Vice President Kamala Harris prepared for her moment at the Democratic National Convention from a hotel suite in downtown Chicago, aiming to turn the momentum she had into a movement towards the Oval Office. Harris has been thinking about her speech for several weeks, formulating the argument she hopes to make on the final night of the convention since President Joe Biden removed himself from the top of the Democratic ticket. Despite not being considered one of the party’s master speechmakers, Harris’ ability to distill policy into understandable terms has helped her gather massive crowds since launching her campaign less than a month ago.
Harris, who has been vice president for over three years, has parts of her biography that Americans are unaware of, according to her advisers. In Chicago, pieces of her background have been incorporated into speeches throughout the week, focusing on defining her as a prosecutor, fighter, and daughter of a single middle-class mother. For her upcoming speech, it is expected that she will touch on these points and more as a high-profile introduction to American voters. Harris has been refining her text extensively, working from her campaign rally stump speech and practicing extensively at the Park Hyatt Chicago where she is staying.
Harris’ convention speech has been a daily focus since Biden exited the presidential race, with her advisers helping to guide the themes she will address. The speech has been written by Adam Frankel, a former adviser to President Barack Obama who has studied the historic speeches of John F. Kennedy. A key focus of the speech is on eloquence’s role in public life and the ability to mobilize people for change. Harris has looked to previous major speeches for inspiration, allowing others to emphasize her groundbreaking potential rather than dwelling on it herself.
In the final hours before her prime-time speech, Harris has been perfecting her delivery and anticipating how the audience will receive each line. This week has also provided her with ample time to spend with her family, who have gathered in Chicago for the political festivities. Close adviser Cedric Richmond views Harris’ speech as her introduction to America in her own voice, focusing on delivering a message that showcases her care for the American people and her commitment to fighting for them every day. Brian Brokaw, who has advised Harris for years, believes her objective for the speech is to show a side of her that many voters do not yet know and to highlight the contrast between her positive, unifying vision and the opposing ticket’s negative narrative.
