Barack Obama will utilize the Democratic convention in Chicago on Tuesday to designate Kamala Harris as the party's future and the first Black and South Asian woman presidential nominee, succeeding the movement he initiated in 2008. Obama announced on social media that his address at the Democratic National Convention will outline "what's at stake" and the reasons why Harris and her running mate Tim Walz "should be our next president and vice president." As the first Black person elected to the White House, Obama maintains significant influence and is renowned for his oratorical skills. His appearance at the convention is expected to elevate the already high levels of excitement in Chicago, where outgoing President Joe Biden delivered an emotionally charged speech on Monday, leading up to Harris's symbolic acceptance of the nomination on Thursday.
With the party unified and Harris's strong polling, Democrats are confident they can defeat Donald Trump, who appeared poised to regain power in November until Biden withdrew from the race and endorsed his vice president. Comparisons to Obama's historic 2008 campaign, which was propelled by a wave of enthusiasm, are already being drawn by Democratic supporters. Convention delegate Ted Hiserodt, 56, believes Obama will energize the Chicago crowd, stating, "He's just very good at getting the energy level high." Harris, who received an enthusiastic response during her brief appearance before Biden's speech on Monday, will hold a rally in the Milwaukee basketball arena, the same venue where Trump attended the Republican convention a month earlier. The choice of this 18,000-seat arena seems intended to provoke Trump, who has been unsettled by Harris's ability to attract large crowds, unlike Biden.
In an attempt to divert media attention from the Democratic convention, Trump is hosting events throughout the week and will speak in Michigan on Tuesday about what he claims is Harris's "anti-police" stance. Despite calls from allies for Trump to focus on policy and cease his personal attacks on Harris, the Republican candidate told CBS News he has no intention of changing his approach. "I don't care," he said, reiterating his criticism that Harris is not "very bright." "I don't consider that an insult. That's just a fact," he added, contrasting this with his own perceived intelligence, stating that "a lot of people" think he is "very bright." As the convention progresses towards Harris's major speech on Thursday, her husband Doug Emhoff, a successful lawyer, will speak on Tuesday. If Harris wins, Emhoff would make history as the nation's first "first gentleman." However, on Monday, the spotlight was on Biden, who delivered a farewell speech after withdrawing from the reelection race due to concerns about his age and health. Biden transformed what could have been a humiliating moment into a narrative of sacrifice and passing the torch to his younger protégé.
"It's been the honor of my lifetime to serve as your president. I love the job, but I love my country more," Biden said, wiping away a tear amidst thunderous applause. "I made a lot of mistakes in my career but I gave my best to you. For 50 years, like many of you, I gave my heart and soul to our nation," he concluded, embracing Harris on stage.
