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Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on stage together in Wilmington, Delaware. Carolyn Kaster/PA Images

A convention week like no other, but Democrats in Ireland think their candidate is well placed

Joe Biden will officially accept his party’s nomination on Thursday

THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL Convention kicks off today, beginning two weeks when the media focus in the US will be firmly on the election and not Covid-19.

Next week Donald Trump and the Republicans will take to the virtual stage but this week is Joe Biden’s big moment.

Biden will officially accept his party’s nomination on Thursday but before that we’ll have speeches from much of the Democrat top brass

Bernie Sanders, runner up in the Democratic nomination race this year and in 2016, will open the big speeches this evening with Michelle Obama set to give the keynote speech tonight. 

The convention will nominate Biden for the presidency after the former vice president won the party’s primary despite a slow start. 

Biden trailed Sanders following voting in the early primary states before a big win in South Carolina propelled him to numerous other victories on Super Tuesday, when other rivals had dropped out.

Presidential candidates from both parties are selected by party members who vote in their own state. Each of the candidates is then allocated a certain number of party delegates from each state based on how well they did in statewide votes.

On the Democratic side, Biden has won over two-thirds of the almost 4,000 delegates on offer, so is safely above the threshold to be nominated. 

3 November

Recent polls have shown Biden to have a double-digit national lead over Trump, with Democrats Abroad Ireland Treasurer TJ Mulloy saying the election was never Trump’s to lose even before Covid-19. 

“Everyone was saying Trump’s gonna win, Trump’s gonna win but, Trump has only hit 49% approval, he’s never been above 50% approval. He has never been above 50% approval since maybe the week of his inauguration. So if you’re not at 50% approval, you always have a tough time being re-elected.  He spun 49% into a narrative earlier this year that he was going to run away with it.”

Despite this, Mulloy believes Biden’s open adoption of public health advice in wearing a mask and restricting his movements has shown leadership in the age of Covid-19. 

75% in national polls support mask-wearing. We’re much more unified than it’s let on to be, we’re not as dumb as we’re made out to be. There is a certain cohort that is going to say ‘no’ to just about anything, but it seems even many of them are coming around.

“A public health concern has unfortunately been made political by Trump and the Republican Party. But it seems the message is getting through, thanks to Anthony Fauci and many state public health officials.”

Mulloy adds that the addition of Kamala Harris as Biden’s running mate makes it “a very strong ticket” and that Biden having vice presidential experience means he’s the perfect person for Harris to learn from. 

“I don’t think anyone doubts that she could take the reins at any given moment, if the unfortunate was to happen,” he says.

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33 Comments
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    Mute Ross MacCárthaigh
    Favourite Ross MacCárthaigh
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    Jan 15th 2014, 3:26 PM

    Good News for clubs etc that want to travel to events and keep costs down. Such clubs usually struggle for funds. Ryanair making some good changes lately. Check in with phone next please!

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    Mute Stephen D
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    Jan 15th 2014, 4:47 PM

    You can’t get a flight for €20 and expect Emirates first class service. Maybe someday the naysayers will realize this.

    103
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    Mute Dave Dson
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    Jan 15th 2014, 3:14 PM

    Now 20 people can have a sore arsê after 30 minutes instead of just one. Progress.

    22
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    Mute William Grogan
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    Jan 15th 2014, 4:10 PM

    I’ve flown many times with Ryanair, I’m 6ft and I’ve never got a “sore arse”. Maybe your big fat wallet in your back pocket is causing your problem.

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    Mute Pat Donlon
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    Jan 15th 2014, 4:11 PM

    I think shareholders should fire Mr O’Leary with immediate effect for been an a!!hole for the last tn”years. All of the current changes were OBVIOUS and could have made them billions more if implemented long long ago

    21
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    Mute John the Baptist
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    Jan 15th 2014, 4:33 PM

    yes Pat ‘ Billions’ and they were so obvious that Aer Lingus who have them for some time have also made ‘ Billions’ from them. Ask any Ryanair investor They are blissfully happy with Michael’s business model

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    Mute brian magee
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    Jan 15th 2014, 11:33 PM

    So Pat, you think that you could have created one of the largest airline in the worlds from what Aer lingus once described as a small regional airline.
    The man is a genius and has done a great job to date. I reckon the share holders live him

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    Mute gerbreen
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    Jan 16th 2014, 12:15 AM

    AL employee?

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    Mute Rodger 5
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    Jan 15th 2014, 5:41 PM

    How about cutting the cost of bringing a bike? you do get groups of cyclists.

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    Mute Conor Mac Manus
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    Jan 15th 2014, 3:44 PM

    Sounds very messy, imagine sharing a flight with a hen etc.

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    Mute Chris Judge
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    Jan 15th 2014, 3:59 PM

    It’s not going to be much messier than it already is. I assume people already travel in large groups on other airlines, even with Ryanair. This will just make it simpler to book those flights.

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    Mute ferbo
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    Jan 15th 2014, 4:48 PM

    And they will refuse boarding to some if they are short of seats – You pay for EU261 protection, but Ryanair do not allow EU261 claims for denied boarding! May their planes drop out of the sky!

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    Mute Aaron
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    Jan 15th 2014, 4:58 PM

    Your an absolute g*bshite!

    66
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    Mute Aaron
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    Jan 15th 2014, 5:04 PM

    You’re*

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    Mute Ray McMonagle
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    Jan 15th 2014, 7:48 PM

    Ryanair do not oversell flights

    33
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    Mute brian magee
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    Jan 15th 2014, 11:34 PM

    What are you on about? European air lines don’t over sell seats

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    Mute RonanM123
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    Jan 16th 2014, 3:05 AM

    All airlines do especially on high freq routes by around 5-10% on average.

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    Mute brian magee
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    Jan 16th 2014, 3:38 PM

    No they don’t

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    Mute Timmay Timeo
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    Jan 15th 2014, 9:50 PM

    Avoid avoid avoid….forever

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    Mute Aaron
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    Jan 16th 2014, 3:43 PM

    Brian Ryanair overbook their flights by 10% in most cases as studies show 10% of pax don’t show up. 189 pax on the plane, booked for 208, 10% no show for check in leaves just under a full flight

    1
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