The renewed Democratic Party is gathering in Chicago for its national convention, looking to capitalize on the momentum it has gained in recent weeks after U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris moved to the top of the ticket for the presidential election in November.

Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, are set to officially accept the party's nomination during the four-day event. This will be an opportunity for the Vice President to redefine herself as a leader and outline a vision for America's future after a few turbulent months for the party.

Anthony Fowler, a professor at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, stated that no one can say they could have predicted this election campaign.

President Joe Biden is expected to deliver a speech on Monday evening in a moment that may seem bittersweet. Just a little over a month ago, it was almost certain that he would take the stage to accept the nomination.

Biden stepped aside in July and offered his support to Harris, amid concerns about his age and mental acuity. Biden lost support from his party, with colleagues worried that there was no longer a path to victory after a disastrous debate with Donald Trump and an uneven performance at the NATO leaders' summit in Washington, D.C.

Biden's speech will serve as a symbolic passing of the baton, and the president is not expected to remain at the convention. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that Biden is expected to talk about the administration's record and what is at stake in the election.

Jean-Pierre said last week: "He is looking forward, as he tends to do, to speaking directly to the American people: to talk about the moment we are in, what is at stake, and to continue talking about an issue that is very important to him, which is unity."

Other big names expected to speak include former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Mark Truesdell from the University of Pennsylvania noted that it is unlikely there will be details on how or whether Harris will handle foreign policy or trade differently than Biden.

Truesdell, director of data science for the university’s Opinion Research and Election Studies program, added that these are not issues that would build excitement or unity among party followers.

Experts believe that Harris is likely to follow Biden's roadmap for America's relationship with Canada. Biden's tenure brought some stability, but there has also been tension regarding the administration's Buy American rules.

Democrats hope that the convention will boost support by building on the energizing momentum after the party united behind Harris as the presidential nominee. Recent polls have begun to trend toward Democrats in key battleground states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.

Fowler warned that poll bumps from conventions rarely last and that Harris will need to work to present herself to the broader American public.

Just a little over a month ago, Trump was hailed as a hero after an assassination attempt on the weekend before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Republicans at that time were riding high in the polls.

But observers say that Trump has stumbled in responding to his new opponent, testing a range of nicknames and insults, and Democrats have since been able to regain some ground.

Fowler noted that Trump may be able to slow the growth of his popularity if he can focus on Harris's governing record - which has been criticized as being too liberal - and the Biden administration's record.

Democratic voters will be looking for more details about governing plans and new policy ideas and something meaningful regarding key issues like inflation and borders this week.

Fowler said, "Throughout the campaign, voters will be looking to Harris and Walz to see the plans regarding some of these important issues."

Truesdell clarified that there will be a lot of excitement from the most enthusiastic party members at the convention. Whether Democrats will be able to maintain the interest and enthusiasm of the broader public until November remains unclear. "You need those people to actually go out and vote."