'Hope is making a comeback.' Obamas storm the national stage: DNC Day 2 takeaways
CHICAGO – Barack and Michelle Obama arrived at the 2024 Democratic convention Tuesday with a message: Yes we Kam!
Speaking to a raucous crowd that hung on every utterance, the Chicago couple brought into focus the values at stake and their belief in how Vice President Kamala Harris is uniquely ready to turn the page and become America's next president.
"I'm feeling hopeful because this convention has always been pretty good to kids with funny names who believe in a country where anything is possible," Barack Obama said, alluding to his line during the 2004 Democratic convention about being a "skinny kid with a funny name."
Democrat's most notable political pair haven't kept it a secret about what they are feeling about the possibility of Republican Donald Trump returning to power
Barack Obama expressed fear, through surrogates, for instance. Michelle Obama admitted being "terrified" at the prospect, which she alluded to Tuesday. But Harris' candidacy gives the country a chance to "vanquish the demons of fear, division and hate," the former first lady said.
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"America, hope is making a comeback," Michelle Obama said.
With President Joe Biden's swan song out of the way, the Obamas capped off a night where Democrats attempted to sketch out Harris' views, her upbringing and her policy goals while sharpening their message on what the fall campaign should be about.
A particular bullseye is being put on Project 2025, the conservative Heritage Foundation's agenda blueprint that progressives have hammered as what will happen if the GOP retakes the White House. Trump has sought to distance himself from the group's platform and turn the conversation back to Harris' views and record.
Much like Monday there was a contrast between the upbeat musical rollcall to nominate Harris inside the United Center and confrontational street protests outside the arena, namely Chicago police arresting half a dozen activists outside the Israeli consulate in a demonstration against the war in Gaza
'It will be a fight': Obama rips Trump, uplifts Harris
"History will remember Joe Biden as a president who defended democracy at a moment of great danger," he said. "I am proud to call him my president, but even prouder to call him my friend."
The 44th president then moved to the GOP nominee, who he ridiculed for engaging in "childish nicknames and crazy conspiracy theories and (a) weird obsession with crowd size." He described Trump as a leader, "whose act has gotten pretty stale," but also as a "dangerous" person should he return to the White House.
'Hope is making a comeback.' Obamas storm the national stage: DNC Day 2 takeaways
Phillip M. Bailey
Joey Garrison
USA TODAY
CHICAGO – Barack and Michelle Obama arrived at the 2024 Democratic convention Tuesday with a message: Yes we Kam!
Speaking to a raucous crowd that hung on every utterance, the Chicago couple brought into focus the values at stake and their belief in how Vice President Kamala Harris is uniquely ready to turn the page and become America's next president.
"I'm feeling hopeful because this convention has always been pretty good to kids with funny names who believe in a country where anything is possible," Barack Obama said, alluding to his line during the 2004 Democratic convention about being a "skinny kid with a funny name."
Democrat's most notable political pair haven't kept it a secret about what they are feeling about the possibility of Republican Donald Trump returning to power.
Barack Obama expressed fear, through surrogates, for instance. Michelle Obama admitted being "terrified" at the prospect, which she alluded to Tuesday. But Harris' candidacy gives the country a chance to "vanquish the demons of fear, division and hate," the former first lady said.
Sign-up for Your Vote: Text with the USA TODAY elections team.
Former President Barack Obama takes the stage during the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center.
"America, hope is making a comeback," Michelle Obama said.
With President Joe Biden's swan song out of the way, the Obamas capped off a night where Democrats attempted to sketch out Harris' views, her upbringing and her policy goals while sharpening their message on what the fall campaign should be about.
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A particular bullseye is being put on Project 2025, the conservative Heritage Foundation's agenda blueprint that progressives have hammered as what will happen if the GOP retakes the White House. Trump has sought to distance himself from the group's platform and turn the conversation back to Harris' views and record.
Much like Monday there was a contrast between the upbeat musical rollcall to nominate Harris inside the United Center and confrontational street protests outside the arena, namely Chicago police arresting half a dozen activists outside the Israeli consulate in a demonstration against the war in Gaza.
Here are the highlights from day 2 of the DNC convention.
'It will be a fight': Obama rips Trump, uplifts Harris
Former President Barack Obama during the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center.
The Obamas are the most popular figures in Democratic politics, and the pair showed why on Tuesday. They shook the United Center from start to finish while tearing into Trump and uplifting Harris' potential presidency.
Barack Obama returned to the stage that two decades ago gave birth to his own historic candidacy as the nation's first Black president. He first talked about his former vice president, Joe Biden, who he described as his brother.We don’t need four more years of bluster and chaos," Obama said. "We’ve seen that movie — and we all know that the sequel’s usually worse."
Harris was offered up as the antidote in Obama's roughly 30-minute speech. He said Democrats cannot rest on past accomplishments, including his 2010 healthcare overhaul, but must not demonize Trump's supporters.
"Our fellow citizens deserve the same grace we hope they’ll extend to us," he said.
