The Democratic Party has wrapped up its national convention and officially named Hillary Clinton its nominee for the 2016 U.S. presidential election. What was most striking about the four-day spectacular in Philadelphia last week, apart from the soaring rhetoric and the strident takedowns of Republican nominee Donald Trump, was the reversal of positions between Democrats and the GOP. Historically, the Republicans have been the party of optimism and hope — "morning in America," as President Ronald Reagan so memorably described it — yet that is now the Democrats' terrain. They are the party of the future; the Republicans are the party of fear.
As in Cleveland the week before, the Democrats had two tasks in Philadelphia: they had to rally the party behind Clinton and they had to convince undecided voters that Clinton and the Democrats deserved a third consecutive term in the White House. The first task was largely accomplished, although divisions remain. Hard-core Bernie Sanders supporters refused to join their candidate and back Clinton. Some voiced noisy protests, some walked out and some tried to disrupt the proceedings, but the majority of Sanders' backers accepted reality and his urgings to get in line.
Given their impact on the Democratic Party platform, which is much more progressive than any other in recent history, they have reason to be satisfied. Sanders' warning that a refusal to back Clinton could propel Trump to the White House persuaded many that were on the fence. Some, however, preferred the purity of their principles and continuing opposition to Clinton. Still, there was nothing in Philadelphia that approximated the hard core and very public opposition of Sen. Ted Cruz at the Republican National Convention.