By Athena Papakosta

How much of a difference can three days make? In the case of the Democratic party… big. By Sunday, disillusionment among members and voters prevailed. Until that day, their candidate for the presidential elections in the United States, Joe Biden, remained isolated in Delaware because of the coronavirus, and the voices to withdraw his candidacy became louder and louder.

Today, however, the Democrats have acquired a new potential candidate and their psychology seems to have changed. At least, this was shown by the enthusiasm with which they welcomed the vice president of the United States, Kamala Harris, in Milwaukee where she addressed the Democratic voters for the first time. In this first campaign speech of hers, she seems to have managed to make them believe again (or even dream) that the White House will remain in their hands.

Her election campaign has begun and she must manage to maintain these levels of enthusiasm to translate into votes.

The November election, she said, was “a choice between freedom and chaos” and pledged that her battle was for the future of the United States, so that the country would not be led
back again in the “chaos” of the Trump administration years.

He repeated and its strategy, the narrative which is slowly building by changing the electoral landscape in the country. Invoking her capacity as a prosecutor, she promised a pre-election pursuit of Donald Trump in the face of legal adventures and convictions. “Listen to me when I tell you that I know the type of Donald Trump,” he said, noting that as a prosecutor he had dealt with many “predators of all kinds.”

As she spoke in Milwaukee, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries endorsed Harris’ candidacy as she cemented her presence in the party. Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the House, had preceded her, but not – yet – the 44th president of the USA, Barack Obama.

“Democrats are moving forward stronger and more united than ever,” Schumer said, adding that since Harris’ nomination he has seen “waves of excitement across the party.”

Speaking in the important Democratic stronghold, Milwaukee, Kamala Harris promised a “people-powered” campaign. She explained that during her presidency she will support the middle class, while also touching on the issue of abortion. In particular, he pledged to stop the Republicans’ “extreme bans” pointing out that “Democrats trust women to make their own decisions about their bodies.”

The most recent poll, by Ipsos for Reuters, shows that there is no clear winner in the November election. Kamala Harris may be ahead of Donald Trump but by just two percentage points 44% to 42%.

The Republican camp has begun the attacks against her. Donald Trump on Tuesday night emphasized that “she is the same as Biden, but much more extreme” than him, declaring that he is open to a telefight with her. And the new election season in the United States has just begun, again.