Former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle gave speeches in support of Kamala Harris’ White House bid at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday. “We don’t need four more years of lip service and chaos. This is a movie we’ve seen before, and we all know the sequels are usually worse,” Obama told Day 2 of the Chicago convention.
“America is ready for a new chapter. America is ready for a better narrative. We are ready for President Kamala Harris.” Barack Obama greeted the outgoing president, Joe Bidenwho had been his deputy and withdrew from the race for The White House to leave the field open for his 59-year-old vice president. “History will remember Joe Biden as the president who defended democracy in a dangerous moment, I’m proud to call him my president, and I’m even more proud to call him my friend.”the former Democratic president said as the crowd chanted: “We love Joe.”
The former first lady Michelle Obamaoften described as the ideal candidate for the White House, spoke before her husband. “America, Hope Makes a Comeback”she said to cheers from the crowd. Michelle Obama has warned that the Republican candidate for the US presidential election, Donald Trumpwould try to twist the words from Kamala Harrisjust as he had done to her and her husband. “His limited and narrow views make him feel threatened by the existence of two hard-working, educated, successful people who happen to be black.”Michelle Obama said. “Who will tell him that the position he is currently applying for might be one of these ‘black jobs’?”the former first lady asked, eliciting laughter from the audience.
Harris takes off
Kamala Harris’ campaign has broken fundraising records, and the Democratic vice president is packing stadiums at her campaign events. Kamala Harris addressed the Democratic convention virtually while in Milwaukee, Wis., with running mate Tim Walz for a campaign event. During his speech, the Democratic vice president (of necessity) criticized Donald Trump, who said he did not regret the decision by the US Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade in 1973, which guaranteed the federal right to abortion. “I think you know that bad actions should have consequences. We will make sure that he suffers the consequences of his actions and that will be one of the issues on the ballot in November.”she said.
Democrats see abortion rights, a theme raised by Kamala Harris, as one of the key issues in the presidential campaign.
The Obama Effect
Barack Obama’s voice, now 63 years old, carries weight in the Democratic Party and in moments of crisis. This was especially the case before Joe Biden decided to end his re-election campaign. Nearly eight years after leaving the White House, the first black president in US history remains one of the most popular Democratic figures in the country, polls show. Like his successors, Barack Obama also presided over a very divided country, which he led to two resounding victories in 2008 and 2012. He then won not only in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, but also in Florida, in Iowa and Ohio, which are now considered states as out of reach for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.