What to watch at the DNC on Monday: Bernie Sanders' big moment
The convention officially opens today with all eyes on whether the party can heal from a bitter primary and counter Donald Trump's performance at the GOP convention last week
The Democratic National Convention officially opens Monday with all eyes on whether the party can heal from a bitter primary and counter Donald Trump's performance at the GOP convention last week in Cleveland. Here's what we'll be watching for on day one:
— Bernie's big moment: Hillary Clinton's main rival, Bernie Sanders, gives a prime time speech tonight and all eyes are on whether the Vermont senator can bring his loyal supporters back into the Democratic fold. Sanders has already endorsed Clinton and has urged his backers to consider her positions against those of Donald Trump, but this moment, on a national stage, will be his best chance to deliver a forceful message to his backers and perhaps pull them into Clinton's corner. His task got harder with recent revelations showing national Democrats putting their thumbs on the scale for Clinton during the primary — bolstering claims that Sanders was treated unfairly. That makes Sanders' task Monday all the harder and more important — Clinton will need votes from his loyalists in the fall.
— Michelle Obama: President Obama has signaled for weeks now that he is itching to get into this fight, to repudiate Trump and protect his own legacy. He won't speak until later this week, but one of his best and most recognizable surrogates — the first lady — gets her shot on stage tonight. She's an effective communicator in her own right, and will hope to start building the week's momentum.
— Pa. in Play? Trump and his allies showered Pennsylvania's GOP delegation with attention in Cleveland: House Speaker Paul Ryan, Donald Trump Jr. and vice presidential nominee Mike Pence all addressed the group in a clear sign of how much they want to win the Keystone State. Do Democrats push back as hard? Or do they rely on recent history in a state they haven't lost since 1988? The party's national chairwoman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, was supposed to speak to the Pennsylvania delegation Monday morning, but that was nixed by her decision Sunday to resign. Instead, the delegation will hear from John Podesta, a longtime Clinton political advisor and member of her inner circle.
— Bern-ers: Thousands of protesters took to the Philadelphia streets Sunday to protest fracking and support Sanders in a show that must have had planners a little uneasy. Many Republican elites have problems with Donald Trump, but there was no grassroots rebelliousness in the streets of Cleveland last week. Will scenes outside the Wells Fargo Center overshadow the message of togetherness coming from inside? And how will Philadelphia handle the protests?
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