Democrats to highlight women leaders as Harris accepts VP nomination

Judy Woodruff:

And we turn now to our Lisa Desjardins, who is covering all this from Wilmington, Delaware.

Of course, it's Joe Biden's hometown.

So, Lisa, tonight, we are going to hear from Kamala Harris, but, as we have just heard from Amna, the party's also going to be looking to make some policy points. Tell us a little bit about that. We know they're going to be speaking about women. Share more.

Lisa Desjardins:

That's right.

Judy, tonight, the theme is called "A More Perfect Union," but, really, what Democrats are doing is, they're talking about issues in which they believe there is a clear and very sharp divide between Biden and President Trump.

Some of these issues, immigration, as Amna mentioned, also gun safety, gun violence, and, one more, climate. Those are very big issues. Biden has extensive plans on several of the issues, including a $2 trillion climate plan. And they want to point out that contrast. We will hear from speakers about all of those issues.

But, as you said, it's also a night for women in leadership. Hillary Clinton will be giving her speech. Hillary Clinton, of course, who lost by narrow margins in several states in 2016 to Donald Trump, is going to say to voters, don't make this a coulda, shoulda election, trying to implore them to make sure and vote.

Then, also, we will hear from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the woman who has achieved the highest ranks in the history of a U.S. government. We also expect her to talk about President Trump and talk about her personal experience with him, as well as contrasting her style and his.

Judy Woodruff:

And, Lisa, we know the main event tonight is the acceptance speech by Senator Kamala Harris, making some history.

Tell us, what does the campaign hope she accomplishes tonight? What do we know about what her message is going to be?

Lisa Desjardins:

You know, I spoke just a short time ago and have been e-mailing with Harris campaign officials and staff. And here's what they tell me.

They say they want — Kamala Harris would like for people to see themselves in her speech tonight. She wants to tell her story. And she also wants to lay out a vision of a nation where everyone is equal, that they have equal opportunity and equal protection under law.

As a former prosecutor, expect those kinds of themes of law and justice to come up, of course. And, of course, she's going to contrast her running mate, Joe Biden, with Donald Trump.

I think it's interesting to see what this hall looks like. We got, finally, some videos and photos of inside this exclusive hall that just a few dozen reporters will be inside for. And they have tried to make it look like a convention site.

We see those signs for each state. But they will not have the delegates there, the signs, the candidate, but no delegates.

Judy Woodruff:

So, Lisa, yes, it is a facsimile, I guess you could say, of a big convention hall.

Lisa Desjardins:

Yes.

Judy Woodruff:

Lisa, we're hearing about some intraparty friction inside — among Democrats this year, particularly about the amount of time being given to progressives speaking, the time they're given for speaking slots.

What do we know about that?

Lisa Desjardins:

Well, I have had a few sources reach out to me about this over the last few days.

There, in particular, is frustration that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez just had one minute of — one-and-a-half minutes, basically, of speaking time. That was part of her nominating — that was the nominating speech, the seconding speech for Bernie Sanders.

And it's not just about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a progressive leader and young member of this party, though those things are part of it. I also had one source reach out to me about the fact she's a freshman Democrat in Congress. The reason that the Democrats control the House, of course, is because they had so many new members; 67 members of the House are freshmen Democrat. And yet only two of them so far will be speaking tonight.

What does the Biden campaign say about this? They say: We believe we are showing the most inclusive and broad coalition ever at a convention.

And I will say, Judy, this friction is of a lower level than we have seen in the past. This is not circa 2016 Clinton vs. Sanders. It's frustration, perhaps, more than friction.

One other note. There's issues for Republicans as well. Today another Republican came out in favor of Joe Biden. That is former Pennsylvania Congressman Charlie Dent.

I spoke with someone familiar with his thinking. Why did Dent come public now? He says because — or I'm told it's because President Trump has endorsed candidates that he sees as too far right, those espousing especially the QAnon philosophy.

Judy Woodruff:

Oh, that's interesting. It almost seems to be there's a Republican a day coming out for Joe Biden.

Finally, Lisa, we have been watching you in that empty parking lot. I guess you said last night it's beginning to take some shape. Tell us what you see behind you. What's going on?

Lisa Desjardins:

Still a little bit lonely, but there's hope for the future in this parking lot.

We have seen the movie screen go up. We do expect the drive-in theater of sorts tomorrow night.

But I will tell you, Judy, security has changed significantly. Now there are double perimeters around all of this area. And I spent some of my time today look — traveling around the perimeter. I will say, there's no signs of protest at all at this point. But there is a much more secure facility now. It's much more difficult to get in and out.

But there aren't many people who are doing that. So, you have to be credentialed now, which was different than a couple of days ago.

Judy Woodruff:

And we will see if that continues through tomorrow with the acceptance speech.

Lisa Desjardins:

Yes.

Judy Woodruff:

All right, Lisa Desjardins, we will be checking in with you a lot tonight. Thank you.

Lisa Desjardins:

You're welcome.