CHICAGO – A “fired up” former President Barack Obama closed out the second night of the Democratic National Convention, delivering a rousing speech calling on Americans to elect Vice President Kamala Harris as the next president.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff also had prime-time speeches that were electric at times. The ceremonial roll call vote even mimicked a club atmosphere, complete with a Lil Jon cameo.
And the jumbotron piped in Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, from a packed campaign rally in Milwaukee — notably, the same venue where the Republican National Convention took place last month. What a difference a few weeks can make.
Obama’s balancing act: The Obamas remain popular — and galvanizing — figures in the Democratic Party. Chicago holds extra significance for the couple: Michelle is a native of the South Side, while Barack got his political start in the Windy City.
And then of course there’s the significance of Harris’ historic candidacy, a Black and South Asian woman who could break the highest glass ceiling. Who better to headline Night 2 than the first Black president and first lady?
But Barack Obama had to walk a fine line last night. Obama, who was reportedly one of the many Democrats privately skeptical of President Joe Biden’s path to victory, kicked off his speech by paying respect to his former vice president.
Obama hailed Biden as an “outstanding president who defended democracy at a moment of danger” and talked about how much he admired Biden’s “empathy and decency.”
“I’m proud to call him president,” Obama said, “but I’m even prouder to call him my friend.”
After taking pointed jabs at Trump, Obama then turned to praising Harris, whom he has known for decades, painting her as the rightful successor to the Obama-Biden mantles.
“America’s ready for a better story. We are ready for a President Kamala Harris. And Kamala Harris is ready for the job,” Obama said. “This is a person who has spent her life fighting on behalf of people who need a voice.”
Yet Obama also warned that for all the “incredible energy” and “memes” Democrats have generated in recent weeks, this will still be “a tight race in a closely divided country.” Perhaps that’s why, at one point, Obama also reprised his mantra, “Don’t boo, vote!”
The spouses: The crowd was loud with aws and laughter as Emhoff told the story of how he got set up on a blind date with Harris and how she became “Momala” to his two children. Emhoff offered a personal side of the vice president as he shared how his son had asked Harris to officiate his wedding after getting engaged.
Emhoff went into detail on the couple’s different religious beliefs. Emhoff shared about his Jewish background and how Harris “has connected me more deeply to my faith.” Emhoff praised the vice president for her work in fighting “against antisemitism and all forms of hate her whole career.”
The second gentleman fiercely advocated for Harris as a “joyful warrior” when talking about Harris’ background as attorney general of California and her time in the Senate.
“Kamala is a joyful warrior… Here’s the thing about joyful warriors: They’re still warriors. And Kamala is as tough as it comes,” Emhoff said. “Just ask the criminals, the global gangsters and the witnesses before the Senate Judiciary Committee.”
Then it was Michelle Obama’s turn. The former first lady — an equally skilled orator as her husband — made a heartfelt case for Harris’ election.
While echoing the warnings of how close the race is, she also struck an inspirational tone, declaring that “hope is making a comeback” and leading the crowd in a “Do something” call-and-response chant.
And speaking from a deeply personal place, the former first lady — who at the 2016 convention coined the phrase “When they go low, we go high” — went directly after Trump, delivering perhaps the most memorable lines of the night:
“For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us. His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who also happened to be Black,” she said.
“I wanna know: Who is going to tell him the job he is currently seeking might just be one of those ‘black jobs?’”
