The Obamas are headlining the second night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago as the party is turning its focus toward Vice President Kamala Harris leading them into the future as their nominee.
Former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are the biggest names scheduled to speak Tuesday night after Democrats opened the convention with a night dedicated to honoring President Joe Biden after he dropped out of the race, allowing Harris to take his place and rejuvenating the party in the matchup against former President Donald Trump. Other high-profile party figures in Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Bernie Sanders, who fought fierce presidential primary campaigns against Clinton and Biden the last two cycles, are also on the schedule.
Second gentleman Doug Emhoff, who has also had a frequent public presence in the White House and on the campaign trial, is also scheduled to speak. He is expected to describe Harris as a "joyful warrior" who is ready to rise to the occasion of being America's next president.
“America, in this election, you have to decide who to trust with your family’s future,” Emhoff will say, according to excerpts of his speech. “I trusted Kamala with our family’s future. It was the best decision I ever made.”
Several anti-Trump Republicans are slated to speak this week at the convention as Harris tries to persuade GOP voters who are dissatisfied with Trump to cast their ballots for her in November. Some of the people expected this week include former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, one of two Republicans to serve on the House Select Committee to investigate the Jan. 6 riot, and former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, who was in office during Trump's attempts to get the state to flip its election results in his favor that resulted in criminal charges against him.
Former Trump White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham endorsed Harris on stage on Tuesday while also slamming Trump's character and accusing him of mocking his supporters behind closed doors, saying he refers to them as "basement dwellers."
“Here I am behind a podium advocating for a Democrat, and that's because I love my country more than my party. Kamala Harris tells the truth. She respects the American people, and she has my vote,” Grisham said.
On the first night of the convention, Democrats tried to give Biden a warm send-off after he dropped his reelection bid over mounting concerns about his age and ability to continue to serve following a poor debate performance against Trump. He gave a lengthy speech to close Monday night where he relished in his accomplishments, criticized Trump and praised Harris as the country’s best option moving forward.
“America, I gave my best to you,” Biden said. “For 50 years, like many of you, I’ve given my heart and soul to our nation and I’ve been blessed, a million times in return, with the support of the American people.”
The vice president made a surprise appearance Monday night to thank Biden for his service to the United States. She also joined him on stage at the conclusion of his speech with Emhoff.
“Joe, thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation, and for all you’ll continue to do,” she said. “We are forever grateful to you."
Harris spent the day campaigning in nearby Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Democrats are also defending Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s seat. Democratic Senate candidates have been outperforming the top of the ticket in polls for months, momentum that Harris is trying to capitalize on as she hopes to defeat Trump in November.
For Trump’s part, he continued his swing state tour of counterprogramming on Tuesday with a trip to Howell, Michigan for an event centered around public safety. He was in Pennsylvania on Monday and is planning a trip to North Carolina on Wednesday.