Page 2 - Democratic National Convention

Democrats eye disqualifying Kennedy, others from Georgia presidential polls

Challengers seeking to throw Robert F. Kennedy Jr. off Georgia's November ballot told a judge on Monday that the independent presidential candidate must be disqualified because the New York address he used on Georgia ballot access petitions is a "sham". It shows how a decision by a New York court last week finding Kennedy doesn't live at the address in the New York City suburbs is being used to attack Kennedy's ballot access in other states. The judge ruled Kennedy shouldn't appear on New York ballots, but Kennedy plans an appeal. In Georgia, challengers argue that because Kennedy used the New York address on petitions needed for an independent to qualify, his petitions should be voided. The court found, by clear and convincing evidence that petitioners had shown that his New York residence was a sham used for political purposes, lawyer Adam Sparks said after a Monday hearing in Atlanta. He doesn't live there. He claimed to on each and every sheet of his petition here in Georgia. ..

Democrats will honour Biden, pivot to Harris on convention's first day

A refreshed Democratic Party gathered Monday night for a valedictory speech from President Joe Biden, whose decision to end his reelection bid released newfound energy with Vice President Kamala Harris ' rise to the top of the ticket. The Democratic National Convention that began Monday in Chicago holds particularly high stakes for the party one month after an unprecedented mid-campaign switch from Biden to Harris. The opening night was designed as a handoff from the incumbent to his hand-picked successor albeit four years before he intended for her to follow him. Democrats are looking to the weeklong event to slingshot Harris toward an faceoff with Republican Donald Trump, whose comeback bid for the White House is viewed by Democrats as an existential threat. Having taken over the ticket just one month ago, Harris must now win over a divided country that is viewing her more positively but still making up its mind about the election. Beyond the convention's celebrations, the event

Democratic National Convention begins in Chicago; Biden to deliver remarks

Nearly 50,000 visitors are expected to attend the convention, including approximately 4,000 delegates; while the theme of the convention is 'For the People, For Our Future'

Democrats set to approve party platform without Harris' candidacy update

Delegates at the Democratic National Convention are set to vote Monday night on their 2024 party platform, which lays out familiar priorities for the party but wrongly names President Joe Biden as the candidate running for reelection. The largely ceremonial vote at Chicago's convention will signal the party coalescing around a singular vision for the next four years though a somewhat outdated one, as Vice President Kamala Harris has only outlined a few of her own specific policy positions since she took over the Democratic presidential ticket last month. The Democratic National Committee on Sunday said the more than 90-page document makes a strong statement about the historic work that President Biden and Vice President Harris have accomplished hand-in-hand, and offers a vision for a progressive agenda that we can build on as a nation and as a Party as we head into the next four years. The party said its platform committee voted to approve the platform on July 16, days before Biden

Biden's journey: After every knock down, he gets back even stronger

Sixteen years ago, a triumphant Joe Biden addressed an adoring crowd at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, his smile radiating confidence about the country's future and his own journey. The soon-to-be vice president hugged his son Beau. He spoke about how his own parents had endowed him with a sense of grit and tenacity. Champ, when you get knocked down, get up, he recalled his father, Joe, saying. Biden then repeated the lesson taught to him by his mother, Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden, who was seated in the audience: Failure at some point in your life is inevitable, but giving up is unforgivable." In 2024, Biden was not forced to reconcile a failure of his presidency. He compiled a list of significant accomplishments that will be felt for years. But he chose to give up his campaign under pressure from Democratic leaders, in a remarkable concession to the passage of time, when allies in his party and a clear majority of US adults concluded the 81-year-old should not .

Democrats, protesters gather in Chicago to cheer, challenge Harris, Biden

Polls a month ago showed Trump with a clear lead over Biden, but Harris has closed the gap both nationally and in many of the highly competitive states including Pennsylvania

Several activists expected in Chicago DNC to call for Gaza ceasefire

Thousands of activists are expected to converge on Chicago this week for the Democratic National Convention, hoping to call attention to abortion rights, economic injustice and the war in Gaza. While Vice President Kamala Harris has energised crowds of supporters as she prepares to accept the Democratic nomination, progressive activists maintain their mission remains the same. Activists say they learned lessons from last month's Republican National Convention in Milwaukee and are predicting bigger crowds and more robust demonstrations in Chicago, a city with deep social activism roots. Who is protesting? Demonstrations are expected every day of the convention and, while their agendas vary, many activists agree an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war is the priority. Things kicked off Sunday on the convention's eve with an abortion rights march along iconic Michigan Avenue. Organiser Linda Loew said even though Democrats have pushed to safeguard reproductive rights at home,

It's my life goal to ensure Trump never steps in White House again: Pelosi

Nancy Pelosi's influence can be seen all across the Democratic Party shakeup that in a few short, agonising weeks has reengineered the 2024 presidential ticket and the race for the White House. It was Pelosi who publicly encouraged President Joe Biden to make a decision about his reelection campaign when he had already insisted he had no plans to step aside. Once he exited and endorsed Kamala Harris atop the ticket, it was Pelosi who was a big fan of her future running mate, Tim Walz. For the House speaker emerita the upheaval is less about Biden, a friend of 40 years, and more about Republican Donald Trump, the former president she refers to as Bozo, a snake-oil salesman, what's his name and the creature from the Black Lagoon. How can I say this in the nicest possible way: My goal in life was that man would never step in the White House again, Pelosi said, slapping the table with every word. Pelosi spoke Wednesday with reporters and columnists about her new book, The Art of Power,

Harris secures delegates needed to become Democratic nominee for prez

Recovering from Covid-19 at his home in Delaware, Biden called into Harris' campaign event. He sounded hoarse but appreciative of his vice president

Prez Biden 'working towards' what's best for country: Senator Hickenlooper

Biden, 81, is facing calls from influential members of his party to leave the Democratic ticket after his shaky debate performance against former President Donald Trump

US elections: Republicans confident of Trump's win as Biden faces pressure

Some say it doesn't matter at all whether Democrats swap out Biden, while others say the party might actually be worse off

Democrats insists Biden to reconsider runup to their own party convention

Democrats worried about President Joe Biden's ability to win this November are making a renewed push for him to reconsider his reelection bid, using mountains of data, frank conversations and now, his own time off the campaign trail after testing positive for COVID, to encourage a reassessment. Biden has insisted he is not backing down, adamant that he is the candidate who beat Republican Donald Trump before and will do it again this year. But publicly and privately, key Democrats are sending signals of concern, and some hope he will assess the trajectory of the race and his legacy during this few days' pause. Over the past week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries have spoken privately to the president, candidly laying out the views of Democrats on Capitol Hill, including their concerns. Separately, the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington, spoke with the president last week armed wit

Pressure on Joe Biden mounts as Senate Democrat calls for new ticket

Allies remain deeply concerned about Biden's campaign's viability and the risk it poses to other elected Democrats

I am running the race, going to win again: Prez Biden at Wisconsin rally

US President Joe Biden on Friday asserted that he is the presidential nominee of the Democratic party, he is in the race and will win the election again as he sought to clear all the doubts about the future of his candidacy for the November 5 elections. Over the past week, there has been speculation about him leaving the race, with increasing voices inside the party calling for his departure following his poor debate performance in Atlanta last week. On Friday, Biden sought to clear all such doubts. "We had a little debate last week. Can't say it was my best performance. But ever since then, there's been a lot of speculation. What's Joe going to do? Is he going to stay in the race? Is he going to drop out? What's he going to do? Well, here's my answer. I am running and going to win again," Biden told his cheering supporters in the battle ground State of Wisconsin. "I am the sitting President of the United States of America, no small part because of you. That's not a joke. In 2020,

Could Democrats replace Biden as their nominee? All you need to know

As President Joe Biden attempts to reassure supporters following his widely panned debate performance on Thursday, Democrats still worried about having him at the top of the ticket in November have few realistic options at their disposal, at least as far as party rules and historical precedent are concerned. Those fretting over Biden as the Democratic nominee have some alternative, albeit unlikely, scenarios to consider: One involves Biden stepping aside voluntarily, the other, and by far the least likely, involves an 11th-hour effort to defeat him at the convention by winning over pledged delegates he has won in the nominations contests, who are technically obligated to support him only by good conscience in the party's rules. Challenges to the presumptive nominee can occur, but there are significant hurdles, according to Elaine Kamarck, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and an expert in the party's nominating process. It has been tried, and it usually fails, said Kamarc

Democrats set aside donations of over $1 mn from ex-FTX CEO Bankman-Fried

The three primary committees charged with electing Democrats said Friday that they would set aside more than $1 million in donations this election cycle from disgraced crypto mogul Samuel Bankman-Fried, who is accused of making tens of millions of dollars in illegal campaign donations. Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, was a prolific political donor to individual lawmakers, official campaign committees and super PACs. Among the recipients of his cash were the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. In a statement Friday, DNC spokesman Daniel Wessel said that the group will set aside the $815,000 in contributions it has received from Bankman-Fried since 2020. That total includes donations Bankman-Fried made directly to the DNC as well as the Democratic Grassroots Victory Fund and the Biden Victory Fund, which was a joint fundraising committee approved by Joe Biden's ...

Democrats decried dark money, then won with it in 2020 elections

The left warned of the threat of corruption posed by corporations and billionaires spending unlimited sums through loosely regulated nonprofits

US election: Democrats face a turnout test in Georgia's Senate runoffs

For Democrats to win control of the Senate, Georgia''s Black communities, as well as the state''s smaller Hispanic and Asian communities, likely need to vote in the January 5 runoff election

Kamala Harris to deliver her Democratic VP nominee acceptance speech today

Harris, 55, is the first Indian-American to be selected for the second-highest elected office of the United States after that of the president

US elections: Joe Biden campaign, Democrats raise $364.5 million in August

The campaign had previously announced that it raised $48 million in the 48 hours after Harris' historic selection