Barack and Michelle Obama speech Democrats but warn of tight race

Michelle and Barack Obama strongly endorsed Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night, urging party supporters across America to vote to defeat Donald Trump in November.

“Hope is coming back,” Mrs. Obama told the crowd at the DNC in Chicago, echoing her husband’s campaign promise of “hope and change.”

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In back-to-back speeches, the Democratic Party’s most popular figures praised Ms Harris, while encouraging Trump – whose presidency has been characterized by, in Mr Obama’s words, “disorder and chaos”.

But the pair also warned their party not to overlook a very tight race amid the fervor of Ms Harris’s campaign. He emphasized that the elections will be decided in a few important states.

“Make no mistake, this will be a fight,” former President Obama, 63, said.

Michelle Obama, 60, further emphasized this point. He said that we need to vote in numbers that clear any doubts. “We need to overwhelm any attempt at suppression.”

Mr Obama stressed America’s readiness for a “new chapter”, adding: “We are ready for President Kamala Harris. And Kamala Harris is up for the job.”

Obama’s appeal to Democrats to come out in November exposed the party’s deep concern about a tight race between Ms. Harris and Trump, who maintains a strong hold on a loyal base of supporters across the country.

Ms. Harris has a slim lead in the national polling average, but pollsters warn that the race remains a virtual tie in a handful of battleground states that will ultimately decide who wins under America’s Electoral College system.

Although Ms. Harris is technically the incumbent, she has described herself and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walls, as the underdogs in the race.

Obama also acknowledged a sense of renewed enthusiasm within the party since Ms. Harris replaced him after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race — a clear reference to the message of enthusiasm and hope.

Which led Mr. Obama to victory in the 2008 presidential race against the Republicans. John McCain.

Before Trump won the White House in 2016, Mr. Obama served a second term.

Mrs. Obama, whose most memorable line from her final convention speech in 2016 was, “When they go down, we go up,” did nothing to cool the temperature of the heated political rhetoric that has divided the country over the past decade.

He attacked Trump for attacking his family and for pushing “ugly, ugly, racist lies as a substitute for real ideas and solutions that will actually improve people’s lives”.

In a broadside that drew the biggest cheers of the night, he mocked Trump for using the term “black jobs” on the campaign trail.

“Who’s to tell him that the job he’s looking for right now might be one of those black jobs?” she said, referring to her husband’s presidency.

Mrs. Obama also used her platform to remember her late mother, Chicago-raised Marian Robinson, who died earlier this year at age 86

“I wasn’t even sure I could be strong enough to stand before you tonight, but my heart compelled me,” he told the audience.

Venice and Harris host competitive events.

Barack and Michelle Obama speech Democrats but warn of tight race

Trump and running mate JD Vance are holding rallies and events in swing states while Democrats gather in Chicago.

On Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Vance used a news conference in neighboring Wisconsin to attack Ms. Harris over the “failures” of her vice presidency.

He zeroed in on crime and public safety and the economy — two areas where Republicans see threats.

Referring to the 2020 protests in Kenosha after the police shooting of black man Jacob Black, he said: “Wisconsin suffers when you don’t have good, smart, public safety and leadership. Yes, and that’s what Donald Trump and I want to bring back to the White House.

After traveling to Wisconsin, Ms. Harris was absent for the second day of the convention in Chicago. But the event featured a jubilant and star-studded roll call, with delegates from each state – as well as US territories – casting symbolic votes for Ms Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walls in the field.

Although the vice president officially received his party’s nomination earlier this month, the symbolic gesture soon turned into a dance party.

Before announcing Georgia’s vote, Lil Jon performed a turndown for Vote. Actor Sean Austin spoke during his Indiana turn, a nod to his role in the cult classic American football film Rudy, which is set in the state.

A DJ on stage sang as delegates for each state, on their feet and wearing red and white glitter bracelets, made short speeches about why they were supporting Ms. Harris and Mr. Walls.

The vice president then addressed the crowd at his rally in Milwaukee — 90 miles away — at the same location where Trump accepted his party’s nomination four weeks ago.

“We are very honored to have you nominated,” he said of himself and Mr. Walls. “I’ll see you in two days, Chicago.”

Doug Emhoff takes the stage.

Before the Obamas gave their speeches, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Ms Harris’s husband, made his own appearance to share personal stories about the vice-president – including how they were set up on a blind date by one of his clients in 2013.

He spoke about their “big, beautiful, blended family”, referring to his son, Cole, and daughter, Ella, from his first marriage. He described Ms Harris as a “joyful warrior” and a supportive parent who put their family first despite the demands of her job.

The White House said Ms. Harris, who was returning from a rally during her husband’s speech, kept Air Force Two in the air so she could watch his speech live.Mr. Emhoff said the two will celebrate their 10th anniversary on Thursday night, when Ms. Harris formally accepts the party’s nomination in a prime-time speech.

“Kamla was just the right person for me at an important moment in my life,” he said. “And at this moment in our nation’s history, he is absolutely the right president.”