The first of the 2016 nominating conventions is in the books and the attention of the political world now shifts to Philadelphia and the Democratic National Convention. The Daily Cardinal will be back on the ground providing updates at dailycardinal.com and on Twitter at @CardPolitics. Here are five things to watch in Philly:
1. Will Hillary be able to make nice with progressives?
After a surprisingly long and divisive primary, the biggest question for the convention will be whether Clinton will be able to successfully extend an olive branch to the most liberal wing of the party.
The process has already begun. After much hemming and hawing, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., finally decided to endorse Clinton earlier this month. The move came after he extracted historically generous concessions for a primary runner-up. He has pushed Clinton to the left on issues such as college affordability and health care, both of which are reflected in what is the most progressive party platform in history. This is because Sanders was able to appoint several members of the platform committee, including noted activist Cornel West, and this has allowed him the unprecedented ability to shape the platform.
This means that Sanders’ supporters will arrive in Philadelphia largely sated and happy. Polls have showed them unifying around Clinton faster than expected. But there are still members of the party who are unhappy with her stances on everything from trade to her vice presidential pick. Trotting out Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a progressive icon in her own right, will help smooth things over, but Clinton will need to continue her outreach to the most liberal wing of the party.
2. Introducing Tim Kaine to the world
In one of the most predictable vice presidential choices in recent memory, Clinton opted to tap Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine as her running mate. The choice is shockingly sensible: Kaine is fluent in Spanish from his time as a missionary in Honduras and should be an effective surrogate for Hispanic voters. He represents a swing state, Virginia, and while pundits are split on whether a running mate boosts the ticket in their home state, the consensus is that a slight bump exists. This is key in a state which President Barack Obama won by three points in 2012. Clinton trusts Kaine, something which matters to the former Secretary of State. And Kaine is highly effective at reaching out to the same blue collar workers who may otherwise be intrigued by the populist message of Republican nominee Donald Trump.
Kaine is not perfect, however, and the most glaring flaw is that there will be a letdown in the progressive wing of the party that Clinton didn’t choose Sanders, Warren or New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker. Never mind that Sanders or Warren were never remotely in consideration, the fact of the matter is that Kaine will likely leave many leftists feeling high and dry. Kaine is not, however, a blue-dog Democrat: He has a 100 percent rating from Planned Parenthood and an F rating from the National Rifle Association, showing his strong support for gun control. His speech Wednesday night of the convention, as well as signs of support from the most progressive of his Senate colleagues and President Obama, will be key in determining how he is received.
3. Protests?
After a Republican convention in which little of the expected protest activity materialized, many are keen to see if groups will take to the street in Philly. Pro-Sanders groups, environmental activists and Black Lives Matter groups are among those expected to turn out, with city officials saying they are expecting upwards of 50,000 protesters a day. The main hub of activity will be Roosevelt Park, which conveniently borders the complex where the convention is taking place. Progressives say they will be camping out there, with daily rallies expected. Violence is not expected but we could see arrests. Also important will be the messages the protesters give off--will they show large-scale infighting within the party or merely squabbles over certain issues? Democrats will hope for the former to project an appearance of party unity.
4. Star power
Republicans had some of their biggest members at the convention, but the most high-profile members of the party, including George H.W. and George W. Bush, Mitt Romney and others, were not at the convention as an act of dissatisfaction with Trump. The Democrats, on the other hand, will have Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and First Lady Michelle Obama at their disposal. Virtually every major Democratic governor, senator and official will be speaking, including Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Wisconsin Rep. Gwen Moore. Celebrities ranging from Lady Gaga to Snoop Dogg are expected to be in Philly, performing for attendees. And then there will be Clinton herself, who is expected to speak at a larger venue, accepting the nomination in front of supporters in hopes of creating the pep rally-like atmosphere Obama had eight years ago in Denver.
5. Students will play a greater role
In Cleveland, the issue of college affordability was little discussed, with a throwaway line in Trump’s acceptance speech on student debt marking the most high-profile discussion on the topic. It did make an appearance in the GOP platform, but given the weight Sanders has put on making college free or more affordable, as well as the fact that Democrats see it as a wedge issue to win over young voters, there will likely be a robust discussion on the subject. The plan to make public college free for less affluent students, championed by progressives, will garner attention, as will issues including affirmative action, campus sexual assault and expanding government student loan programs.
