DNC joy signals relief for down-ballot Democrats
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago Monday. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Not two months ago, millions of Americans saw what looked like the whole national election quickly slipping away from the Democrats.
On June 27, President Joe Biden waded into a first "rematch" debate against previous President Donald Trump. Biden, at 81 the oldest incumbent president in U.S. history, shuffled on stage, tried talking too quickly, and lost the direction of his sentences. At one point a thought came out as, "We finally beat Medicare." The disaster was plain after 10 minutes.
After weeks of denial and agonizing for him and other Democrats, Biden quit the race, sending the party to ultimately scramble and set up the campaign for his vice president, Kamala Harris, to succeed him in the top spot on the ballot.
Political moods or vibes can shift with lightning speed. That’s why the mantras issuing from this week’s Chicago convention became "joy" and "electric" and "energy." Quickly, the party showed swagger, put on a jubilant prime-time show, thanked a gracious Biden, and ushered in a new and avuncular veep candidate, Tim Walz. He and Harris will keep traveling in search of swing-state support.
Walz spoke Wednesday of "bringing the joy" to a transformed ballot. He could just as easily have said "bringing relief" to describe the roots of the show’s energy. That is, the joy of one who has unexpectedly survived a setback. Trump reacted as if cheated out of a rematch.
The party signified unity on each of the four days in Chicago. No platform fights. Verbal vitriol was targeted mainly at Republicans and their alleged extreme plans for government. The only wrinkle came from uncommitted delegates who wanted time to speak on stage about Gaza; they were rebuffed yet still pressing Thursday.
Those most relieved at the chance to defeat Trump again, this time without Biden, include down-ballot congressional candidates all over the Democratic landscape. Said one New Yorker: "The renewed energy and optimism changes the turnout model of the electorate. The positive beats the negative and we need to be happy warriors offering common-sense solutions."
This exuberance could be a defiant response to the dark view repeatedly expressed by Trump that the U.S. is now a disaster on all fronts and that his return to executive power holds the only promise for the future. Trump never actually argues the case — which likely means his detractors also could get away with making claims devoid of specifics from here to November.
Democratic state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli joined in the encouraging rallying cry of the week when he addressed New York’s DNC delegation: "It’s a winning ticket. Don’t you feel it? Don’t you feel it? I feel it, too!"
He expanded on the optimism. "When I hear the messaging that’s coming out of this convention, it really makes very clear the Democratic Party is the party that’s going to save the middle class in America," DiNapoli said. He and other speakers stressed the importance of enthusiasm at the top of the ticket to redeem congressional seats and make Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of Brooklyn speaker of the House.
DiNapoli told the audience: "Democrats will leave here united with a sense of purpose and commitment — and joy — that we’re going to get out the vote and win this year."
On Long Island, where "red" trends of recent years have put the GOP in all top elected positions, that "joy" might spell relief — if it prevails.
Columnist Dan Janison's opinions are his own.
Dan Janison is a member of the Newsday editorial board.
