Tonight from Chicago, history in the making, vice President Kamala Harris shotters a barrier. The first woman of color to win the nomination of a major American Party.

And in this packed arena, tonight, a show of force and unity on night two of the Democratic National Convention. Our special coverage starts right now.

The Democratic Party making it official. The next President, Kamala Harris.

After Vice President Kamala Harris secures the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.

Former President Barack Obama, one of the most popular Democrats in the country, takes the spotlight tonight to throw his support behind Harris.

As the Vice President mounds a historic bid to break another barrier and become the next President. From MBC News, live from Chicago, The Democratic National Convention.

Here are Lester Holt and Savannah Guthrie.

Hi, there, everybody.

Good evening, and welcome to our special coverage of the second night of the Democratic National Convention.

20,000 people inside this arena right now. Democrats fired up, rallying around their new nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris. The party projecting unity heading into the final stretch of the presidential campaign.

Tonight's theme from the DNC, Looking Forward. Branding the Evening, is a vision for America's future. And moments ago, a roll call with a soundtrack, each state pledging their delegates with the D&C DJ here, hyping up the crowd and Harris's home state of California, putting her officially over the top.

California, we proudly cast our 482 votes for the next President, Kamala Harris. A celebratory roll call in the last hour. Harris filling two arenas, surprising supporters in Chicago from a rally in Milwaukee, about an hour and a half up the road with a massive crowd in the same arena where Donald Trump held his convention last month.

This is a people-powered campaign, and together we will chart a new way forward.

Notably, the DNC also shining a spotlight on former Trump supporters who are now backing Harris, including Donald Trump's former press secretary, Secretary, Stephanie Grisham, who said he mocks his own supporters behind closed doors.

Well, in a matter of moments, we're going to hear from some of the biggest names in democratic politics, including second gentleman, Doug Emhoff, former first lady, Michelle Obama, and tonight's closing speaker, former President Barack Obama. For more on a busy night ahead, we want to bring in meet the press moderator, Kristen Walker, and our senior Washington correspondent, Halley Jackson. Kristen, we'll start with you. Definitely a party atmosphere here at the D&C tonight, and how interesting. It was certainly purposeful that Kamala Harris beams in from the very convention hall that a month ago, Donald Trump had filled to the rafters, hers is filled to the Rafters, and so is this one in Chicago. Absolutely. The optics tell the tale here, Savannah and Lester. That arena in Milwaukee was filled to capacity. Kamala Harris creating her own split screen of sorts, campaigning in a critical battleground state, the very same venue where Donald Trump held his convention just a few weeks ago and really trying to make the case that we've got the energy, we've got the unity. Remember when we were covering the Republican National Convention, we talked about the unity that was on display. We wondered if Democrats would be able to match it.

Well, they are trying to send the signal that, yes, we are unified around Kamala Harris. Last night was about officially passing the torch, President Biden officially passing the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris. Tonight is really when the convention becomes hers, and you are seeing that play out in a range of different ways. We are going to hear from the Obamas and second gentleman, Doug Emhante.

I don't want to ask Calleigh about that. We're learning so much about the vice president now, seeing the different light, including some of the relationships and friendships, and we're going to see that in the form of Barack Obama tonight.

That is what she has, Lester, with the Obamas, is a friendship, a personal friendship that goes back years, that goes back decades here.

If the relationship between former President Obama and his then running mate, President Biden, can perhaps be described as complicated, it is different here for Vice President Harris and her relationship with the Obamas. Remember, this goes back to the early days of his first campaign for the White House.

She was an early endorser of his.

She came out when a lot of the Democratic institution was not backing Barack Obama.

She knocked on doors for him on New Year's Eve in 2007 in frigid, Iowa. That is something that has not been forgotten.

More recently, the former President Obama has acted as a advisor to the Vice President, as she has taken on now the top of the Democratic ticket and moved forward here in her push to win the White House.

What's been interesting as we've been at this convention and as I'm talking with Delegates and other Democrats, you know what there's a lot of comparisons to? 2008 and the energy and the vibe and the momentum that was around Barack Obama. I'm asking folks, okay, do you feel that now? You feel that momentum already? They're thinking, and they're telling me, we think we can get there. The question for the former President tonight, I'm told he's going to make the case for Kamala Harris and make the case against former President Trump.

How does he differentiate the Biden agenda from the Harris agenda? We'll The big question looming over all of this is whether this energy, this newfound energy in the Democratic Party and unity, can be sustained for the long haul. We're going to get down to the floor. I just want to mention as a programming note, our intention tonight is to play most of the programming that you're going to see and will not cut away to a commercial break. That is the plan. Just so you know, you're not going to be missing the programming. Let me quickly go to Tom Yamis, though, down on the floor because it was interesting. Last night, it went very, very late, well past midnight, and the Democratic National Convention the organizers heard that and are trying to tighten things up.

Yes, Savannah. Actually, it's very brave of you to talk about a plan because I don't know if they're going to follow the plan tonight. As you mentioned last night, the event was supposed to end around maybe 11:00, 11:15, maybe 11:30. It went well past midnight. The D&C has spoken to the television networks and to others are saying this night is much more scripted. So far, it has gone as planned. I will tell you, it has been an incredible night so far.

Why? They had this virtual roll call where they essentially essentially made the ticket official, the Harris Walsh ticket official. They had Rapper Lil John running up and down the aisles right here, singing Turn Down For What.

They had each state doing their own unique roll call for them. It was quite the night, quite incredible. Everyone getting ready for former President Obama tonight. Guys, back to you.

The DJ in the house liven things up during that celebratory roll call. Right now, we are listening to Angela Also-Brooks, the Democratic nominee for the Senate. Let's listen to some of remarks.

I've always been inspired by women like my grandmother, women who imagine a better future and then have the grit to make it a reality. One of those women is a friend, a mentor, and a role model. That woman is Kamala Harris. Let me tell you about the Kamala I've known for 14 years. I first heard about her in 2009 when I was running for state's attorney in Prince George's County, Maryland. I read a story in Essence magazine about a district attorney in San Francisco using new ideas to keep her community safe. Few had a better record prosecuting violent crime. She put rapists, child molesters, and murderers behind bars. But what she knew was that violent crime accounts for about 30% of all crimes. For the 70% that are nonviolent, she created a first-of-its-kind program called Back on track. After serving time and pleading guilty, these low-level offenders would get the job training, GED help, and apprenticeships they needed to find a job. The result? The recidivism rate plummeted. Now, after reading about this super bad district attorney, I talked nonstop about her on the campaign trail. Two days after I won the election, my phone rings.

It's Kamala Harris calling to congratulate me and ask how she could help. She helped me bring Back on Track to Maryland. Wouldn't you know it, crime went down and economic growth went up, Back on Track is now a national model. Now, Donald Trump says, If Kamala Harris is elected, tough guys will treat her like a play toy. Do you know who else fought that? The drug cartels she busted, the big oil company she made pay for polluting, the big banks that she made pay $20 billion to homeowners they ripped off. Getting justice for others isn't a power trip for her. It's a sacred calling. Hear me, Kamala Harris knows how to keep criminals off the streets. And come November, with your help, she'll keep one out of the oval office. Ever since Donald Trump rode down that ridiculous escalator, we, as a nation, have felt trapped. Every national decision has been made in reaction to this one man and his extremist MAGA movement. We are still frozen by the fear that Donald Trump might once again come to power. It's not just our politics that have been trapped, it's our imagination. Then Kamala came along.

Kamala has reminded us that we don't need to fear anything, not not the future, and certainly not that man. This is our moment to leave Donald Trump where he belongs in America's past. We stand with Kamala Harris because we, as a country, are not going back. For the ancestors who sat at lunch counters and made sure that we all had the right to vote, we are not going back. For the mamas and grandmamas who marched to make sure that women could control our own bodies. We are not going back. For the parents who work from can't see in the morning until can't see at night, not so that they will have a better future, but so that their children will have a better life, we are not going back. When facing an obstacle, my father has often said to me, your faith is stronger than your fears. Tonight, our faith is stronger than our fears. Faith in the promise of America, faith in the American idea, in the American values that we share. Faith that we, the people, can choose a new leader, a better future for the people. Faith that as dark as our days and challenges have sometimes felt, it's always darkest before the dawn.

We know that we can endure for a night because joy cometh in the morning. Morning is coming. Morning is coming. That joy will be led by Kamala Harris. Thank you so much.

We've been listening to Angela Also-Brooke, the keynote speaker for night two of the convention. It's also Maryland's Democratic nominee for the United States Senate in a tight race right now with the Republican governor of Larry Hogan there. Coming up next, this is the Republican mayor of Mesa, Arizona, John Giles, part of the DNC's focus on Republicans breaking with Trump.

I'm a lifelong Republican.

I feel a little out of place tonight, but I feel more at home here than in today's Republican Party.

The grand old party has been kidnapped by extremists and devolved into a cult, the cult of Donald Trump. Trump doesn't know the first thing about public service.

Like a child, he acts purely out of self-interest.

We all need an adult in the White House, and we've seen what happens when we don't have one.

Trump made a lot of lofty promises, unlimited economic growth, American manufacturing, Reborn, a secure border.

Turns out Donald Trump was all talk.

He wanted our votes, but he couldn't deliver a thing. But these days, my city of Mesa, Arizona, is on the move. I'm going to ribbon cuttings every single week, all because Joe Biden and Kamala Harris reached across the aisle, and they delivered for my conservative community and countless more across the country. My hero, John McCain, taught us to put country over party.

That's how Vice President Harris and Governor Walls will lead to. I have an urgent message for the majority of Americans who, like me, are in the political middle. John McCain's Republican Party is gone, and we don't owe a damn thing to what's been left behind.

So let's turn the page. Let's put country first.

Let's put adults in the room where our country deserves. Thank you.

A warm welcome for Governor Giles, who came out and basically said, The Grand Old Party has been hijacked, and really making an appeal to those in the center. Our Chief White House Correspondent, Peter Alexander, is on the convention floor right now. What was the reaction, Peter? Well, Lester, hard to give you an instant reaction to that, though. There's certainly a lot of applause, but I've been struck by not just the electricity, it's almost battery-powered here. They've all been wearing those Taylor Swift-like bracelets that light up throughout the night as we've been talking to people like those here from Illinois, Barack Obama's home state. There's just a ton of energy, as one Democrat described it to me tonight. It's like the Democrats were moorning a loss not long ago, and now they're celebrating a success with only 77 days to go. I'm here with Dwyane from Deliveroo very quickly. That roll call tonight, you haven't seen one of those in 20 years. What What was special about it that made it so memorable? Oh, my gosh. Energy in the room. Every state had its own dynamic. We had Lil John coming in. Not little John coming in.

Turnout for waltz is what we're doing. To be clear, you think the party, the Democrats, have found new energy going forward? Oh, my God. This is amazing.

You never felt anything like it in this room.

He's not alone in those feelings right now. It is evidence by this place being packed and that other arena about a couple of hours away, Pfizer Forum, being packed tonight as well. The Democrats here are showing their strides. Lester, Savannah. All right, Peter. Thank you. Up next from the DNC. The program is going to focus on IVF, which, of course, has become part of the national conversation, as part of a larger conversation about reproductive rights. We're going to be hearing now from the Illinois Democratic Senator, Cammi Duckworth, who will take the stage momentarily. And of course, this is a major focus of the Democratic Party, always, even before Kamala Harris was on board, was assumed to be what they will play as a strength. And here comes the senator now. I know I'm Chicago. I love Chicago.

You know, You know, I went to war to protect America's rights and freedoms. I take it personally when a five-time, draft-dodging coward like Donald Trump tries to take away my rights and freedoms in return, especially when it concerns my daughters. My girls, gamer girl Abigail and queen of the Monkey Bars, Miley, are everything to me. But they would never have been born without access to reproductive care. Because after 10 years of struggling with infertility, I was only able to have them through the miracle of IVF. But now, Trump's anti-woman crusade has put other Americans right to have their own families at risk. Because if they win, Republicans will not stop at banning abortion. They will come for IVF next. They'll prosecute doctors. They will shame and spy on women. If you think that's far fetched, just look up what happened in Alabama last year. Let me say to every would be parent, I see you. I'm with you. Together in November, we'll send a message to old Cadet Bones first. Stay out of our doctor's offices, and we'll get added out of the oval office, too. Look, my struggle with infertility was more painful than any wound I earned on the battlefield.

So how dare How dare a convicted felon like Donald Trump treat women seeking health care like they're the ones breaking the law? How dare JD Vans criticize childless women on cable news then vote against legislation that would have actually helped Americans to start families. How dare the GOP in has injured the dreams of countless veterans whose combat wounds prevent them from having kids without IVF, punishing our heroes for their willingness to serve. It's simple. Every American deserves the right to be called mommy or daddy without being treated like a criminal. Kamala Harris I believe that. Let's make some history and elect her in November. God bless America.

Okay, we start with an emphasis. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois speaking not as she often does of her military experience and the wounds she suffered in war, but what she said was a far more grievous wound, which was the infertility that resulted in, of course, reproductive rights, abortion, all of these topics are potent topics for the Democrats, have been very successful topics for them in prior midterm elections in 2022. Now, as I turn to you, Halley Jackson, clearly this is an issue that Kamala Harris had already made her own as a vice president, and they are carrying this. Women are so crucial to her election fortunes in November. Democrats see this as hugely mobilizing, especially when you look at, for example, where the gender gap is anywhere from 10 to 20 points, when you look at the polling.

When you look at the numbers, this is an issue where vice President Harris leads former President Trump well outside the margin of error, according to the most recent polling, something like 45 to 33% as far as trust to protect abortion access. Listening to the roll call earlier tonight as the states went around and talked about various things that are important to their constituents, you heard about reproductive rights and the issue of abortion access again and again. Of course, these very personal stories like what we just heard from Senator Duffworth, Governor Tim Walls, and his wife have a personal story as well.

You saw the Trump campaign try to make something of that today because Governor Walls referred to it as IVF when it's IUI, a different procedure. The Harris campaign says, Listen, everybody knew what he was talking about here.

He was shorthand.

And, Kristen, this is an area that really highlights not only the difference between reproductive rights, but how big a deal each party considers it, what the legacy of the repeal of Roe v Wade will be.

Absolutely. This is the first presidential election since Roe v Wade was overturned. And look at what we have seen in the midterms. We know that the issue of abortion was a motivating factor in special elections in recent years. It's been an energizing factor for Democrats. Abortion is now on the ballot in eight different states, potentially three more. Democrats want to capitalize on that. So yes, we just heard from Tammy Dufforth. We are going to be hearing a whole lot about this topic. We know that, of course, the Republicans, Donald Trump in particular, considers this to be one of the issues that they are very vulnerable on. For the first time ever, the Republican platform, in a generation at least, did not call for a nationwide abortion Russian ban. So he's trying to soften this stance, on the one hand, saying taking credit on the record for overturning Roe v. Wade, appointing the justices who've made that a reality, but then saying, Oh, it's now up to the states. And here's where the real issue comes in, because Democrats say, If he's elected, he's going to try to enforce a federal ban. Donald Trump has said, no, he's not going to do that.

But that's where the battle lines are being drawn. That's where the fight is going to come from. I just want to mention that we're waiting right now. We promised you the programming, and we will be getting you right to it. The next thing we're going to hear from is Doug Emhoff, the second gentleman who has the potential to be the first gentleman of the United States. He'll be talking about the Kamala Harris that he knows and married 10 years ago. Defining not just who he is to an audience to whom he is simply the second gentleman at the moment, but also who his wife is. And watch for him to really try to humanize her. We have seen the introduction from his son, Cole Emhoff, in which he describes learning about Kamala Harris as mamala, how she becomes that mother figure in their lives, somebody who is a part their family here.

When you look at this moment, overall, as we talk about defining who these folks are, who these candidates and their spouses are, the state of the race is very different than it was just a month ago.

Kamala Harris is doing better in polling than President Biden did against former President Trump. What happens over the next 70 days, we'll see.

And this will get back to the idea of blended families and for America to see blended families, perhaps through a new set of eyes.

Absolutely. A significant theme, particularly with JD Vans, saying that Democrats aren't focused enough on family. Second gentleman, Doug Hemhoff, having his moment in Chicago. Stop, stop, stop, stop.

Thank you.

Thank you, Cole.

I guess he didn't want me to give this speech. He just... Thank you. Thank Thank you so much. Hello. Thank you. Hello to my big, beautiful, blended family up there.

I love you so much. Aren't you proud of Cole? Wow.

A special shout out to my mother. I see you. My mother is the only person in the whole world who thinks Kamala is the lucky one for marrying me. And to Kamala, who, well, we just saw where she is. She's out on the trail listening to and talking with voters. Honey, I can't wait for you to come back to Chicago because we're having a great time here. I love you so much. I'm so proud of how you're stepping up for all of us. But that's who she is. Wherever she's needed, however she's needed, Kamala rises to the occasion. She did it for me and our family. Now that the country needs her, she's showing you what we already know. She's ready to lead. She brings both joy joy and toughness to this task, and she will be a great president we will all be proud of. Now, I'm the son of two Brooklynites, Mike and Barb. They've been together almost 70 years. My dad worked in the shoe business in Manhattan, and he moved our family out to New Jersey. Where's New Jersey? I see you out there when I was a little kid. In a lot of ways, I had a typical Jersey suburban childhood.

I biked around the neighborhood. I took the bus to Hebrew school, and I rode to Little League practice in the way back of my coaches wood-paneled station wagon. If we did well, we got to have a slurpy after. In my neighborhood, everyone left their garage door open. Wherever you ended up at dinner time, that's the family that fed you. Everyone took care of everyone else. The guys I grew up with are still my best friends. Guys, the group chat is active every day and it's probably blowing up right now, guys. When my dad had to get a new job, we moved across the country to LA. Money was Hey, California. Money was tight, so I worked at McDonald's in high school for some extra cash. Not only was I Employee of the Month, but I still have the frame picture, which you just saw. There was a ring, golden arches and all. Then I waited tables, parked cars. I was working full-time, so I could afford forward to go to college part-time. Thanks to partial scholarships, student loans, and a little help from my dad, I got myself through law school, and I got my first job as a lawyer.

Which is also where I met the guys in my fantasy football league. A lot has changed in our lives since the early '90s, but my team name is still Nervana. Yes, after the ban, I worked hard, and I love being a lawyer. And by the way, I still get to be part of the profession by teaching students at Georgetown Law School. I got married, became a dad to Cole and Ella. Unfortunately, he went through a divorce, but I eventually started worrying about how I would make it all work. And that's when When something unexpected happened. In 2013, I walked into a contentious client meeting. We worked through the issue, and by the end of the meeting, the now happy client offered to set me up on a blind date, which is how I ended up with Kamala Harris's phone number. Now, for generations, people have debated when to call the person you're being set up with. And never in history has anyone suggested 8:30 AM. And yet, That's when I dialed. I got Kamala's voicemail, and I just started rambling. Hey, it's Doug. I'm on my way to an early meeting. Again, it's Doug. I remember I was trying to grab the words out of the air and just put them back in my mouth.

For what seemed like far too many minutes, I hung up. By the way, Kamala saved that voicemail, and she makes me listen to it on every anniversary. But that message That wasn't the only unusual thing about that day. Now, Kamala, who normally would have been working hard at her office, just happened to be waiting at her apartment for a contractor to do some work on her kitchen. I was eating at my desk, which was not a regular occurrence for a busy lawyer like me who appreciated a good business lunch. But that's when she called me back, and we talked for an hour, and we laughed. You know that laugh? I love that laugh. Maybe that counted as our first date. Or maybe it was that Saturday night When I picked her up and told her, Buckle up, I'm a really bad driver. Because you can't hide anything from Kamala Harris, so you might as well own it. As I got to know her better and just fell in love fast, I learned what drives Kamala. It's what you've seen over these past four years, and especially these past four weeks. She finds joy in pursuing justice.

She stands up to bullies just like my parents taught me to. She likes to see people do well, but hates when they're treated unfairly. She believes this work requires a basic curiosity in just how people are doing. Her empathy is her strength. Over the past decade, Kamala has connected me more deeply to my faith, even though it's not the same as hers. She comes to synagogue with me for high holiday services, and I go to church with her for Easter. I get to enjoy her mom's Chili Rieno recipe every Christmas, and she makes a mean brisket for Passover. It brings me right back to my grandmother's apartment in Brooklyn, the one with the plastic-covered couches. But Kamala has fought against anti-Semitism in all forms of hate her whole career. She's the one who encouraged me as a second gentleman to take up that fight, which is so personal to me. Those of you who belong to blended families know that they can be a little complicated. But as soon as our kids started calling her Momela, I knew we'd be okay. Ella calls us a three-headed parenting machine. Kamala and Kirsten, thank you both. Thank you both for always putting your family and the kids first.

Now, Cole and Ella's friends knew that when they'd come over for Sunday dinner with Mamala, it was going to be real talk. In between taking cooking instructions, they'd have to answer questions about what problem they wanted to solve in the world. They learned that you've always got to be prepared because Kamala is going to prosecute the case. In the same breath that Cole and Greenly told us that they were engaged, they asked Kamala to officiate their wedding. In the same way that she always steps up when it matters, Kamala puts so much time into those remarks, and she bound them in a book that matched her dark red dress and then turned that into a gift for the happy couple. A few days ago, during this incredible time we're going through, there was a brief window when When Kamala was back at home, and I saw her sitting on her favorite chair, and in the middle of a wild month, I just hoped that she was having a quiet moment to herself. But then I realized she was on the phone. Of course, my mind went to all the potential crises that the vice president could be dealing with.

Was it domestic? Was it foreign? Was it campaign? I could see she was focused, and all I knew was that it must be something important. It turns out it was Ella had called her. That's Kamala. That's Kamala. Those kids are her priorities, and that scene was a perfect map of her heart. She's always been there for our children, and I know she'll always be there for yours, too. Kamala is a joyful warrior. It's doing for her country what she has always done for the people that she loves. Her passion will benefit all of us when she's our President. Here's the thing about Joyful Warriors. They're still warriors, and Kamala is as tough as it comes. Just ask the criminals, the global gangsters, and the witnesses before the Senate Judiciary Committee. She never runs from a fight. She knows the best way to deal with a coward is to take him head-on, because we all know cowards are weak, and Kamala Harris can smell weakness. She doesn't tolerate any BS. You've all seen that look, and you know that look I'm talking about. That look is not just a meme. It reflects her true belief in honest and direct leadership.

It's also why she will not be distracted by nonsense. Kamala knows that in order to win, we cannot lose focus. America, in this election, you have to decide who to trust with your family's future. I trusted Kamala with our family's future. It was the best decision I ever made. This Thursday will be our 10th wedding anniversary, which I know it means I'm about to that embarrassing voicemail again. However, that's not all I'll be hearing. That same night, I'll be hearing my wife, Kamala Harris, accept your nomination for President of the United States.

With your help, she will lead with joy and toughness, with that laugh and that look, with compassion and conviction.

She'll lead from the belief that wherever we come from, whatever Whatever we look like, we're strongest when we fight for what we believe in, not just against what we fear. Kamala Harris was exactly the right person for me at an important moment in my life. At this moment in our nation's history, she is exactly the right President. Thank you so much.

We can't speak to how that may be going over outside, but inside this arena Doug Emhoff may be having a moment.

Absolutely, Lester. And what's significant about it is this whole week is about filling in the biography of Kamala Harris. She served as vice President for nearly four years, but a lot of people still don't know who she is. Hearing about that voicemail, hearing about what she means to their family.

Conventions are all about humanizing people, and that may be a-It's the relatability factor there, reclaiming her laugh, for example, something Republicans have tried to attack, and now, of course, one of the most popular figures in the Democratic Party Michal.

Let's listen with her first lady, Michelle Obama enters the room. She's Thank you, guys. Okay. We got a big night ahead. Thank you all so much. Thank you so much. Hello, Chicago. Yeah. All right.

Something wonderfully magical is in the air, isn't it? Yeah. Yeah. We're feeling it here in this arena, but it's spreading all across this country. We love a familiar feeling that's been buried too deep for far too long. You know what I'm talking about It's the contagious power of hope. The anticipation, the energy, the exhilaration of once again being on the cusp of a brighter day, the chance to vanquish the demons of fear, division, and hate that have consumed us and continue pursuing the unfinished promise of this great nation, the dream that our parents and grandparents fought and died and sacrificed for. America, hope is making a comeback. Back. But to be Honest, I am realizing that until recently, I have mourned the dimming of that hope. Maybe you've experienced the same feelings as that deep pit in my stomach, a palpable sense of dread about the future. For me, that morning has also been mixed with my own personal grief. The last time I was here in my hometown was to memorialize my mother, the woman who showed me the meaning of hard work and humility and decency, the woman who set my moral compass high and showed me the power of my own voice.

Folks, I still feel her loss so profoundly. I wasn't even sure if I'd be steady enough to stand before you tonight, but my heart compelled me to be here because of the sense of duty that I feel honor her memory and to remind us all not to squander the sacrifices our elders made to give us a better future. You see, my mom, in her steady, quiet way, lived out that striving sense of hope every single day of her life. She We believe that all children, all people have value, that anyone can succeed if given the opportunity. She and my father didn't aspire to be wealthy. In fact, They were suspicious of folks who took more than they needed. They understood that it wasn't enough for their kids to thrive if everyone else around us was drowning. My mother volunteered at the local school. She always looked out for the other kids on the block. She was glad to do the thankless unglamorous work that for generations has strengthened the fabric of this nation, the belief that if you do unto others, if you love thy neighbor, if you work and scrape and sacrifice, it will pay off.

If not for you, then maybe for your children or your grandchildren. You see, those values have been passed on through family farms and factory towns, through tree-lined streets and crowded tenements, through prayer groups and National Guard units and social studies classrooms. Those were the values my mother poured into me until her very last breath. Kamala Harris and I built our lives on those same foundational values. Even though our mothers grew up an ocean apart, they shared the same belief in the promise of this country. That's why her mother moved here from India at 19. It's why she taught Kamala about justice, about the obligation to lift others up, about our responsibility to give more than we take. She'd often tell her daughter, Don't sit around and complain about things. Do something. With that voice in her head, Kamala went out and she worked hard in school, graduating from an HBCU, earning her law degree at a state school. Then she went on to work for the people, fighting to hold lawbreakers accountable, strengthening the rule of law, fighting to get folks better wages, cheaper prescription drugs, a good education, decent health care, child care, elder care.

From a middle class household, Kamala worked her way up to become vice President of the United States of America. My girl, Kamala Harris is more than ready for this moment. She is one of the most qualified people ever to seek the office of the presidency. She is one of the most dignified. A tribute to her mother, to my mother, and to your mother, too. The embodiment of the stories we tell ourselves about this country. Her story is your story. It's my story. It's the story of the vast majority of Americans trying to build a better life. Look, Kamala knows, like we do, that regardless of where you come from, what you look like, who you love, how you worship, or what's in your bank account, we all deserve the opportunity to build a decent life. All of our contributions deserve to be accepted and valued. Because no one has a monopoly on what it means to be an American. No one Kamala has shown her allegiance to this nation, not by spewing anger and bitterness, but by When she understands that we are living a life of service and always pushing the doors of opportunity open to others.

She understands that most of us will never be afforded the grace of failing forward. We will never benefit from the affirmative action of generational wealth. If we bankrupt a business or choke in a crisis, we don't get a second, third, or fourth chance. If things don't go our way, We don't have the luxury of whining or cheating others to get further ahead. No. We don't get to change the rules so we always win. If we see a mountain in front of us, we don't expect there be an escalator waiting to take us to the top. No. We put our heads down. We get to work. In America, we do something. Throughout her entire life, that's what we've seen from Kamala Harris, the steel of her spine, the steadiness of her upbringing, the honesty of her example, and yes, the joy of her laughter and her light. It couldn't be more obvious. Of the two major candidates in this race, Only Kamala Harris truly understands the unseen labor and unwavering commitment that has always made America great. Now, unfortunately, we know what comes next. We know folks are going to do everything they can to distort her truth.

My husband and I, sadly, know a little something about this. For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us. See, his limited, narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hard work and highly-educated, successful people who happen to be black. Wait. I want to know. I want to know. Who's going to tell him? Who's I don't want to tell him that the job he's currently seeking might just be one of those black jobs? Look, It's his same old con. His same old con doubling down on ugly, misogynistic, racist as a substitute for real ideas and solutions that will actually make people's lives better. Look, because cutting our health care, taking away our freedom to control our bodies, the freedom to become a mother through IVF like I did, those things are not going to improve the health outcomes of our wives, mothers, and daughters. Shutting down the Department of Education, banning our books, none of that will prepare our kids for the future. Demonizing our children for being who they are and loving who they love. Look, that doesn't make anybody's life better.

Instead, it only makes us small. Let me tell you this, going small is never the answer. Going small is the opposite of what we teach our kids. Going small is petty, it's unhealthy, and quite frankly, it's unpresidential. Why would any of us accept this from anyone seeking our highest office? Why will we normalize that type of backward leadership? Doing so only demeans and cheapens our politics. It only serves to further discourage good big-hearted people from wanting to get involved at all. America, our parents taught us better than that, and we deserve so much better than that. That's why we must do everything in our power to elect two of those good big-hearted people. There is no other choice than Kamala Harris and Tim Walls. No other choice. But as we embrace this renewed sense of hope, let us not forget the despair we have felt. Let us not forget what we are up against. Yes, Kamala and Tim are doing great now. We're loving it. They're packing arenas across the country. Folks are energized. We are feeling good. But remember, there are still so many people who are desperate for a different outcome, who are ready to question and criticize every move Kamala makes, who are eager to spread those lies, who don't want to vote for a woman, who will continue to prioritize building their wealth over ensuring that everyone has enough.

No matter how good we feel tonight or tomorrow or the next day, this is going to be an uphill battle. So folks, we cannot be our own worst enemies. No. See, because the minute something goes wrong, the minute a lie takes hold, folks, we We cannot start wringing our hands. We cannot get a Goldilocks complex about whether everything is just right. We cannot indulge our anxieties about whether this country will elect someone like Kamala instead of doing everything we can to get someone like Kamala elected. Kamala and Tim, they have lived amazing lives, and I am confident that they will lead with compassion inclusion, inclusion, and grace. But they are still only human. They are not perfect. Like all of us, they will make mistakes. But I tell you all, this is not just on them. No, this is up to us, all of us, to be the solution that we seek. It's up to all of us to be the anecdote to the darkness and division. Look, I don't care how you identify politically, whether you're Democrat, Republican, independent, or none of the above. This is our time to stand up for what we know in our hearts is right.

To stand up not just for our basic freedoms, but for decency and humanity. For basic respect, dignity, and empathy for the values at the very foundation of this democracy. It's up to us to remember what Kamala's mother told her, Don't just sit around and complain. Do something. If they lie about her and they will, we've got to do something. If we see a bad poll, and we will, we got to put down that phone and do something. If we start feeling tired, if we start feeling that dread creeping back in, we got to pick ourselves up, throw water on our face, and what? Do something there. We only have two and a half months, you all, to get this done. One. Only 11 weeks to make sure every single person we know is registered and has a voting plan. We cannot afford For anyone, anyone, any one, America, to sit on their hands and wait to be called. Don't complain if no one from the campaign has specifically reached out to you to ask you for your support. There is simply no time for that foolishness. You know what you need to do. Consider this to be your official ask.

Michelle Obama is asking you, No, I'm telling you all to do something. Because... This election is going to be close. In some states, just a handful, listen to me, a handful of votes in every precinct could decide the winner. We need to vote in numbers that erase any doubt. We need to overwhelm any effort to suppress us. Our fate is in our hands. In 77 days, we have the power to turn our country away from the fear, division, and smallness of the past. We have the power to marry our hope with our action. We have the power to pay forward the love, sweat, and sacrifice of our mothers and fathers and all those who came before us. We did it before you all, and we sure can do it again. Let us work like our lives, depend on it. Let us keep moving our country forward and go higher. Yes, always higher than we've ever gone before as we elect the next President and Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris and Tim Walsh. Thank you all. God bless. Right away for this. Now, before I go, I have one more job tonight. Yeah.

One more job. You all, thank you for all the love, but it is now my honor to introduce somebody who knows a whole lot about hope. Someone who has spent his life strengthening our democracy. Let me tell you, as someone who lives with him, he wakes up every day, every day, and thinks about what's best for this country. Please welcome America's 44th President and the love of my life, Barack Obama.

First Lady Michelle Obama with a fiery, heartfelt, and personal call to action as she greets her husband, former President Barack Obama to the stage. This speech was personal. It covered the terrain, and it felt like this was a first lady who had some things to get off her chest, particularly about Donald Trump, first by implication and then by name, Halley. She blew the roof off this place.

It was a full-throated endorsement of Kamala Harris and a full-throated indictment of Donald Trump.

She has blown the doors off this house and certainly raised the bar for what is to come from her husband. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, everybody. Thank you. Thank you. All right, all right, all right. That's enough. Thank you, thank you. Chicago. It's good to be home. It is good to be home, and I don't know about you, but I'm feeling fired up. I am feeling ready to go, even if I am the only person stupid enough to speak after Michelle Obama. I am feeling hopeful because this convention has always been pretty good to kids with funny names who believe in a country where anything is possible. Because we have a chance to elect someone who has spent her entire life trying to give people the same chances America gave her. Someone who sees you and hears you and will get up every single day and fight for you. The next President of the United United States of America, Kamala Harris. It's been 16 years since I had the honor of accepting this party's nomination for President. I know that's hard to believe because I have not aged a bit, but it's true.

Looking back, I can say without question that my first big decision as your nominee turned out to be one of my best. I was asking Joe Biden to serve by my side as vice president. Now, Other than some common Irish blood, Joe and I come from different backgrounds, but we became brothers. And as we worked together for eight, sometimes pretty tough years, what I came to admire most about Joe wasn't just his smarts, his experience. It was his empathy and his decency. And his hard-earned resilience, his unshakable belief that everyone in this country deserves a fair shot. And over the last four years, those are the values America has needed most. At a time when millions of our fellow citizens were sick and dying, we needed a leader with the character to put politics aside and do what was right. At a time when our economy was reeling, we needed a leader with the determination to drive what would become the world's strongest recovery. 15 million jobs, higher wages, lower health care costs. At a time when the other party had turned into a cult of personality, we needed a leader who was steady and brought people together and was selfless enough to do the rarest thing there is in politics, putting his own ambition aside for the sake of the country.

History will remember Joe Biden as an outstanding President who defended democracy at a moment of great danger. I am proud to call him my President, but I am even prouder to call him my friend. Now, the torch has been passed. Now it is up to all of us to fight for the America we believe in. And make no mistake, it will be a fight. For all the incredible energy we've been able to generate over the last few weeks, for all the rallies and the memes, this will still be a tight race in a closely divided country. A country where too many Americans are still struggling, where a lot of Americans don't believe government can help. And as we gather here tonight, The people who will decide this election are asking a very simple question, who will fight for me? Who's thinking about my future, about my children his future, about our future together? One thing is for certain, Donald Trump is not losing sleep over that question. Here's a 78-year-old billionaire who has not stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his gold an escalator nine years ago. It has been a constant stream of gripes and grievances that's actually been getting worse now that he's afraid of losing the common.

There's the childish nicknames, the crazy conspiracy theories, this weird obsession with crowd sizes. It It just goes on and on and on. The other day I heard someone compare Trump to the neighbor who keeps running his leaf blower outside your window every minute of every day? Now, from a neighbor, That's exhausting. From a president, it's just dangerous. The truth is, Donald Trump sees power as nothing more than it means to his ends. He wants the middle class to pay the price for another huge tax cut that would mostly help him and his rich friends. He killed a bipartisan immigration deal, written in part by one of the most conservative Republicans in Congress, that would have helped secure our Southern border because he thought trying to actually solve the problem would hurt his campaign. He doesn't... Do not boo. Do not boo. Do not He doesn't seem to care if more women lose their reproductive freedom since it won't affect his life. Most of all, Donald Trump wants us to think that this country is hopelessly divided between us and them, between the real Americans who, of course, support him and the outsiders who don't. He wants you to think that you'll be richer and safer if you will just give him the power to put those other people back in their place.

It is one of the oldest tricks in politics. From a guy who has, let's face it, gotten pretty stale, we do not need four more years of bluster and bumbling and chaos We have seen that movie before, and we all know that the sequel is usually worse. America is ready for a new chapter. America is ready for a better story. We are ready for a President Kamala Harris. Kamala Harris is ready for the job. This is a person who has spent her life fighting on behalf of people who need a voice and a champion. As you heard from Michelle, Kamala was not born into privilege. She had to work for what she's got, and she actually cares about what other people are going through. She's She's not the neighbor running the leafblower. She's the neighbor rushing over to help when you need a hand. As a prosecutor, Kamala stood up for children who had been victims of sexual abuse. As an attorney general of the most populous state in the country, she fought big banks and for-profit colleges, securing billions of dollars for the people they had scanned. After the home mortgage crisis, she pushed me and my administration hard to make sure homeowners got a fair settlement.

It didn't matter that I was a Democrat. It didn't matter that she had knocked on doors for my campaign. She was going to fight to get as much relief as possible for the families who deserved it. As vice President, she helped take on the drug companies to cap the cost of insulin, lower the cost of health care, get families with kids a tax cut. And she is running for President with real plans to lower costs even more and protect Medicare and Medicaid and sign a law to guarantee every woman's right to make her own health care decisions. In other words, Kamala Harris won't be focused on her problems. She'll be focused on yours. As President, she won't just cater to her own supporters and punish those who refuse to kiss the ring or bend the knee. She'll work on behalf of every American. That's who Kamala is. And in the White House, she will have an outstanding partner in governor Tim Walsh. Let me tell you something. Let I want to tell you something. I love this guy. Tim is the person who should be in politics. Born in a small town, served his country, taught kids He's coached football, took care of his neighbors.

He knows who he is, and he knows what's important. You can tell those flannel shirts he wears don't come from some political consultant. They come from his closet, and they have been through some stuff. They have been through some stuff. That's Together, Kamala and Tim have kept faith with America's central story, a story that says, We are all created equal. All of us endowed with certain inalienable rights, that everyone deserves a chance, that even when we don't agree with each other, We can find a way to live with each other. That's Kamala's vision. That's Tim's vision. That's the Democratic Party's vision. Our job over the next 11 weeks is to convince as many people as possible to vote for that vision. Now, it won't be easy. The other side knows It's easier to play on people's fears and cynicism. Always has been. They will tell you that government is inherently corrupt, that sacrifice and generosity are for suckers. And since the game is rigged, it's okay to take what you want and just look after your own. That's the easy path. We have a different task. Our job is to convince people that democracy democracy can actually deliver.

In doing that, we can't just point to what we've already accomplished. We can't just rely on the ideas of the past. We need to chart a new way forward. To meet the challenges of today. Kamala understands this. She knows, for example, that if we want to make it easier for more young people to buy a home, we need to build more units and clear away some of the outdated laws and regulations that made it harder to build homes for working people in this country. That is a priority, and she's put out a bold new plan. Did you just that? On health care, we should all be proud of the enormous progress that we've made through the Affordable Care Act, providing millions of people access to affordable coverage, protecting billions more from unscrupulous insurance practices. I noticed, by the way, that since it's become popular, they don't call it Obamacare no more. But Kamala knows we can't stop there, which is why she'll keep working to limit out-of-pocket costs. Kamala knows that if we want to help people get ahead, we We need to put a college degree within reach of more Americans. But she also knows college shouldn't be the only ticket to the middle class.

We need to follow the lead of governors like Tim Walls who said, If you've got the skills and the drive, you shouldn't need a degree to work for state government. In this new economy, We need a President who actually cares about the millions of people all across this country who wake up every single day to do the essential, often thankless work, to care for our sick, to clean our streets, to deliver our packages. We need a President who will stand up for their right to bargain for better wages and work in conditions. Kamala will be that President. Can she can? Yes, she can. A Harris-Walts administration can help Let us move past some of the tired old debates that keep stifling progress. Because at their core, Kamal and Tim understand that when everybody gets a fair shot, we are all better off. They understand that when every child gets a good education, the whole economy gets stronger. When women are paid the same as men for doing the same job, all families benefit They understand that we can secure our borders without tearing kids away from their parents. Just like we can keep our streets faith while also building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve and eliminating bias.

That will make it better for everybody. Donald Trump and his well-healed donors, they don't see the world that way. For them, one group's gains is necessarily another group's loss. For them, freedom means that the powerful can do pretty much what they please, whether it's fireworkers trying to organize a union or put poison in our rivers or avoid paying taxes like everybody else has to do. Well, we have a broader idea of freedom. We believe in the freedom to provide for your family if you're willing to work hard. The freedom to breathe clean air and drink clean water and send your kids to school without worrying if they'll come home. We believe that true freedom gives of us the right to make decisions about our own life, how we worship, what our family looks like, how many kids we have, who we marry. We believe that freedom requires us to recognize that other people have the freedom to make choices that are different than ours. That's okay. That's the America Kamala Harris and Tim Walls believe in, an America where we, the people, includes everyone. Because that's the only way this American experiment works. And despite what our politics might suggest, I think most Americans understand that.

Democracy isn't just a bunch of abstract principles and dusty laws in some book somewhere. It's the values we live by. It's the way we treat each other, including those who don't look like us or pray like us or see the world exactly like we do. That sense mutual respect has to be part of our message. Our politics have become so polarized these days that all of us, across the political spectrum, seem so quick to assume the worst in others unless they agree with us on every single issue. We start thinking that the only way to win is to scold and shame and out yell the other side. And after a while, regular folks just tune out. Or they don't bother to vote. Now, that approach may work for the politicians who just want attention and thrive on division. But it won't work for us to make progress on the things we care about, the things that really affect people's lives. We need to remember that we've all got our blind spots and contradictions and prejudices, and that if we want to win over those who aren't yet ready to support our candidates, we need to listen to their concerns and maybe learn something in the process.

After all, if a parent or grandparent occasionally says something that makes us cringe, we don't automatically assume they're bad people. We recognize that the world is moving fast, that they need time and maybe a little encouragement to catch up. Our fellow citizens deserve the same grace We hope they'll extend to us. That's how we can build a true democratic majority, one that can get things done. And by the way, that does not just matter to the people in this country. The rest of the world is watching to see if we can actually pull this off. No nation, no society has ever tried to build a democracy as big and as diverse diverse as ours before. One that includes people that over decades have come from every corner of the globe. One where our allegiances and our community are defined not by race or blood, but by a common creed. And that's why when we uphold our values, the world is a little brighter. When we don't, the world is a little dimmer. And dictators and autocrats feel emboldened, and over time, we become less safe. We shouldn't be the world's policemen, and we can't eradicate every cruelty and injustice in the world.

But America can be and must be a force for good. Discouraging conflict, fighting disease, promoting human rights, protecting the planet from climate change, defending freedom, brokering peace. That's what Kamala Harris believes, and so do most Americans. I know these ideas can feel pretty naive right now. We live in a time of such confusion and rancor with a culture that puts a premium on things that don't last: money, Fame, status, likes. We chase the approval of strangers on our phones. We build all manner of walls and fences around ourselves, and then we wonder why we feel so all alone. We don't trust each other as much because we don't take the time to know each other. And in that space between us, politicians and algorithms teach us to caricature each other, and troll each other, and fear each other. But here's the good news, Chicago. All across America, In big cities and small towns, away from all the noise, the ties that bind us together are still there. We still coach Little League and look out for our elderly neighbors. We still feed the hungry in churches and mosques and synagogues and temples. We share the same pride when our Olympic athletes compete for the gold because Because the vast majority of us do not want to live in a country that's bitter and divided.

We want something better. We want to be better. And the joy and the excitement that we're seeing around this campaign tells us we're not alone. I've spent a lot of time thinking I've been thinking about this these past few months because, as Michelle mentioned, this summer, we lost her mom, Ms. Marion Robinson. I don't know that anybody has ever loved their mother her in law, any more than I love mine. Mostly it's because she was funny and wise and the least pretentious person I knew. That, and she always defended me with Michelle when I messed up. I'd hide behind her. But I also think one of the reasons Mary and I became so close was she reminded me of my grandmother, the woman who helped raise me as a child. And on the surface, the two of them did not have a lot in common. One was a black woman from right here, south side of Chicago, right down the way. Went to Anglewood High School. The other was a little old white lady born in a tiny town called Pirou, Kansas. Now, I know there aren't that many people from Pirou. And yet they shared a basic outlook on life.

They were strong, smart, resourceful women, full of common sense, who regardless of The barriers they encountered, and women growing up in the '40s and '50s and '60s, they encountered barriers. They still went about their business without fuss or complaint and provided an unshakable a visible foundation of love for their children and their grandchildren. In that sense, they both represented an entire generation of working people who, through War and depression, discrimination, and limited opportunity helped build this country. A lot of them toiled every day at jobs that were often too small for them and didn't pay a lot. They willingly went without just to keep a roof over the family's heads, just to give their children something better. But they knew what was true. They knew what mattered. Things like honesty and integrity, kindness and hard work. They weren't impressed with braggards or bullies. They didn't think putting other people down, lifted you up or made you strong. They didn't spend a lot of time obsessing about what they didn't have. Instead, they appreciated what they did. They found pleasure in simple things, a car game with friends, a good meal, and laughter around the kitchen table, helping others, and most of all, seeing their children do things and go places that they would have never imagined for themselves.

Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican or Somewhere in between. We have all had people like that in our lives. People like Kamala's parents who crossed oceans because they believed in the promise of America. People like Tim's parents who taught him about the importance of service. Good, hard-working people who weren't famous or powerful, but who managed in countless us ways to lead this country just a little bit better than they found it. As much as any policy or program, I believe that's what we yearn for, a return to an America where we work together and look out for each other, a restoration of what Lincoln called, On the Eve of Civil War, our bonds of affection. An America that taps what he called the better angels of our nature. That is what this election is about. I believe that's why if we each do our part over the next 77 days, if we knock on doors, if we make phone calls, if we talk to our friends, if we listen to our neighbors, if we work like we've never worked before, if we hold firm to our convictions, we will elect Kamala Harris as the next President of the United States, and Tim Rolls as the next Vice President of the United States.

We will elect leaders up and down the ballot who fight for the hopeful, forward-looking America we all believe in. And together, we, too, will build a country that is more secure and more just, more equal, and more free. So let's get to work. God bless you. God bless the United States of America. A remarkable one-two punch from former President Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama to an energized hometown crowd here in Chicago. The former President notably paying tribute to his former running maid and now President Biden. But both Obama's making forceful cases for Vice President Harris directly going after former President Trump not holding back. In many ways, you could argue, Savannah, that what we heard from Barack Obama there was really, at times, while going after Trump, really an appeal to the middle.

These were two different speeches, and yet they were bookends to an argument for a return to American ideal that the Obama's has argued has been lost in our recent politics. Michelle Obama started out by saying, Hope is making a comeback. Of course, Barack Obama was the candidate so famous for saying, Hope and change. He went out there and gave an endorsement of Kamala Harris, an indictment of Donald Trump. But most crucially, I think, he was arguing for a hopeful future, one where Americans, though they may feel divided or feel that they can't agree, that they could still live together in peace and harmony. I think that was, Kristen, what he was trying to do tonight. These were fascinating speeches in the way that they fit together. Armonic Alba is reporting that the two of them actually coordinated their speeches, worked on them so that they would feel like bookends. Former President Barack Obama really became the explainer-in-chief. Remember, that's what former President Bill Clinton was for him when he was running for re-election in 2012. He delivered a speech that very much fit into this. Former First Lady Michelle Obama, basically unleashed what it seems like she's been wanting to say about former President Donald Trump since 2016.

It was a stunning moment in our politics. She took the gloves off. She went directly at Mr. Trump. This is a preview of what we'll see from them on the campaign trail. She took the gloves off and then delivered a total knockout punch. Then what we saw from Barack Obama was a little bit different, Halley, in the sense of it was an indictment of Trump, but done with a little more humor and lightness, even making fun of Donald Trump for his weird obsession with crowd size and that thing. If you look at these two speeches, almost puzzle pieces that fit together to tell that bigger picture story.

What was so interesting here in listening to them is that it feels like this moment right now cements the difference in strategy going after Donald Trump between President Biden and vice President Harris. President Biden made the case for years, really, that former President Trump was a threat to democracy, casting him as almost this ominous figure looming over American democracy.

In some ways, you could argue making him seem almost larger than life.

The Harris-Walls strategy, in many ways, Tim Wall is the architect of this, is to say, wait a second, Donald Trump's not large.

They say he's in fact small.

He's weird. He's annoying. He's a winer. He's a loser.

Trying to take away that power from him as they make the case against him.

Let's not forget, a lot of this was directed at Democrats and hand wringing. We heard it really, really explicitly from Michelle Obama, and then her husband picked up on that theme.

From both of them, really. There was a message to, we always say, we talk about this a lot of conventions.

There's an audience in the room, and then there's an audience watching at home. Millions of people in primetime, you're delivering a message to both. But they both had a message to Democrats. And From Michelle Obama, it was, Stop trying to hold these candidates to an impossible ideal of perfection. Stop the, so to speak, bed wetting, which is a phrase that often comes up in democratic politics. Former President Obama had a message to almost this citizenry of the Democratic Party saying, Don't hold supporters of the former President Trump to that standard either. Let's give each other a little bit of grace as citizens here. It was fascinating to see how the interplay between these-It's interesting, too, in this larger sense.

Yes, President Biden has been talking about the threat to democracy, but the other side of that was what we heard from the Obamas, which is why democracy is something worth fighting for, what our better angels were, what this restoration is that they're talking about. We're going to take a break right here. We have a lot more to cover from the Democratic National Convention, and we will talk about what's next for this fired up crowd in Chicago tomorrow night, right after this. Welcome back Tuesday night in Chicago. Our special coverage of the second night of the Democratic National Convention rolls on. Tonight's program has come to a close after former President Obama delivered the night's major address, of course, throwing his support behind Vice President Harris. And of course, Michelle Obama lit the place on fire with her speech. Let's go to Tom Yamis. He's on the convention floor, so he was in the room where it happened. Tom, how did these speeches go over with this crowd of party faithful?

I mean, the The entire crowd here, the entire arena, was electrified.

They were on their feet the entire time.

Towards the end of President Obama's speech, people started to sit down.

It was a very long speech. After two nights, we've learned two things.

One, in primetime, they are going after former President Trump. We heard it yesterday with President Biden.

We heard it again today with former President Obama.

Also, they are not following the schedule. These nights are going very, very long.

I do want to ask Latanya Reeve. She's from Minnesota. She was watching the speech. Tell me, why were people so excited about the Obamas, and did they deliver?

They definitely delivered.

I've lost my voice because I was crying at the words of Michelle Obama, really speaking to the experience of people of color and the fact that Kamala is a woman going for the highest office.

I was so impressed by both of them.

For them to endorse her, the first Black man President to endorse a Black and South Asian woman is just phenomenal.

Can Democrats maintain this energy and enthusiasm for the next 75 days?

You see this room? We are going to maintain this energy, and she is going to win this race. With our wonderful governor, of course, Minnesota, Tim Walsh.

Latana Reece, we thank you so much for talking to us. Savannah, I'm going to send it back to you guys up there.

All right, Tom, thank you.

We want to bring back Peter Alexander. He's also on the convention floor getting a sense of how this landed with that crowd. Peter. Yeah, Lester and Savannah. What struck me, among other things, is how the Obama lent some of their language and their energy to Kamala Harris, saying, Hope is making a comeback. You heard from Michelle Obama, Do something. The crowd repeated that, something you might hear along the way. And from President Obama tonight, he had a little smile on his face when the crowd picked on, Yes, we can, and said, Yes, she can. That's something I already am hearing from some campaign officials they think may stick going forward. William is from California. Rate it, 1-10. How was it?

I thought it was 10 out of 10 speech. I was so moved by President Obama and all the speakers tonight.

It really confused me with hope. Growing up-We're going to let you head on your way. I just want to make sure we get back to them on the way. The debate tonight from these guys, Which Obama did better? Michelle or Barack? Back you guys. Yeah, a lot of conversations taking place at this table and many others about what we witnessed tonight. We're going to take a break when we come back. What to expect tomorrow from the DNC as the new Democratic ticket prepares to address the nation? More from Chicago right after this. Welcome back to the DNC in Chicago. Our special coverage on the second night of the Democratic National Convention here in Chicago. The crowd Still energized, not eager to leave, based on what we're seeing behind us after the biggest speech of the night from former President Obama. There are still two big nights ahead of us with Tim Walls, set to speak tomorrow and Vice President Harris's historic acceptance speech on Thursday. When you piece these together, you get a sense of the arc that the party is trying to put across this week.

Well, Monday night was about paying tribute, of course, to the current President, President Biden. We saw Barack Obama do that as well. His former vice President, and wanting to put a grace note there. There obviously was some difficult moments for the Democratic Party when we were sitting here a month ago at the Republican National Convention. There was so much torment within the Democratic Party. You could almost not have fathomed that a month later, this would be a Democratic Party that has coalesced behind a candidate that has changed the poll numbers and momentum is on their side. But now, as these speakers were so quick and insistent to point out, so much work to be done, so much can change in this time, 75 days. And the timeline is so compressed despite some of these numbers that Democrats are looking at, not just in key swing states, but also nationally showing Kamala Harris gaining ground along with Tim Walls. There is still a real sense when you talk to Democrats and sources here that they are the underdogs.

There's a lot of fight left and not a lot of time to fight it.

That concludes our coverage of the second night of the Democratic National Convention.

Thanks for being here. We have more tomorrow on Today. See tomorrow night, too.

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