mate U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, and worked to highlight how they would lead differently from the current administration.
Under the theme of “Promises Made, Promises Kept,” President Donald J. Trump sought to frame his record and underscore why he, and Vice President Mike Pence, deserve four more years in the White House. In an unprecedented move, President Trump delivered his acceptance speech on the South Lawn of the White House.
Key Messages, Messengers
Both parties spoke of the economy, character and COVID-19 though they sharply contrasted in the visions they laid out for America.
Speakers at the DNC were laser focused on 2020 being a referendum on President Trump — talking about why he is the wrong president for America and how he’s mismanaged the coronavirus pandemic. They portrayed the heart of America as being on the ballot this fall and numerous speakers called on Americans to join in the “battle for the soul of our nation.”
“I give you my word,” Biden said. “If you entrust me with the presidency, I will draw on the best of us, not the worst. I will be an ally of the light, not the darkness.”
Among those calling on the nation to support Biden were Former President and First Lady, Barack and Michelle Obama, Former President and First Lady, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Democratic Members of Congress, Biden’s children and grandchildren, a 13-year-old boy who thanked Biden for helping him confront his stutter, and even a few Republicans, including former Ohio Governor John Kasich.
Speakers at the RNC painted a grim picture of what a Biden-led America would look like, invoking images of riots in the streets, an uptick in crime, and policies that could bankrupt taxpayers through a socialist agenda. As Americans watched the RNC from the comfort of their homes, chaos engulfed the streets of Kenosha, Wis. and other cities across the country in protest of a white police officer shooting Jacob Blake, a Black man.
“This election will decide whether we will defend the American way of life, or whether we allow a radical movement to completely dismantle and destroy it,” Trump said. “In the left’s backward view, they do not see America as the most free, just, and exceptional nation on earth. Instead, they see a wicked nation that must be punished for its sins.”
Trump’s re-election effort got a boost from speakers including former South Carolina Governor and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley; First Lady Melania Trump; Secretary of State Mike Pompeo via satellite from Israel; Members of Congress, including Sen. Tim Scott, the lone African-American Republican in the Senate; Trump’s adult children; and former NFL player Herschel Walker who detailed his 37-year friendship with the president.
Extraordinary Circumstances, Unprecedented Acts
Going into the conventions, Trump was in an unusual position: trailing in national and battleground state polls. There have been only three incumbents who were down by more than a point at the beginning of the convention period since 1940: Harry Truman in 1948, Gerald Ford in 1976 and Jimmy Carter in 1980.
The first poll after the Democratic National Convention show Biden ahead by a 52% to 42% margin among likely voters, according to CBS News/YouGov. That’s unchanged from before the conventions.
Another break from the norm: the Republicans hosted much of their convention at federal properties, sparking accusations of ethics violations and an abuse of presidential power. The RNC featured footage of President Trump inside the White House issuing an official pardon and participating in a naturalization ceremony with the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf. The grand finale included a fireworks display over the Washington Monument that spelled out “Trump 2020.”
Biden was the first Democratic nominee since Franklin D. Roosevelt not to deliver an acceptance speech before a live convention audience, but rather the 25-minute speech was made in the empty Chase Center in Wilmington, Del. The DNC also had a fireworks display at the conclusion and supporters watched from the parking lot — in their cars — waving American flags and honking their horns.
In his speech, Trump called Biden “the destroyer of American greatness.” In an interview before Trump’s speech, Biden condemned the president and accused him of rooting for violence in America because he “views it as a political benefit.”
The Path Forward: A Race to the Finish.
America will now spend the next two months with intense campaigning until Election Day and televised debates between the candidates, which are an opportunity for candidates to present their ideas and to tout their accomplishments. The format also allows for an unfettered back-and-forth between the candidates where policies can be challenged and composure under pressure can be measured. The first presidential debate between President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled for Sept. 29 in Cleveland, OH, a traditional swing state. Battleground states will likely make or break the presidential election — with an out-sized portion of events, TV ads, mail, and digital communications in states such as Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Trump and Biden will face each other in two more debates set for Oct. 15 and 22. The debate between Vice President Pence and U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris is slated for Oct. 7.
Edited by Jillian Nystedt and Nicole Sheehan
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