What the Convention Could Do for Kamala Harris

Ron Brownstein: “No presidential nominee in decades has approached their convention with a greater opportunity to reshape their public image than Vice President Kamala Harris.”

“Harris is the first nonincumbent since Hubert Humphrey in 1968 to claim either party’s presidential nomination without first enduring months of grueling primary contests. Because Harris did not experience the setbacks and triumphs that come from waging such a fight, public impressions of her are uncommonly shallow for a nominee on the convention’s eve, strategists in both parties agree.”

“That gives Harris a chance to benefit more than usual from the Democratic gathering in Chicago later this month if she can flesh out her story in an engaging way—but also leaves more room for Republicans to define her in negative terms.”

Said longtime Democratic strategist Robert Shrum: “We probably haven’t in modern times seen anybody emerge as the nominee who is less well known. Her first impression with people is obviously extremely positive. But now you want to fill in the canvas.”