The recent conventions presented a stark contrast between the two major US political parties. The Republican National Convention (RNC) was marked by a strong sense of unity and enthusiasm for President Trump as the party’s nominee. This was evident in his resounding nomination victory, with 2,550 delegates voting for him. Speeches delivered by key party figures, such as Vice President Pence and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, unequivocally endorsed Trump while attacking the Democratic agenda.
Conversely, the Democratic National Convention (DNC) appeared rife with discord and disagreement. Despite Joe Biden’s nomination, there was obvious tension due to differing ideological stances within the party. Progressives like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have pushed for a more left-leaning platform, such as defunding the police and implementing the Green New Deal, which other moderate Democrats resist. This discord was noticeable in many speeches and made for an unsettled convention.
Furthermore, at the DNC, there were conflicts over how much airtime to give to each faction within the party, and how radical the party’s message should be. The need to maintain party unity while appealing to a broad electoral base added further stress.
In conclusion, the two conventions illustrated a Republican party firmly behind their candidate and his agenda, while the Democrats seemed divided over theirs. Whether this will impact the election’s outcome remains to be seen.
