Lessons on making history for Harris at Democrats' convention

If Ms Kamala Harris is to win the 2024 US presidential election, she could do worse than heed the lessons dispensed from the stage on the opening day of the Democratic National Convention in the sprawling Midwestern city of Chicago.

- Bhagyashree Garekar

Perhaps the biggest lesson came from one of the night's top speakers, former presidential candidate and secretary of state Hillary Clinton, who could have made history in her battle against Republican nominee Donald Trump in 2016.

It was not to be. Though widely favoured to become the first female US president in history and ahead in opinion polls, she was accused of being "unlikeable" and aloof.

Speaking late in the evening, the 76-year-old Mrs Clinton, who has kept a relatively low profile since her loss, held out a warning for the Democratic nominee in an uncharacteristically emotional, and at times wistful, speech.

"Don't get distracted or complacent," she said in a 15-minute speech on Aug 19 that received sustained applause.

"The story of my life and the history of our country is that progress is possible, but not guaranteed. We have to fight for it."

Did Mrs Clinton become complacent in 2016? She had a massive lead in opinion polls. And she got 66 million votes, nearly three million more votes than Trump.

But despite winning the popular vote, she fell short in the electoral college.

In the US, a body of 538 members selects the president based on the popular vote in each state. Under this system, the person who polls the most votes nationally does not necessarily win the election.

Mrs Clinton's warning comes at a critical time in the electoral cycle: With just 77 days to go in a year filled with unexpected turns, Ms Harris is revelling in her sudden popularity.

An Aug 18 ABC News/ Washington Post/Ipsos national poll put Ms Harris ahead of Trump by six points among likely voters at 51 per cent to 45 per cent. A CBS News/YouGov poll gave her a three-point lead.

She has also opened a small but meaningful lead in a number of swing states that are critical to giving her the electoral college majority that eluded Mrs Clinton.