Harris is the first woman of colour on a major party presidential ticket. She also brings a wealth of experience to the campaign, and could help energise non-voters to support the Democrats.
Articles on 2020 US elections
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Many African American women have run for president of the US, despite the enormous barriers facing both Black and female candidates. Biden’s pick puts a Black woman much closer to the Oval Office.
By picking Kamala Harris, a Black running mate, Biden may have brought younger Black Americans, who now comprise a critical set of swing voters, over to his side.
Internal party rules make it harder to attract independents, who make up about one-third of US voters.
Republicans are free again to recruit poll watchers – four decades after ‘ballot security’ operations helped steer New Jersey’s 1981 gubernatorial race toward their candidate.
Scott Morrison continues to have a good pandemic, at least according to the polls, while the gap between Joe Biden and Donald Trump in the US narrows, with Biden maintaining a significant lead.
Lincoln’s chances of reelection in 1864 were dim. He was presiding over a bloody civil war, and the public was losing confidence in him. But he steadfastly rejected pleas to postpone the election.
It’s a myth that Black voters represent monolithic support for Democrats. A recent survey shows that young Black Americans in swing states have big reservations about Joe Biden, Democrats and voting.
China presents the US with lots of security concerns but TikTok isn’t one.
The president has already refused to guarantee he will accept the result of the November election, and there are many other ways he can undermine it in the minds of the voting public.
This is what matters to Biden: his VP must be able to lead from day one, be a true partner in governance and have great chemistry with him. There’s one clear choice who fits the bill.
Election campaigns tend to expose faultlines. 2020 will do that in spades.
Voters across the nation should prepare for similar circumstances in their communities – but there is still time for them to demand better from their officials.
Voters appear to be holding state premiers responsible for coronavirus case surges, rather than the federal government.
Voting by mail is rarely subject to fraud, does not give an advantage to one political party over another and can in fact inspire public confidence in the voting process.
Mathematically speaking, the Electoral College is built to virtually ensure narrow victories, making it very susceptible to manipulation and disinformation.
Electors may not vote their consciences, which means the Electoral College will continue to operate how most Americans think it does.
In general, a candidate’s choice for second-in-command doesn’t directly swing voters. But it can reveal insights into who the candidate really is and how they might operate once in office.
Morrison’s approval rating was at 68% in the latest Newspoll, while 27% of respondents were dissatisfied. His soaring popularity, though, hasn’t boosted the Coalition as much as would be expected.
While the polls look bad for the president, there is a long way to go between now and the November election.
Top contributors
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Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne
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William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science, Amherst College
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Associate Professor in American Politics and Foreign Policy, US Studies Centre, University of Sydney
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Spécialiste de la politique américaine, Sciences Po
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Dennis Altman is a Friend of The Conversation.
Vice Chancellor's Fellow and Professorial Fellow, Institute for Human Security and Social Change, La Trobe University
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Professor Emeritus of Communication, American University School of Communication
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Associate Professor of Political Science, Clarkson University
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Law Professor in Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Election Law, University of Memphis
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Professor of Communication and Journalism, Texas A&M University
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Professor of Journalism, Indiana University
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Professor, School of Public Policy and Administration, York University, Canada
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Professor in U.S. Politics and U.S. Foreign Relations, United States Studies Centre,, University of Sydney
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Associate Professor of Political Science, Rochester Institute of Technology; Institute for Humane Studies
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Director of Research, US Studies Centre, University of Sydney
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Professor of Political Science, LaGrange College