Several prominent Democratic figures are expected to speak at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this month, two sources familiar with the plans told NBC News.
President Joe Biden, former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have been confirmed as speakers at the convention. Obama and the Clintons gave speeches during the 2020 DNC, which was held largely virtually to prevent the spread of Covid-19 amid the pandemic.
A family source said former President Jimmy Carter’s grandson, Jason Carter, is also confirmed as his grandfather’s representative.
The convention, which is scheduled for Aug. 19-22 in Chicago, comes weeks after Biden announced his withdrawal from the race following widespread calls from Democrats to drop out following his disastrous June debate performance against former President Donald Trump. His campaign suffered huge losses in donations and some supporters withdrew their support for the president amid the fallout.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who ran unopposed for the Democratic presidential nomination after Biden dropped out of the race, secured the majority of delegate votes to win the nomination during the virtual voting process earlier this month. Harris’ campaign last week announced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.
Harris, who is the first Black woman and first Indian American in U.S. history to secure a major party’s presidential nomination, will formally accept the Democratic Party’s nomination at the convention.
Momentum leading up to the convention has increased since Harris announced her presidential campaign last month, with a significant increase in requests for entry into the main event space at the United Center and other convention-related events in the city, people close to the convention and planning of events told NBC News.
Harris’ campaign raised a historic US$310 million last monthand $36 million in the 24 hours after she announced Walz as her running mate.
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