Did Kamala Harris’ Convention Speech Change Your View of Her? Steven Beschloss Aug 24 Yes, there really are still self-described undecided voters. Yet after Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech Thursday night at the Democratic National Convention, six of eight of such undecided voters from Allentown, PA, said they have now decided to vote for her. Convened by CNN’s Gary Tuchman, this group gave the vice president high grades for providing substance on her economic and foreign policies and her energetic support for active military and veterans. Several emphasized her authoritative performance. “She hit all the points I wanted to know about,” said one woman, a dental hygienist. “I felt she looked very presidential, she sounded presidential, and I think she's going to be a unifier.". It rarely makes sense to read too much into these instant responses and extrapolate to voters more broadly. We’ll see in the coming days whether the Democratic nominee gets a convention bump and whether that’s just temporary or continues to fuel her momentum. But count me among those struck by her combination of compassion and toughness Thursday night and her particular focus on national security and foreign policy, her patriotic emphasis on the potential of America, and her fierce assertion that the country must stand up for democracy over tyranny. These are all points I highlighted in yesterday’s summary of her speech—“Kamala Harris Is More Than Ready”—and I suspect they are among the ingredients that have enriched voters’ perception of her and her ability to lead the country; this is particularly relevant for those not previously convinced by her more joyful speeches thus far. The debate with Donald Trump on September 10—certain to attract a massive audience—will be her next opportunity to significantly expand voter support and demonstrate her readiness to be president. What do you think? Did Kamala Harris’ convention speech change your view of her? Did it expand your sense of her range and potential? Did it intensify your belief that she has the experience and the requisite toughness  to be an effective president? Was her brief prosecution of the case against Trump sufficient to convince you that she’ll not only beat him in a debate format but increasingly convince fence-sitters of how dangerous it would be if he retakes the White House? Do you feel that you have a stronger case now to convince doubters you know? In turn, was the speech not necessary to convince you of her readiness and potential for success? As always, I look forward to reading your observations and the opportunity of this community to learn from each other. Please do be respectful in your comments. Trolling will not be tolerated.