Led by Obama, Democrats prepare to crown Harris on Tuesday

After paying a vibrant tribute on Monday to Joe Biden, Democrats will crown Kamala Harris as their party's nominee on Tuesday during a day-long celebration in New York. Chicago, with Barack and Michelle Obama as distinguished guests.

The party, gathered in convention after one of the most eventful months in American political history, will formalize the entry into the running of the vice-president in the race for the White House, facing to Republican Donald Trump.

A coronation that looks like a “celebration”, promises the Democratic Party.

US President Joe Biden wipes away a tear after his daughter Ashley's speech at the Democratic convention in Chicago, August 19, 2024 © AFP – KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI

One by one, representatives from each US state will advance into the legendary Chicago Bulls basketball club's blue-carpeted lair to nominate Kamala Harris as their new candidate for the November presidential election.

This investiture had already been formalized during an online vote.

Democrats expected to campaign without passion for the octogenarian president, who is mired in the polls. But since his incredible withdrawal on July 21, they have found themselves dreaming again of a victory thanks to their 59-year-old candidate, who is ahead of Donald Trump in most opinion polls.

Kamala Harris, in Chicago, August 19, 2024 © AFP – CHARLY TRIBALLEAU

Mid-evening, delegates will then attend speeches from one of their party's star couples: the Obamas.

“C' “It's great to be back in Chicago!” said the first black president of the United States, referring to the city in which he cut his teeth.

The sixty-year-old will explain Tuesday evening “why Kamala Harris should be our president”, he wrote in a message on X.

– “Thank you Joe!” –

Barack Obama and Kamala Harris, at the White House, April 5, 2022 © GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA – CHIP SOMODEVILLA

The 44th President of the United States and his wife Michelle are still very popular among Democrats.

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“This is one of the “He's one of the best speakers of our time” and “he's very good at getting the energy level up and mobilizing volunteers,” Ted Hiserodt, 56, a delegate from Arizona, told AFP.

The goal of this second day of the convention, according to the Democrats, is to unfold “an ambitious vision for the future of America.”

The party is resolutely seeking to project itself into the future, just one month after Joe Biden's withdrawal.

The 81-year-old Democratic president, relegated to the cruel role of room warmer, passed the torch to his vice president on Monday evening to cheers and tears.

The leader received a deafening ovation from his party, with cries of “Thank you Joe!” (thanks Joe!), before sharing a long hug with Kamala Harris.

Kamala Harris, at the Democratic convention in Chicago, August 19, 2024 © AFP – ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS

He pledged to become the “best volunteer” for the campaign of the 50-year-old, who could become the first black woman to access the American presidency.

“We are eternally grateful” to Joe Biden, an “incredible” president, Kamala Harris praised on stage.

– A snub to Trump –

The American vice president will accept her party's nomination in front of the world's cameras during a grand evening on Thursday, punctuated by the release of thousands of balloons.

The American presidential calendar © AFP – Jonathan WALTER, Anibal MAIZ CACERES, Gal ROMA

The candidate, who has less than three months to convince Americans to elect her against Donald Trump, will briefly leave Chicago on Tuesday to make a detour to the neighboring state of Wisconsin, one of the most contested in the presidential election.

She will give a speech in the middle of the evening in the immense complex in Milwaukee, the same place where Donald Trump was invested by the Republicans a month earlier.

A barely veiled snub.

The 78-year-old former president was forced to review his entire electoral strategy after the shock withdrawal of his best enemy, Joe Biden.

Donald Trump, during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, mid-August 2024 © AFP – Jim WATSON

Eager to halt the momentum gained by his new rival, he is increasing his trips this week to the most contested states in the presidential election.

The septuagenarian will be in Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday afternoon for a campaign rally focused on the fight against crime.

Before other campaign meetings in North Carolina, Arizona and Nevada.

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