A crucial part of the presidential race has taken place recently, with the Republican National Convention (RNC) occurring July 15-18, and the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on Aug 19-22.
The RNC and DNC are events in which the party, Republican or Democratic, officially nominates its presidential and vice-presidential candidates. They also serve as a gathering in which people from all over the country can represent their pride for their political party.
“They indicate what the party believes and stands for and what they hope to get accomplished during the next four years,” Joseph Losco, a political science professor said.
The RNC and DNC were both televised, where people could watch from home as their favored candidates, Donald Trump, or Kamala Harris, delivered speeches summarizing their purpose and their goals as president or vice-president. The RNC and DNC are great opportunities for the candidates to reach out to all different audiences and really boost their campaign. Both conventions also featured many celebrity appearances and blasted popular music to increase enthusiasm.
Amber Rose, Savannah Chrisley, and Florida governor Ron DeSantis were all speakers at the 2024 RNC. During the convention, the band Sixwire played a collection of songs, including “Life is a Highway” by Tom Cochrane, “Hotel California” by The Eagles, and “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.” by John Mellencamp. Rapper and country artist Kid Rock also did a performance at the RNC, showing his support for Trump after years of endorsing him. On the final night of the convention, Trump gave a speech in which he gave the details of his assassination attempt, told the audience his stance on immigration, and took a moment to thank his wife, Melania Trump.
“The music, performers, and overall energy in the room has made it clear that this is a Trump coronation.” said Alayna Treene, a CNN expert.
A few weeks later, the DNC welcomed many guest speakers, including Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, and Mindy Kaling. The crowd danced to “Respect” by Aretha Franklin, “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton, and “Shake it Off” by Taylor Swift. Rapper Lil John performed “Turn Down for What” while introducing the state of Georgia, and Stevie Wonder briefly turned the convention into a concert while performing “Higher Ground.” In Harris’ speech on the final night of the DNC, she stated that as president she would work hard to protect abortion rights for women, improve conditions for America’s working-class citizens, and strengthen our foreign policy.
“This convention felt like a big success for the party. The question, though, is how it plays in the rest of the country and whether Harris is able to sustain her momentum through the September 10 debate and beyond.” said Simone Pathe, a CNN expert.
Both conventions got a lot of spirit for both candidates, but overall, the public agrees that the DNC was more successful, with the democratic convention bringing in millions more viewers than the republican one, and with Harris’ continued lead in the polls.