Can Joe Biden salvage the DNC?
With the important exception of Barack Obama's brilliant speech, the Democrats blew it on Wednesday night. Viewers of the third night of the Democratic National Convention were treated to a video about gun control that could have been produced a year ago, long before the current sharp spike in violent crime across the country. Another spot on climate change looked and sounded like part an ad campaign thrown together for an energy company shortly after an oil spill. As for the speeches, all but Obama's fell flat. Most prominently, Hillary Clinton delivered a message that would have been more politically effective recited by just about anyone else, while Kamala Harris gave a pedestrian, disjointed speech in a tone of phony overacting.
More generally, everything on Wednesday night was suffused with the heavy-handed appeals to identity politics that thrill young party activists but leave almost everyone else cold or feeling alienated. If the idea was to treat the evening as a pep rally to rev up factionalized Democratic interest groups, then maybe it should be judged a success. But if the goal was to reach out to as many Americans as possible with a coherent and consistent message about why they should throw in with the Democratic Party in November, then Night 3 was mostly a dud.
That leaves Night 4 — and above all Joe Biden's speech — to bring the convention back on track. Remarks earlier in the evening by Sen. Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Andrew Yang, and Michael Bloomberg might do more than Wednesday night's speakers to paint an appealing picture of the Democratic Party. But it is Biden's speech that will set the tone for the general election campaign to come. Will it convincingly invite all Americans to join in a quest to unseat Donald Trump and move the country in a dramatically new direction? What will the new direction look like? How far will it track to the left or hew to the center? If Biden can answer these questions in a compelling way, he will have succeeded in erasing the bad memories of Wednesday night and bringing the convention to a successful close.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Damon Linker is a senior correspondent at TheWeek.com. He is also a former contributing editor at The New Republic and the author of The Theocons and The Religious Test.
-
Major League Baseball is facing an epidemic of pitcher's injuries
Under the Radar Many insiders are blaming the pitch clock for the rise in injuries — but the league is not so sure
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
8 movie musicals that prove the screen can share the stage
The Week Recommends The singing and dancing, bigger than life itself
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
2024 Mother's Day Gift Guide
The Week Recommends A present for every mom
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Net neutrality is back. And so is the battle over it.
Talking Point Old internet rules are being reinstated, but the internet has changed since last time
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Is the Supreme Court about to criminalize homelessness?
Talking Points The court will decide if bans on outdoor camping are 'cruel and unusual'
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Myanmar: the Spring Revolution and the downfall of the generals
Talking Point An armed protest movement has swept across the country since the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi was overthrown in 2021
By The Week Staff Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
It's not really about Biden's brain — unless it is
Talking Points Depending on who you ask, the renewed focus on the president's mental acuity is an election-year distraction, a legitimate point of concern, and sometimes both
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
The politics of music: should political rallies use well-known songs?
Talking Point The Smiths star Johnny Marr is latest musician to object to use of his music at a Donald Trump rally
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published