In picking the city of Brotherly Love to host its next national convention, the Democratic Party has chosen a symbolism of patriotism as a way to propel their next presidential nominee (most likely Hillary Clinton) to the presidency.
Although it beat Columbus, located in the most crucial battleground state besides Florida, and Brooklyn, which would have had no problem raising money for a convention bid, Philadelphia was widely seen as the front-runner among the three finalists. The 2016 Republican convention in Cleveland made it harder for Columbus to get the bid because it would have had a tough time competing for donations. Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, champion of progressive politics he may be, has become a polarizing figure nationally, criticizing police officers who turned their backs on him during a cops funeral. The tension between de Blasio and the NYPD may have caused concerns regarding security for the convention (another, though not often talked about reason for not choosing Brooklyn, is that it would have highlighted Mrs. Clinton's ties to Wall Street as she is trying to make income inequality a central issue of her campaign).
Philadelphia is no stranger when it comes to hosting political conventions, having held either party's conventions a total of eight times. The last time it held a major party convention was when it held the gathering for the Republicans back in 2000, when it nominated George W. Bush for the first time. The last time the city held a Democratic Convention was in 1948, when President Harry Truman was nominated to a full term.
On the surface, Philadelphia may seem like an odd choice. Pennsylvania has voted Democratic in each of the last six presidential elections, and Democrat Tom Wolf's victory over an incumbent Republican governor was one of the very few bright spots for Democrats last November. But whatever Philly lacks in swing state status it more than makes up for in terms of it's history. It was in Philly, of course, where the Liberty Bell is located, where the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, and where George Washington served as our nation's first President. With Mrs. Clinton almost certain to become the first woman to the be the presidential nominee of a major political party, it makes perfect sense for the Democrats to hold their convention in the place where American History was born.
The city could also help with a party message of equality. Even if the Supreme Court rules this summer that gay marriage should be legal in all 50 states, the rights of gay couples to be wed will certainly be a part of the convention platform. The Democrats will also for sure put in their platform a call for all employees nationally to not be discriminated against based on their sexual orientation, which, quite surprisingly, is still legal in some states. This could in turn help drive millennials, a key part of the Obama coalition, to the polls.
For decades, the GOP has successfully established itself in the minds of many voters as the party of patriotism and American values. By choosing Philadelphia, Democrats have a chance to show the nation that love of country and the American Flag do not belong to one political party. Rather, that they belong to all of us-all races, all creeds, all religions, and all sexual orientations.
And what better way for Mrs. Clinton to open her convention speech by saying, "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men-and women-are created equal?"
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