In a twist that would make even a soap opera writer smirk, President Biden is no longer the finale act at the Democratic National Convention. Instead, he will grace the stage with an opening primetime address—suddenly finding himself in the role of the opening act rather than the headliner. Following a rather spectacular belly flop in a recent debate against former President Donald Trump, Biden decided it was time to pass the baton to Vice President Kamala Harris, enforcing some last-minute shuffling of the convention schedule that would make a game of musical chairs seem organized.
The convention is slated to kick off next month in Chicago, and night one promises to be more of a love letter to Biden than an actual rallying cry for the Democratic base. This night will apparently highlight the president’s supposed achievements during his time in office—chief among them being the grand claim to have moved America beyond the COVID-19 era. It’ll be interesting to see how he spins that, given the never-ending cycle of restrictions and mandates that have neighboring folks outside of big cities shaking their heads in disbelief.
Biden to give opening night remarks at Democratic National Conventionhttps://t.co/wvBkeY8haJ pic.twitter.com/vm3azFxkR2
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) August 1, 2024
Typically, the Wednesday and Thursday slots are prime real estate for the main ticket holders, the vice presidential and presidential nominees. So it seems Biden’s team was left with the scraps of Monday night. It's not exactly the spot every politician dreams of, but hey, every comedian knows the best punchlines often come early in the set.
Meanwhile, the convention’s marquee entertainers are set to be former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, who will take the stage on Tuesday night. The timing couldn’t be more fitting—two figures who, it could be argued, made greater strides in their presidencies than the current occupant of the White House ever has. Their speeches are expected to ring through the halls with nostalgia for the glory days, leaving Biden to play the role of the undercard.
The plot thickens as Harris, riding a wave of enthusiasm following Biden’s endorsement, positions herself as the Democratic savior. With speculation swirling that she will soon reveal her running mate, all eyes are on her to see if she can keep the Democrats’ ship—currently taking on water—afloat as November approaches. One wonders if Team Harris really believes they’ve got what it takes to steer this party beyond the choppy waters that lie ahead.