This week's Democratic National Convention in Chicago could have been very different. Candidates could have been chaotically battling it out on the convention room’s floor for delegates to secure the Democratic party’s nomination for president.
Democrats’ disunity would have dominated headlines around the world.
That would have been hard to recover from - just look at Hubert Humphrey's presidential campaign in 1968.
A few hours in July changed the trajectory, when Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race and the Democratic Party almost immediately rallied behind their Vice President Kamala Harris.
It didn’t have to be that way.
However, as Democrats gather in Chicago for the party’s convention, it appears they are relieved that they chose that path.
"The whole dynamic has changed since Biden dropped out. I feel like there was a lot more apathy when we were going for Joe Biden. It was really stressful in 2020... no one was excited for a rematch", Patrick Houlihan, Delegate from Ohio, told RTÉ’s States of Mind podcast from Chicago.
With just over two months until the election, it’s not lost on some Democrats that Harris’ campaign for the nomination was the shortest running in modern US history.
"The biggest challenge for Democrats… is time. We have spent so much time gearing up to elect President Biden to a second term. I think we found our legs and that was my big worry" said Mr Houlihan, who is also the President of the Miami University College Democrats.
A buzz surrounding the Harris/Walz ticket was always going to reach fever pitch during the days of the DNC.
There is a new sense of hope around the duo’s nomination.
Buoyed by growing Democratic enthusiasm, Vice President Kamala Harris is now in a virtual tie with Donald Trump according to new research from the Pew Research Centre.
It said that among registered voters nationally, 46% say if the election were held today, they would support Kamala Harris and 45% would favour Trump. Only a month ago, Donald Trump held a 4-percentage point lead over Joe Biden.
The Pew Research Centre said the Vice President’s gains have come at the expense of Robert Kennedy, whose support has declined in the past month, and there are clear signs she has energised Democratic voters.
Maintaining that sense of excitement after a disastrous summer for the party will be its challenge over the next 75 days.
Those attending the DNC believe Kamala Harris has what it takes however, she has work to do to convince voters that her words mean action.
"People want to see their lives being different as a result of their votes. She has what it takes to motivate and get people to feel excited about going to the polls" Paul Young, Mayor Memphis Democrat also told 'States of Mind’.
Kamala Harris will take to the DNC stage in Chicago on Thursday night. Many will focus on what her words mean for them.
Mayor Young said that he’s heard some things at the convention which are going to be ‘very encouraging’ to those who are trying to figure out ‘how are their lives going to be different as a result of her taking office’.
"It's hard for people to think about tomorrow and all these other things, if you still, if you're having problems putting food in your stomach tonight", he said.
"She has a task to ensure that that people are able to connect her words to specific actions", he added.
Listen to the latest episode of RTÉ's States of Mind, or download from wherever you get your podcasts
