29 days: how Democrats had to overhaul their convention in a hurry for Harris

When President Biden pulled out of the race in late July, it kicked off a sprint to remake four days of speeches, sentimental videos and other programming for the Democratic National Convention — programming that had all been revolving around him.

Now, on Monday, the convention designed to make the case for Vice President Harris to be the next president of the United States kicks off in Chicago — only two weeks after she secured enough votes from delegates to become her party’s nominee.

“It’s a convention planner’s nightmare,” said Erik Smith with a laugh.

Smith was the creative director for the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Democratic conventions. He shudders to imagine the scramble to reshape this year’s event around Harris, who originally was going to have only a supporting role.

Biden is a well-known political quantity. But despite being vice president for nearly four years, Smith described Harris as the most-famous least-known politician on the national stage right now.

“My grandmother used to say, ‘You only make a first impression once.’ And Kamala Harris has the benefit of making a first impression twice,” said Smith, chief executive of the public relations firm Seven Letter.

“This is really the second time she can introduce herself to Americans, and this is going to be a much more impactful venue to do that.”

There’s still a blue stage. But what’s happening on it is very different

On the day Harris secured the nomination, Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison was in front of a webcam at the United Center in Chicago. The arena floor behind him looked like a construction site.

“The stage is quite literally being set and being built right now,” Harrison said during a livestream announcing Harris’ milestone.

“E