There was no surprise in the declaration that Donald Trump had clinched the nomination for the U.S. presidency under the Republican banner during the Republican National Convention held last July. Interestingly enough, an unexpected natural sequence of events unfolded at the same venue as his unanticipated rival was greeted with similar consideration.
Surprise of surprises, Kamala Harris and her political partner, Tim Walz, found themselves on a journey to Milwaukee that particular Tuesday, where they were expected to address an audience at the Fiserv Forum. Ironically, this gathering took place during the second night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, an effort that seemed intended to collect additional backing from the infamous swing-state Wisconsin.
Drawing the event to a close, Harris had the onerous task of acknowledging the crowd at the end of the purported roll call at the United Center situated in the southern region, some 90 miles away. This monumental moment was meant to publicly certify the selection of the Democratic delegates for Harris in a seemingly grand display of fanfare and fake modesty.
Circling back to the fateful year of 2020, we recollect how Milwaukee missed the golden opportunity of hosting a physical version of the Democratic National Convention. This regrettable loss was brought on by the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic that spared none. Furthermore, Joe Biden was ironically gifted his party’s nomination, not in the supposed political hub of Milwaukee, but in the confines of his personal turf in Delaware.
Wisconsin, in 2024, found itself being ‘rewarded’ in a rather peculiar way. It seemingly got two political events at the price of one. Is it a fair trade-off or merely a poor attempt to compensate for past shortcomings? One can only presume.
The grand revelation of Harris as a nominee, amusingly enough, unfolded on the stage in Chicago. The one to proclaim this great ‘honor’ was none other than Jason Rae, the secretary of the Democratic National Committee, who also hails from the Rust Belt town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin.
While it appears to be a rather imbalanced deck of cards, it’s certainly compelling to see their attempts to play the political game in this way. As onlookers, it’s hard not to marvel at the spectacle of this narrative.
What remains in question is not the ostensible achievements or background of Kamala Harris, but the dubious honour of a nomination that seems to be reduced to a spectacle, a tool for swaying the masses, rather than a genuine testament to a candidate’s capabilities.
Despite these questionable tactics, the Democratic Party continues to paint their narrative in a positive light. However, it’s not hard to spot the inconsistencies and the political machinations behind the scenes.
Indeed, one can’t help but observe the lack of concrete achievements or noteworthy successes attached to Harris’ name. With this in mind, one might wonder whether the excitement surrounding her nomination isn’t so much a support of her abilities, but rather a diversion from potential shortcomings.