Democrats open a new kind of convention: What to expect

ATLANTA (AP) — The Democratic Party will convene, sort of, amid a pandemic that has upended the usual pomp-and-circumstance of presidential nominating conventions.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez will be in Milwaukee, which he’d chosen as the 2020 convention host city. But presidential candidate Joe Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, won’t be. Nor will the 57 state and territorial delegations, party activists and media hordes that would have filled a downtown arena to see Biden and Harris nominated to take on President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence in November.

Instead, Democrats will put on essentially an all-virtual convention, broadcasting two hours of prime-time programming, much of it pre-taped, Monday through Thursday. No crowds. No hullabaloo. And no balloons.

What to watch on opening night Monday:

THE MESSAGE: The theme is deliberately vague, “We the People,” and the lineup doesn’t fit neatly into any box. Viewers will hear from Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who finished second to Biden in the nominating contest, and Republican John Kasich, the former Ohio governor and 2016 primary rival to Trump. To underscore the gap: That’s a self-identified democratic socialist who wants a “political revolution” and a conservative Republican who was once a budget hawk in Congress and fought labor unions in the Ohio statehouse. And both will pitch for Biden.

That reflects a key reality of Biden’s candidacy: It’s always been more of a moral and competency case against Trump than about the particulars of Democrats’ policy fights. Hence his campaign pledges to “unify the country” and “restore the soul of the nation.” Yet Biden has spent the last several months trying to shore up relationships with the party’s left flank, which remains skeptical about him. He has a lengthy policy slate he touts as the most progressive of any modern Democratic nominee.

The convention’s opening night will test how seamlessly the Biden campaign can spend the next 80 or so days casting such a wide net across a splintered American electorate.

SANDERS’ TONE: The Vermont senator is a two-time runner-up for the nomination but by Biden’s own admission has done as much as any losing presidential candidate to shape a major political party. Four years ago, Sanders was at the microphone to nominate Hillary Clinton on the floor in Philadelphia, but the bitterness between their camps was apparent, and it wounded her against Trump.

There’s no convention floor to have a fight on this year. No way for viewers at home to hear delegates jeering at anyone on stage they dislike or disagree with. There are other key differences: Sanders and Biden are personally more friendly to each other than Clinton and Sanders were; Biden sewed up the nomination earlier, giving Sanders less leverage this year; and, of course, Trump isn’t a hypothetical president as he was in 2016. He is the president, and Sanders has made clear that he sees 2020 as an existential election for the country.

Given all that, the question becomes how Sanders balances his own ideological fervor — which highlights distinctions between himself and Biden — with his personal affinity for the nominee and their shared mission to defeat Trump.

63 PHOTOSBernie Sanders' 2020 presidential bidSee GalleryBernie Sanders' 2020 presidential bidDemocratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders speaks during a Get Out to Caucus Rally at Springs Preserve Amphitheater in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 21, 2020. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)AUSTIN, TX – FEBRUARY 23: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and his wife Jane Sanders wave to the crowd at the end of a campaign rally at Vic Mathias Shores Park on February 23, 2020 in Austin, Texas. With early voting underway in Texas, Sanders is holding four rallies in the delegate-rich state this weekend before traveling on to South Carolina. Texas holds their primary on Super Tuesday March 3rd, along with over a dozen other states. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)AUSTIN, TX – FEBRUARY 23: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks during a campaign rally at Vic Mathias Shores Park on February 23, 2020 in Austin, Texas. With early voting underway in Texas, Sanders is holding four rallies in the delegate-rich state this weekend before traveling on to South Carolina. Texas holds their primary on Super Tuesday March 3rd, along with over a dozen other states. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)AUSTIN, TX – FEBRUARY 23: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks during a campaign rally at Vic Mathias Shores Park on February 23, 2020 in Austin, Texas. With early voting underway in Texas, Sanders is holding four rallies in the delegate-rich state this weekend before traveling on to South Carolina. Texas holds their primary on Super Tuesday March 3rd, along with over a dozen other states. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)AUSTIN, TX – FEBRUARY 23: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and his wife Jane Sanders arrive onstage for a campaign rally at Vic Mathias Shores Park on February 23, 2020 in Austin, Texas. With early voting underway in Texas, Sanders is holding four rallies in the delegate-rich state this weekend before traveling on to South Carolina. Texas holds their primary on Super Tuesday March 3rd, along with over a dozen other states. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)Supporters of Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders cheer during a rally at Houston University in Houston, Texas on February 23, 2020. (Photo by Mark Felix / AFP) (Photo by MARK FELIX/AFP via Getty Images)AUSTIN, TX – FEBRUARY 23: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks during a campaign rally at Vic Mathias Shores Park on February 23, 2020 in Austin, Texas. With early voting underway in Texas, Sanders is holding four rallies in the delegate-rich state this weekend before traveling on to South Carolina. Texas holds their primary on Super Tuesday March 3rd, along with over a dozen other states. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)AUSTIN, TX – FEBRUARY 23: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks during a campaign rally at Vic Mathias Shores Park on February 23, 2020 in Austin, Texas. With early voting underway in Texas, Sanders is holding four rallies in the delegate-rich state this weekend before traveling on to South Carolina. Texas holds their primary on Super Tuesday March 3rd, along with over a dozen other states. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)AUSTIN, TX – FEBRUARY 23: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks during a campaign rally at Vic Mathias Shores Park on February 23, 2020 in Austin, Texas. With early voting underway in Texas, Sanders is holding four rallies in the delegate-rich state this weekend before traveling on to South Carolina. Texas holds their primary on Super Tuesday March 3rd, along with over a dozen other states. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)AUSTIN, TX – FEBRUARY 23: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) waves as he arrives onstage for a campaign rally at Vic Mathias Shores Park on February 23, 2020 in Austin, Texas. With early voting underway in Texas, Sanders is holding four rallies in the delegate-rich state this weekend before traveling on to South Carolina. Texas holds their primary on Super Tuesday March 3rd, along with over a dozen other states. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders speaks during a rally at Houston University in Houston, Texas on February 23, 2020. (Photo by Mark Felix / AFP) (Photo by MARK FELIX/AFP via Getty Images)Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and his wife Jane O’Meara Sanders arrive on stage during a rally at Houston University in Houston, Texas on February 23, 2020. (Photo by Mark Felix / AFP) (Photo by MARK FELIX/AFP via Getty Images)TOPSHOT – Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders speaks during a rally at Houston University in Houston, Texas on February 23, 2020. (Photo by Mark Felix / AFP) (Photo by MARK FELIX/AFP via Getty Images)Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders speaks during a rally at Houston University in Houston, Texas on February 23, 2020. (Photo by Mark Felix / AFP) (Photo by MARK FELIX/AFP via Getty Images)Supporters of Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders cheer during a rally at Houston University in Houston, Texas on February 23, 2020. (Photo by Mark Felix / AFP) (Photo by MARK FELIX/AFP via Getty Images)HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 23: (L-R) Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and his wife Jane Sanders wave at the end of a campaign rally at the University of Houston on February 23, 2020 in Houston, Texas. With early voting underway in Texas, Sanders is holding four rallies in the delegate-rich state this weekend before traveling on to South Carolina. Texas holds their primary on Super Tuesday March 3rd, along with over a dozen other states. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 23: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks during a campaign rally at the University of Houston on February 23, 2020 in Houston, Texas. With early voting underway in Texas, Sanders is holding four rallies in the delegate-rich state this weekend before traveling on to South Carolina. Texas holds their primary on Super Tuesday March 3rd, along with over a dozen other states. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 23: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks during a campaign rally at the University of Houston on February 23, 2020 in Houston, Texas. With early voting underway in Texas, Sanders is holding four rallies in the delegate-rich state this weekend before traveling on to South Carolina. Texas holds their primary on Super Tuesday March 3rd, along with over a dozen other states. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)Supporters of Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders cheer during a rally at Houston University in Houston, Texas on February 23, 2020. (Photo by Mark Felix / AFP) (Photo by MARK FELIX/AFP via Getty Images)Supporters of Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders cheer during a rally at Houston University in Houston, Texas on February 23, 2020. (Photo by Mark Felix / AFP) (Photo by MARK FELIX/AFP via Getty Images)SAN ANTONIO, TX – FEBRUARY 22: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and his wife Jane Sanders wave as they exit the stage after winning the Nevada caucuses during a campaign rally at Cowboys Dancehall on February 22, 2020 in San Antonio, Texas. With early voting underway in Texas, Sanders is holding four rallies in the delegate-rich state this weekend before traveling on to South Carolina. Texas holds their primary on Super Tuesday March 3rd, along with over a dozen other states. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)SAN ANTONIO, TX – FEBRUARY 22: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and his wife Jane Sanders wave as they exit the stage after winning the Nevada caucuses during a campaign rally at Cowboys Dancehall on February 22, 2020 in San Antonio, Texas. With early voting underway in Texas, Sanders is holding four rallies in the delegate-rich state this weekend before traveling on to South Carolina. Texas holds their primary on Super Tuesday March 3rd, along with over a dozen other states (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)Supporters of Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders cheer during a rally at the Abraham Chavez Theater on February 22, 2020 in El Paso, Texas. – Leftist Bernie Sanders took an early lead on February 22 in Nevada’s caucuses, the third nominating contest for Democrats in their high-stakes process to see who will challenge Republican Donald Trump in November’s presidential election. (Photo by Paul Ratje / AFP) (Photo by PAUL RATJE/AFP via Getty Images)Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders gestures as he speaks during a rally at the Abraham Chavez Theater on February 22, 2020 in El Paso, Texas. – Leftist Bernie Sanders took an early lead on February 22 in Nevada’s caucuses, the third nominating contest for Democrats in their high-stakes process to see who will challenge Republican Donald Trump in November’s presidential election. (Photo by Paul Ratje / AFP) (Photo by PAUL RATJE/AFP via Getty Images)Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders gestures as he speaks during a rally at the Abraham Chavez Theater on February 22, 2020 in El Paso, Texas. – Leftist Bernie Sanders took an early lead on February 22 in Nevada’s caucuses, the third nominating contest for Democrats in their high-stakes process to see who will challenge Republican Donald Trump in November’s presidential election. (Photo by Paul Ratje / AFP) (Photo by PAUL RATJE/AFP via Getty Images)Olivia Thomas holds a sign inside the Abraham Chavez Theater ahead of a rally for Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders on February 22, 2020 in El Paso, Texas. – Leftist Bernie Sanders took an early lead on February 22 in Nevada’s caucuses, the third nominating contest for Democrats in their high-stakes process to see who will challenge Republican Donald Trump in November’s presidential election. (Photo by Paul Ratje / AFP) (Photo by PAUL RATJE/AFP via Getty Images)EL PASO, TX – FEBRUARY 22: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks during a campaign rally on February 22, 2020 in El Paso, Texas. With less than two weeks before Super Tuesday, Sen. Sanders is spending the weekend campaigning in Texas. (Photo by Cengiz Yar/Getty Images)EL PASO, TX – FEBRUARY 22: People scream ahead of democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) taking the stage at a campaign rally on February 22, 2020 in El Paso, Texas. With less than two weeks before Super Tuesday, Sen. Sanders is spending the weekend campaigning in Texas. (Photo by Cengiz Yar/Getty Images)EL PASO, TX – FEBRUARY 22: A woman holds a sign for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) at a campaign rally on February 22, 2020 in El Paso, Texas. With less than two weeks before Super Tuesday, Sen. Sanders is spending the weekend campaigning in Texas. (Photo by Cengiz Yar/Getty Images)SANTA ANA, UNITED STATES – FEBRUARY 21, 2020:Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders during a campaign rally in Santa Ana, California. Sanders is campaigning ahead of Super Tuesday and the California Democratic primary.- PHOTOGRAPH BY Ronen Tivony / Echoes Wire/ Barcroft Studios / Future Publishing (Photo credit should read Ronen Tivony / Echoes Wire/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)SANTA ANA, UNITED STATES – FEBRUARY 21, 2020:Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks during a campaign rally in Santa Ana, California. Sanders is campaigning ahead of Super Tuesday and the California Democratic primary.- PHOTOGRAPH BY Ronen Tivony / Echoes Wire/ Barcroft Studios / Future Publishing (Photo credit should read Ronen Tivony / Echoes Wire/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)Supporters hold Bernie placards as Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders speaks during a Get Out to Caucus Rally at Springs Preserve Amphitheater in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 21, 2020. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 21: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) waves to supporters at a campaign rally for Sanders on February 21, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The upcoming Nevada Democratic presidential caucus will be held February 22. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 21: Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) hold a ‘Bernie’ sign at a campaign rally for Sanders on February 21, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The upcoming Nevada Democratic presidential caucus will be held February 22. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders speaks during a Get Out to Caucus Rally at Springs Preserve Amphitheater in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 21, 2020. (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders greets supporters during a rally at Valley High School in Santa Ana, California, February 21, 2020. (Photo by RINGO CHIU / AFP) (Photo by RINGO CHIU/AFP via Getty Images)Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders addresses a rally at Valley High School in Santa Ana, California, February 21, 2020. (Photo by RINGO CHIU / AFP) (Photo by RINGO CHIU/AFP via Getty Images)Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders gestures as he speaks during a rally at Valley High School in Santa Ana, California, February 21, 2020. (Photo by RINGO CHIU / AFP) (Photo by RINGO CHIU/AFP via Getty Images)Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks at a press conference prior to a rally at Valley High School in Santa Ana, California, February 21, 2020 (Photo by RINGO CHIU / AFP) (Photo by RINGO CHIU/AFP via Getty Images)Supporters gather during a rally for US Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders in Valley High School, Santa Ana, California, February 21, 2020. (Photo by RINGO CHIU / AFP) (Photo by RINGO CHIU/AFP via Getty Images)Supporters gather during a rally for US Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders in Valley High School, Santa Ana, California, February 21, 2020. (Photo by RINGO CHIU / AFP) (Photo by RINGO CHIU/AFP via Getty Images)Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks at a press conference prior to a rally at Valley High School in Santa Ana, California, February 21, 2020 (Photo by RINGO CHIU / AFP) (Photo by RINGO CHIU/AFP via Getty Images)Democratic presidential hopefuls Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders (L) and Former Vice President Joe Biden (R) participate in the ninth Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season co-hosted by NBC News, MSNBC, Noticias Telemundo and The Nevada Independent at the Paris Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 19, 2020. (Photo by Mark RALSTON / AFP) (Photo by MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images)Democratic presidential hopefuls Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders speak during a break in the ninth Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season co-hosted by NBC News, MSNBC, Noticias Telemundo and The Nevada Independent at the Paris Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 19, 2020. (Photo by Mark RALSTON / AFP) (Photo by MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images)LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 19: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) smiles during the Democratic presidential primary debate at Paris Las Vegas on February 19, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Six candidates qualified for the third Democratic presidential primary debate of 2020, which comes just days before the Nevada caucuses on February 22. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders gestures during the ninth Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season co-hosted by NBC News, MSNBC, Noticias Telemundo and The Nevada Independent at the Paris Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 19, 2020. (Photo by Mark RALSTON / AFP) (Photo by MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images)UNITED STATES – FEBRUARY 18: Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks at a rally at University of Nevada, Las Vegas on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 18: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and his wife Jane Sanders participate in a march after a campaign rally at University of Nevada February 18, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sen. Sanders continues to campaign ahead of the upcoming Nevada Democratic presidential caucus on February 22.(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 17: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) greets attendees during a campaign event on February 17, 2020 in Richmond, California. Bernie Sanders is campaigning in California ahead of the state’s Democratic presidential primary on March 3rd. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders cheer during his campaign rally in Denver, Colorado on February 16, 2020. (Photo by Jason Connolly / AFP) (Photo by JASON CONNOLLY/AFP via Getty Images)LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 15:Joined by members of Make the Road Action and his supporters, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), participates in a “March to the Polls” February 15, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sen. Sanders continues to campaign for the upcoming Nevada Democratic presidential caucus. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 15:Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks during a “Get Out the Early Vote Rally” at Desert Pines High School February 15, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sen. Sanders continues to campaign for the upcoming Nevada Democratic presidential caucus.(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 16: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks to a large crowd of supporters at a rally in the Colorado Convention Center on February 16, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Marc Piscotty/Getty Images)DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 16: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks to a large crowd of supporters at a rally in the Colorado Convention Center on February 16, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Marc Piscotty/Getty Images)DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 16: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks to a large crowd of supporters at a rally in the Colorado Convention Center on February 16, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Marc Piscotty/Getty Images)DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 16: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks to a large crowd of supporters at a rally in the Colorado Convention Center on February 16, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Marc Piscotty/Getty Images)MANCHESTER, NH – FEBRUARY 11: Senator Bernie Sanders stops to take a selfie with a supporter at his Primary Night Rally in Manchester, NH on Feb. 11, 2020. Bernie Sanders claimed victory in the first-of-the-nation primary in New Hampshire. (Photo by Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE- FEBRUARY 11: Supporters cheer as results start to show on the screen ahead of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidate, Primary Night Celebration at SNHU Field House on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 in Manchester, New Hampshire. (Photo by Salwan Georges/The Washington Post via Getty Images)MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE- FEBRUARY 11: Jan Schaffer, of Warrner, NH, watches as results started to show on the screen ahead of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidate, Primary Night Celebration at SNHU Field House on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 in Manchester, New Hampshire. (Photo by Salwan Georges/The Washington Post via Getty Images)MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE- FEBRUARY 11: Supporters cheer as results start to show on the screen ahead of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidate, Primary Night Celebration at SNHU Field House on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 in Manchester, New Hampshire. (Photo by Salwan Georges/The Washington Post via Getty Images)MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE- FEBRUARY 11: Supporters cheer as results start to show on the screen ahead of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidate, Primary Night Celebration at SNHU Field House on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 in Manchester, New Hampshire. (Photo by Salwan Georges/The Washington Post via Getty Images)Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders stands with wife Jane O’Meara Sanders at a Primary Night event at the SNHU Field House in Manchester, New Hampshire on February 11, 2020. – Bernie Sanders won New Hampshire’s crucial Democratic primary, beating moderate rivals Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar in the race to challenge President Donald Trump for the White House, US networks projected. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders speaks at a Primary Night event at the SNHU Field House in Manchester, New Hampshire on February 11, 2020. – Bernie Sanders won New Hampshire’s crucial Democratic primary, beating moderate rivals Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar in the race to challenge President Donald Trump for the White House, US networks projected. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)Up Next

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OBAMA. NOT HIM. HER: Perhaps any intrigue about Sanders and Kasich will fall away once the evening’s headliner, Michelle Obama, makes her case. Polls suggest the former first lady is even more popular than her broadly popular husband, who will speak Wednesday night. She managed that, in part, by steering clear of the most obvious fault lines in politics. Remember her speech in Philadelphia four years ago. “When they go low, we go high,” she said, without even mentioning the caustic Republican nominee who years before had helped drive the lie that Barack Obama wasn’t constitutionally eligible to serve as president.

Days before the convention’s opening gavel, Trump recycled the same tactic against Harris, a daughter of immigrants who is the first Black woman on a major party’s presidential ticket and is also of Asian descent. In her case, Trump said he didn’t know if she was eligible but wasn’t pursuing the matter.

Michelle Obama is uniquely positioned to talk about Democratic ticket. She knows Biden and his wife, Jill, as genuine friends from Biden’s eight years as vice president. The Obamas also know Harris well, and Michelle Obama almost certainly will speak in personal terms about what it means to see a woman of color nominated for national office.

“I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves,” she said at the 2016 convention, “and I watch my daughters, two beautiful, intelligent Black young women, playing with their dogs on the White House lawn.”

RATINGS: DNC Chairman Tom Perez has promised an “inspiring” convention. But people must watch to be inspired, and no one knows what kind of audience will tune in. Conventions have declined in relevance for years. So, in one sense, the pandemic has given Democrats a license to experiment with what amounts to a slickly produced party infomercial. But lost are the rare big, even viral moments when a nominee, a party luminary or an up-and-comer, perhaps even veering off the teleprompter, makes a searing connection with both the party faithful in the arena and the millions watching at home.

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