Michelle Obama and Barack Obama threw their weight behind Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night and urged party supporters across the country to vote to defeat Donald Trump in November.
“Hope is coming back,” Mrs. Obama told a crowd at the Democratic National Committee in Chicago, echoing her husband’s campaign promise of “hope and change.”
In successive speeches, the Democratic Party’s most popular figures praised Ms. Harris while denouncing Trump, whose presidency has been characterized by, in Mr. Obama’s words, “roar and chaos.”
But the couple also warned their party not to lose sight of what remains an extremely tight race amid heightened enthusiasm for Ms Harris’ candidacy. They stressed that the outcome of the election would be decided by a handful of key battleground states.
“There’s no doubt this is going to be a fight,” said former President Obama, 63.
Michelle Obama, 60, reinforced this point. “We need to vote with numbers that remove any doubt,” she said. “We need to overwhelm any effort to suppress us.”
Obama stressed that the United States was ready for a “new chapter,” adding: “We are ready for Kamala Harris to be elected president. Kamala Harris is ready for this.” Work. “
The Obamas’ calls for Democrats to get on the ballot in November reveal deeper anxieties within the party over the slim race between Ms Harris and Mr Trump, who retains a firm grip on his loyal base across the country Supporter base.
Ms Harris holds a narrow lead in national polls, but pollsters warn the race remains a virtual tie in a handful of battleground states that will ultimately decide who wins under the US Electoral College system .
Although Ms. Harris is technically the incumbent, she has portrayed herself and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, as losers in the race.
The Obamas also acknowledged a renewed sense of excitement within the party since Ms. Harris dropped out of the race to succeed President Joe Biden — an allusion to Mr. Obama’s message of enthusiasm and hope that brought him victory over Republicans in the 2008 presidential race. . ·McCain.
Before Trump entered the White House in 2016, Obama continued to be re-elected.
The most memorable line from Mrs. Obama’s last convention speech in 2016 was “When they go low, we go high,” but that did little to cool the temperature of the fiery political rhetoric that has divided America over the past decade.
She attacked Trump for attacking her family and continuing to push “ugly, misogynistic, racist lies in place of real ideas and solutions that actually make people’s lives better.”
In a swipe that drew the loudest cheers of the night, she mocked Trump’s use of the term “black jobs” on the campaign trail.
“Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s looking for right now might just be one of those black jobs?” she said, referring to her husband’s presidency.
Mrs. Obama also used her platform to honor her late mother, Marian Robinson, who grew up in Chicago. died earlier this year at the age of 86.
“I’m not even sure I can stand steady in front of you tonight, but my heart compels me to do it,” she told the audience.
Vance and Harris host competition event
Trump and running mate J.D. Vance have been holding rallies and events in swing states, while Democrats have gathered in Chicago.
Vance attacked Ms Harris’ “failure” as vice president at a news conference in neighboring Wisconsin on Tuesday afternoon.
He focused on crime, public safety and the economy — two areas where Republicans see weaknesses.
Referring to the protests in Kenosha after the police shooting of Jacob Blake in 2020, he said: “Without good, smart, pro-public safety and leadership, the state of Wisconsin is going to suffer, and that’s what Donald Trump is doing.” Trump and I want to bring it back to the White House.
ReutersMs. Harris did not attend the second day of the Chicago meeting after traveling to Wisconsin. But the event’s roll call was truly celebratory, with a star-studded cast of representatives from every state and U.S. territory on hand to symbolically cast their votes for Ms. Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Although the vice president officially secured his party’s nomination earlier this month, the symbolic gesture quickly turned into a dance party.
Lil Jon performed “Turn Down For What” before the vote was announced in Georgia. Actor Sean Astin spoke in Indiana, a nod to his role in the classic American football movie “Rudy,” which was set in Indiana.
DJs on stage played songs for each state, while delegates stood up, wearing flashing red and white bracelets, and gave brief speeches explaining why they supported Ms. Harris and Mr. Walz.
The vice president then gave a virtual speech to the crowd at a rally in Milwaukee, 90 miles away, at the same place where Trump accepted the party’s nomination four weeks ago.
“We are honored to be your nominees,” she said of herself and Mr. Waltz. “See you in two days, Chicago.”
Doug Emhoff takes the stage
Ahead of the Obamas’ speeches, Ms. Harris’s husband, Doug Emhoff, made a personal appearance and shared personal stories about the vice president, including how one of his clients set them up on a blind date in 2013 .
He spoke of their “big, beautiful, blended family,” referring to his son Cole and daughter Ella from his first marriage. He described Ms Harris as a “happy warrior” and a supportive parent who put her family first despite the demands of her job.
The White House said Ms. Harris flew back from a rally during her husband’s speech, keeping Air Force Two in the air so she could watch his speech live.
Emhoff said the pair would celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary on Thursday night, when Ms. Harris will formally accept the party’s nomination in a prime-time speech.
“Kamala is the right person for me at this important time in my life,” he said. “She is the right president for this moment in our country’s history.”
