Briefing | Woolly warrior

Kamala Harris has revealed only the vaguest of policy platforms

Her record suggests she would be a pragmatist

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, speaks on the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago
Photograph: Kent Nishimura/The New York Times/Redux/Eyevine
|CHICAGO

SCARCELY A MONTH ago, Democrats were awaiting their convention in Chicago as one might a four-day root canal. Despite losing the confidence of his party after a disastrous debate performance, the 81-year-old president, Joe Biden, was due to formalise his seemingly doomed candidacy—and perhaps drag many other Democrats down with him. But then, on July 21st, despair gave way to ecstasy, as Mr Biden dropped out and endorsed Kamala Harris, his vice-president. She became the de facto nominee within 24 hours. The dreaded ordeal was suddenly transformed into a raucous coronation.

Explore more

This article appeared in the Briefing section of the print edition under the headline “Woolly warrior”

From the August 24th 2024 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition

Discover more

Demonstrators wave flags and placards at a pro-Palestinian protest

Has the war in Gaza radicalised young Palestinians?

After Gaza, how will the Palestinians try to build their state?

Israeli soldiers stand next to a group of Orthodox men

A year on, Israeli society is divided about the lessons of October 7th

Hawks and doves, religious and secular, right and left—all the old cleavages are resurfacing


Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets fired by Iran

The bloodshed in the Middle East is fast expanding

Israel seems certain to retaliate to Iran’s missile attack


What Hamas misunderstood about the Middle East

A war meant to draw in the militant group’s allies has instead left them battered

After the decapitation of Hizbullah, Iran could race for a nuclear bomb

The embattled clerical regime might feel the need for stronger deterrence

Ukraine is on the defensive, militarily, economically and diplomatically

Russian advances, fatigue among its allies and political divisions at home leave it in a bind