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August 19th 2024

A sharp round-up of the most important political news

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The US in brief

A sharp round-up of the most important political news

DNC watch
Democrats are flocking to Chicago for their national convention this week. The gathering has already done its most important job. Delegates nominated Kamala Harris to be the party’s presidential candidate in a virtual roll call on August 6th. In place of the nominating vote, originally scheduled for Tuesday night, DJs are expected to lead a rally by playing songs representing each state’s delegation. Today President Joe Biden, until a few weeks ago the Democrats’ presidential candidate, will speak. Though reportedly still smarting from being forced out of the race by party grandees, he will present a message of unity and support for Ms Harris and her running-mate, Tim Walz.

Outside the DNC protesters will denounce the administration’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza. Although pro-Palestinian Democrats are less critical of Ms Harris on the issue than they are of Mr Biden, organisers expect 20,000 demonstrators to turn out. They will also have support within the convention hall. A handful of “uncommitted” delegates, who back the pro-Palestinian cause rather than any presidential candidate, won primaries.

Before heading to Chicago, Ms Harris and Mr Walz took a bus tour of western Pennsylvania, which, outside Pittsburgh, leans Republican. “Anybody who’s about beating down other people is a coward,” said Ms Harris, a barb presumably directed at Donald Trump. On Saturday Mr Trump criticised Ms Harris’s economic plans at a rally in the battleground state, calling the vice-president “Comrade Kamala” and saying she went “full communist”.

While Democrats gather in Illinois Mr Trump will campaign in swing states. The former president will make stops in Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, Arizona and Nevada. He is supposed to focus on three issues: immigration, the economy and crime. The question will be whether he can stay on message and avoid spending lots of time airing his grievances and insulting Ms Harris.

Three committees of the House of Representatives released a report alleging that Mr Biden had committed “impeachable conduct”. The report, which has been in the works since Republicans took control of the House in January 2023, focuses on the business dealings of Mr Biden’s family. It claims that the president has committed abuse of power and obstructed justice.

The Harris campaign said that it would spend $370m on advertising in battleground states between September 3rd and the election on November 5th. While $170m will go to broadcast television, $200m is for ads on streaming platforms such as Hulu, Roku and YouTube (not including spending on social media and search-engine advertising). The campaign will spend more than any political organisation has ever spent on digital advertising, according to the campaign.

Correction: In Friday’s edition we said that Andy Kim defeated Tammy Murphy in a primary in New Jersey. Ms Murphy actually dropped out before the contest finished. Sorry.

KAL flashback

Every Monday we will republish a cartoon by KAL from the archive. By the last Democratic National Convention in 2020, Democrats of all sorts, terrified that Donald Trump might win re-election, had unified around Joe Biden. This year’s DNC is following a similar script. Ms Harris won her party’s nomination virtually unopposed, and has since risen in the polls.

A view from elsewhere
Generally “Democrats have faith in government while the GOP is sceptical,” wrote J.D. Tuccille in the National Post, a Canadian newspaper. That is reflected in their candidates. Mr Trump and J.D. Vance have worked in the private sector; Ms Harris and Mr Walz have not. The election in November is a contest between “visions for a world in which government plays a larger role, and one where it does less”.

We want to hear from you
Readers are sending us lots of thoughtful emails so we’ve decided to publish some. If you have views on what is happening in America drop us a line at usib@economist.com. And, of course, we still welcome your feedback on this newsletter.

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Daily quiz

Monday: What is the official name of the Chicago building commonly called the “Sears Tower”?

See how to take part in the quiz at the bottom of this page.

If you enjoyed this week’s quiz, play Dateline, The Economist’s new history game.

Figure of the day

36%, the share of innovation in America attributable to immigrants, who make up only 14% of the population. Read our leader about how America is sabotaging itself in the global battle for talent.

Heard in Pennsylvania

I am much better looking than her.

—Donald Trump tells a crowd that he is more attractive than Kamala Harris.

Read all of our recent coverage of the 2024 election. Confused about a term? Check out our A-Z of American politics.

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