Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-28-2025

Publisher

De Gruyter

Source Publication

The Forum

Source ISSN

1540-8884

Abstract

Kamala Harris's nomination at the 2024 Democratic National Convention was both unusual and historic. Not only was she the first woman of color to be nominated for the presidency by a major party, but she also emerged as the party's choice without having competed in any nominating contests, an outcome made possible by Joe Biden's withdrawal from the candidacy. National nominating conventions are important opportunities for parties and candidates to draw media attention, and this coverage shapes the political impact of conventions. This was especially important in 2024, given the shortened nature of the Harris campaign. Using a sample of newspapers and TV news programs, we find that the media over emphasized controversial issues such as the war in Gaza and immigration while under emphasizing other substantive policy areas such as the economy. In addition, the coverage tended to amplify attention to so-called "women's issues" and downplay Harris's patriotic appeals. These findings highlight the divergence between what the candidate emphasized and what the media reported, with important implications for public perception of the campaign and Harris's policy priorities.

Comments

Published version. The Forum, Vol. 22, No. 2-3 (April 2025): 309-324. DOI. © 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston. Used with permission.

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