What Went Down On The First Night Of The Democratic National Convention

Jim Clyburn is a kingmaker in South Carolina. In February, he told us why he endorsed Biden.

I want to repeat and echo what Seth just said, “Production values aside, Democrats bringing the families of police brutality victims to the convention stage to tell their stories and literally tell their presidential nominee what to do once in office is no small thing.” I think the emphasis on racial inequality and the killings of Black people by the police has been quite sustained in these first 40 minutes and fairly striking. I think the Floyd family being on camera has been the most interesting and surprising part of this convention so far.

Clyburn is making that familiar argument — familiar even before the pandemic — that because Biden is so familiar with personal tragedy, it makes him a better leader.