Abstract
Kamala Harris’s nomination at the 2024 Democratic National Convention was both unusual and historic. Not only was she the first woman of color to be nominated for the presidency by a major party, but she also emerged as the party’s choice without having competed in any nominating contests, an outcome made possible by Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the candidacy. National nominating conventions are important opportunities for parties and candidates to draw media attention, and this coverage shapes the political impact of conventions. This was especially important in 2024, given the shortened nature of the Harris campaign. Using a sample of newspapers and TV news programs, we find that the media over emphasized controversial issues such as the war in Gaza and immigration while under emphasizing other substantive policy areas such as the economy. In addition, the coverage tended to amplify attention to so-called “women’s issues” and downplay Harris’s patriotic appeals. These findings highlight the divergence between what the candidate emphasized and what the media reported, with important implications for public perception of the campaign and Harris’s policy priorities.
Summary of topics by newspaper outlet (percent)
Topic | New York Times (%) | The Washington Post (%) | The Wall Street (%) | Total (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Personal bio | 42.86 % | 46.67 % | 25.00 % | 41.86 % |
Anti-Trump future intent | 14.29 % | 53.33 % | 75.00 % | 39.53 % |
Foreign policy – Israel/Gaza | 35.71 % | 33.33 % | 25.00 % | 37.21 % |
Anti-Trump threat to democracy | 28.57 % | 40.00 % | 25.00 % | 34.88 % |
Patriotism | 28.57 % | 33.33 % | 25.00 % | 30.23 % |
Foreign policy – other | 28.57 % | 20.00 % | 25.00 % | 20.93 % % |
Lawyer bio | 21.43 % | 20.00 % | 0.00 % | 20.93 % |
Foreign policy – Gaza sympathy | 21.43 % | 13.33 % | 0.00 % | 18.60 % |
Foreign policy – Israel support | 21.43 % | 20.00 % | 0.00 % | 18.60 % |
Social issues – abortion | 14.29 % | 6.67 % | 0.00 % | 13.95 % |
Middle class | 21.43 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 13.95 % |
Anti-Trump abortion | 0.00 % | 33.33 % | 25.00 % | 13.95 % |
Foreign policy – Ukraine | 7.14 % | 13.33 % | 25.00 % | 11.63 % |
Economy – opportunity | 7.14 % | 0.00 % | 75.00 % % | 9.30 % |
Social issues – other | 14.29 % % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 9.30 % |
Economy – taxes | 7.14 % % | 6.67 % | 0.00 % | 6.98 % % |
Anti-Trump character | 7.14 % | 13.33 % | 0.00 % | 6.98 % |
Economy – business | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 50.00 % | 4.65 % |
Democracy | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 2.33 % |
Democracy – rule of law | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 2.33 % |
Summary of topics by TV news outlet (percent).
Topic | ABC News (%) | CBS News (%) | Fox News (%) | CNN (%) | Total (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Personal bio | 50.00 % | 20.00 % | 12.50 % | 57.89 % | 42.11 % |
Foreign policy – Israel/Gaza | 16.67 % | 60.00 % | 37.50 % | 42.11 % | 39.47 % |
Immigration | 0.00 % | 40.00 % | 25.00 % | 36.84 % | 28.95 % |
Lawyer bio | 16.67 % | 20.00 % | 25.00 % | 31.58 % | 26.32 % |
Foreign policy – other | 50.00 % | 0.00 % | 25.00 % | 21.05 % | 23.68 % |
Foreign policy – Gaza sympathy | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 25.00 % | 31.58 % | 21.05 % |
Foreign policy – Israel support | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 37.50 % | 26.32 % | 21.05 % |
Social issues – abortion | 0.00 % | 20.00 % | 0.00 % | 31.58 % | 18.42 % |
Patriotism | 16.67 % | 0.00 % | 12.50 % | 21.05 % | 15.79 % |
Anti-Trump future intent | 33.33 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 21.05 % | 15.79 % |
Anti-Trump abortion | 33.33 % | 0.00% | 0.00 % | 21.05 % | 15.79 % |
Economy – taxes | 0.00 % | 20.00 % | 12.50 % | 21.05 % | 15.79 % |
Anti-Trump threat to democracy | 33.33 % | 20.00 % | 0.00 % | 10.53 % | 13.16 % |
Anti-Trump character | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 12.50 % | 21.05 % | 13.16 % |
Foreign policy – military | 16.67 % | 0.00 % | 25.00 % | 10.53 % | 13.16 % |
Economy – opportunity | 0.00 % | 20.00 % | 12.50 % | 10.53 % | 10.53 % |
Middle class | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 12.50 % | 15.79 % | 10.53 % |
Foreign policy – Ukraine | 0.00 % | 20.00 % | 12.50 % | 10.53 % | 10.53 % |
Social issues – other | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 15.79 % | 7.89 % |
Democracy | 0.00 % | 20.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 2.63 % |
Democracy – rule of law | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % |
Economy – business | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % |
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© 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Articles
- Prologue to 2024
- Electability and Party Power Across Party Lines
- Understanding the Message(s): Spending and Content of Political Advertising on Television in 2024
- Election Advertising on Meta, Google, and Snapchat in 2024
- From the Podium to the Press: Coverage of Kamala Harris’s 2024 Convention Address
- Pocketbook Voting in a Polarized Era: Economic Vulnerability and Anti-incumbent Voting in Presidential Elections
- The 2024 U.S. Presidential Election: Public Opinion on the Economy and Immigration Helped Return Trump to the White House, but with No Clear Policy Mandate
- The 2024 Presidential Election Through Latino Lenses: Priorities and Vote Choice
- Less White than Ever? Using Ecological Inference to Probe the Trump Coalition’s Diversity in Louisiana
- The Trump Effect: Nationalized Narratives and Congressional Outcomes in the 2024 Elections
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Articles
- Prologue to 2024
- Electability and Party Power Across Party Lines
- Understanding the Message(s): Spending and Content of Political Advertising on Television in 2024
- Election Advertising on Meta, Google, and Snapchat in 2024
- From the Podium to the Press: Coverage of Kamala Harris’s 2024 Convention Address
- Pocketbook Voting in a Polarized Era: Economic Vulnerability and Anti-incumbent Voting in Presidential Elections
- The 2024 U.S. Presidential Election: Public Opinion on the Economy and Immigration Helped Return Trump to the White House, but with No Clear Policy Mandate
- The 2024 Presidential Election Through Latino Lenses: Priorities and Vote Choice
- Less White than Ever? Using Ecological Inference to Probe the Trump Coalition’s Diversity in Louisiana
- The Trump Effect: Nationalized Narratives and Congressional Outcomes in the 2024 Elections