More stories

  • in

    Why is Biden polling better than Clinton did?: Politics Weekly Extra podcast

    This week, Jonathan Freedland speaks with the Guardian’s Washington DC bureau chief David Smith about why Joe Biden is seemingly doing better than Hillary Clinton did in the polls in 2016

    How to listen to podcasts: everything you need to know

    This week, the question is: “Why is Biden polling better than Clinton did in 2016?” Polls don’t necessarily determine who will win an election, as anyone who lived through the 2016 election knows – Democrats especially. However, it is noticeable that Joe Biden has had a consistent lead over Donald Trump for the last 12 months and that when polls are averaged out, he is 6.2% ahead. Around the same time in 2016, Hillary Clinton’s lead over Trump was just 1%. So, what is causing this bump in numbers for Biden? To delve into the many possible reasons, Jonathan Freedland is joined by the Guardian’s Washington Bureau Chief, David Smith. Let us know what you think of the podcast: send your feedback to podcasts@theguardian.com Help support the Guardian by going to gu.com/supportpodcasts More

  • in

    Kamala Harris makes history, Barack Obama slams Trump: day three at the DNC – video highlights

    Play Video

    4:12

    Kamala Harris officially accepted her vice-presidential nomination on the third day of the Democratic national convention. Her husband, Douglas Emhoff, joined her on stage alongside Joe Biden and his wife, Jill. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Gabrielle Giffords were among the many figures who condemned Donald Trump’s presidency and pledged their support for the Biden-Harris ticket
    Harris makes history and Obama issues warning: key takeaways from the DNC’s third night
    Kamala Harris makes history at DNC after Barack Obama rallies voters against Trump – as it happened

    Topics

    Democratic national convention 2020

    Kamala Harris

    US elections 2020

    Joe Biden

    Barack Obama

    Hillary Clinton

    Democrats More

  • in

    Hillary Clinton urges voters to prevent Trump from 'stealing way to victory'

    Hillary Clinton has called on Democratic voters to turn out in “overwhelming” numbers for the November election, arguing such an effort is needed to ensure Donald Trump does not “sneak or steal his way to victory”.Addressing the Democratic national convention on Wednesday from her home in Chappaquiddick, New York, Clinton said she had spoken to a number of Americans who have said they wished they had voted in the last general election, or voted differently.“For four years, people have said to me, ‘I didn’t realize how dangerous [Trump] was.’ ‘I wish I could go back and do it over.’ Or worst, ‘I should have voted,’” Clinton said. “Well, this can’t be another woulda-coulda-shoulda election.”She added: “Vote like our lives and livelihoods are on the line, because they are.”In 2016, Clinton, the first woman nominated for president by a major party, became the fifth presidential candidate to lose the US election despite winning the popular vote. In her address, she endorsed the Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden, and vice-presidential nominee, Kamala Harris.“Don’t forget, Joe and Kamala can win by 3 million votes and still lose. Take it from me,” Clinton warned. “We need numbers so overwhelming Trump can’t sneak or steal his way to victory.”Following a video celebrating women’s suffrage, Clinton, wearing suffragette white, said Trump had taken office “with so much set up for him,” including a pandemic response team.Clinton argued Trump could have been a more successful president “if he had put his own interests and ego aside”.“I wish Donald Trump knew how to be a president because America needs a president right now,” Clinton said.A few minutes into Wednesday’s proceedings, a fundraising email in the US president’s name contained a string of insults. “Just when I thought this pathetic event couldn’t get more CORRUPT, they decide to bring in CROOKED Hillary, Crazy Nancy, Pocahontas, Phony Kamala, and Lyin’ Obama all in ONE NIGHT,” it said.It was a list that included Trump’s favourite nickname from 2016, “Crooked” Hillary Clinton, as well as his racist tag for Senator Elizabeth Warren.Leaning into negative partisanship, the message added: “All of these Radical Democrats HATE me and they HATE YOU. They would love nothing more than to see us FAIL, which is why it’s going to take all hands on deck to make sure that never happens.”In her speech, Clinton said she knew about the “slings and arrows” that vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris will likely face as a Black woman on the ticket.“Believe me: this former district attorney and attorney general can handle them all,” she added. More