A reinvigorated Democratic party is gathering in Chicago for its national convention looking to build on the momentum of recent weeks after U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris moved to the top of the ticket for the November presidential election.

Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, are set to officially accept the party91裸聊视频檚 nomination during the four-day event. It will serve as an opportunity for the vice-president to redefine herself as a leader and lay out a vision for the future of America after a tumultuous few months for the party.

Nobody can say they could have predicted this election campaign, said Anthony Fowler, a professor in the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago.

President Joe Biden is expected to give a speech Monday night in a moment that could ring bittersweet. Just over a month ago it was all but certain he would be on stage to accept the nomination.

Biden stepped aside in July, offering Harris his endorsement, amid concerns about his age and mental acuity. Biden had lost support of his party, with colleagues worried there was no longer a path to victory after a disastrous debate with Donald Trump and an uneven performance at the NATO leaders91裸聊视频� summit in Washington, D.C.

Biden91裸聊视频檚 speech will serve as a figurative passing of the baton and the president is not expected to stay at the convention. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden is expected to talk about the administration91裸聊视频檚 record and what91裸聊视频檚 at stake in the election.

91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 looking forward to, as he tends to do, speak directly to the American people: talk about the moment that we91裸聊视频檙e at, what91裸聊视频檚 at stake, and continue to talk about an issue that is incredibly important to him, which is unity,91裸聊视频� Jean-Pierre said last week.

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Other big names that are expected to be speakers are include former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

The University of Pennsylvania91裸聊视频檚 Marc Trussler said it91裸聊视频檚 unlikely there will be details about how or if Harris would handle foreign policy or trade differently than Biden.

Trussler, the director of data science for the university91裸聊视频檚 program on opinion research and election studies, said those are not issues that will build excitement or unity among the party faithful.

Experts have said it91裸聊视频檚 likely Harris will follow Biden91裸聊视频檚 road map for America91裸聊视频檚 relationship with Canada. Biden91裸聊视频檚 tenure brought some stability, but there was also tension over the administration91裸聊视频檚 Buy American procurement rules.

Democrats hope the convention will shore up support, building on the invigorated energy after the party unified behind Harris as the presidential candidate. Recent polling is starting to tip in favour of the Democrats in key battleground states like Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

Fowler cautioned that polling bumps from conventions are rarely sustained and Harris will have to work to sell herself to Americans at large.

Just over a month ago, Trump was heralded as a hero after an assassination attempt the weekend before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Republicans, at the time, were riding high in the polls.

But observers say Trump has been stumbling to respond to his new opponent, testing out a slew of nicknames and insults, and Democrats have since made up some ground.

Fowler said Trump may be able to slow that popularity growth if he91裸聊视频檚 able to focus on Harris91裸聊视频檚 governing history 91裸聊视频� which has been criticized as being too liberal 91裸聊视频� and the Biden administration91裸聊视频檚 record.

Democratic voters will be looking to hear more details of a governing plan, new policy ideas and something meaningful on key issues like inflation and the border this week.

91裸聊视频淥ver the course of the campaign, voters are going to be looking to Harris and Walz to see what are the plans on some of these important issues,91裸聊视频� Fowler said.

Trussler said there will be lots of excitement from the most ardent party members at the convention. Whether Democrats can maintain the broader public91裸聊视频檚 attention and enthusiasm until November is yet to be seen.

91裸聊视频淵ou need those people to actually turn out and vote,91裸聊视频� he said.

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press