Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and Doug Emhoff will speak on the second day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. (Image: AFP File/Representative)
The Obamas are expected to make the case for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Former US president Barack Obama, who made his Democratic National Convention (DNC) debut in Boston two decades ago, will return to his political hometown of Chicago, which is hosting the recent edition of quadrennial meeting of the Dems, to make the case for US Vice President Kamala Harris who is running for the office.
Former first lady Michelle Obama will also take the stage in support of Harris’ nomination as the duo are expected to headline the convention’s second night.
The convention will start half an hour before the scheduled time on Tuesday as the first day ran so far behind schedule — and so deep into the night — that the organisers had to cancel some speakers. They promised more tweaks to keep the program running closer to on-time.
Michelle Obama is expected to argue how Harris’ experiences and values make her qualified to serve as president. Her husband, Harris campaign officials said, will focus on what Democrats need to do in order to defeat Trump in the general election, the Kamala Harris’ campaign team said.
Obama is expected to bring heat on Donald Trump, talk directly to American voters and honour the magnitude of Harris’ moment, according to Illinois lieutenant governor Juliana Stratton, who credits the 44th president with helping her become her state’s first Black woman lieutenant governor.
“He was a historic candidate and president. He knows what this is like. There will be this sweet moment of the first Black president passing the baton. President Obama is still a north star in the party,” Stratton was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.
With the party united and Harris polling strongly, Democrats are making clear they believe they can defeat Donald Trump, who had seemed set to regain power in November until Biden upended the race by dropping out and endorsing his vice president.
In addition to the Obamas, Harris’ husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, is also scheduled to give his speech on Tuesday night.
A successful lawyer, Emhoff would make history if Harris wins by becoming the nation’s first “first gentleman.”
‘A bold vision for America’s future’
According to convention organisers, the theme for Tuesday’s events is “A bold vision for America’s future,” a defined pivot toward a new generation for Democrats and their leadership.
After a Monday night that flicked at Harris’ possibility but also lauded the legacy of US President Joe Biden and his decades of accomplishment, convention organisers now appear ready to shift toward the next stage of their journey.
In laying out their plans for the week, convention organizers described Tuesday night as a way to contrast what they characterized as Harris’ forward-looking strategy with Trump’s less positive outlook on America’s future.
As they did on Monday, Democrats also plan to showcase “everyday Americans” and some performers during each night, in addition to the elected officials and party leaders.
More protests are planned near the DNC
More protests are planned near the site of the DNC, where on Monday, a few dozen who broke away from a larger group voicing their opposition to the war in Gaza tore down pieces of the security fence up in several areas near convention venues. Some protesters, dressed in black with their faces covered, dragged pieces of the fence back to a park near the United Center, where the convention is being held.
(with inputs from AP and AFP)
