Democratic convention replay: Barack Obama backs Kamala Harris, honors Joe Biden in Chicago
Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama called on Democrats across the country to get involved in the 2024 race for the White House.
The former president took the stage in Chicago at the Democratic convention and honored his own vice president, now-President Joe Biden, for passing the torch to the next generation of leaders. But he also told the rowdy crowd "Now it’s up to all of us to fight for the America we believe in."
And Michelle Obama led several chants of "do something!" as Election Day looms in less than 80 days.
Catch up with the USA TODAY Network's live coverage of the Democratic convention in Chicago.
Michelle Obama hits Trump over ‘Black jobs’ remark in her speech
Former First Lady Michelle Obama directly hit Trump for his ‘Black jobs’ remarks he made in June while he was slamming President Joe Biden on immigration.
The former president at the time argued that “the millions of people he's (Biden’s) allowed to come in through the border, they're taking Black jobs.”
Obama said, “Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those “Black jobs?”
Her remark landed her heavy applause and cheers from the audience.
-- Sudiksha Kochi
'Ready for a new chapter': Barack Obama condemns Trump reelection campaign
Former President Barack Obama blasted his White House successor and Harris’ 2024 Republican opponent, Donald Trump.
“It has been a constant stream of gripes and grievances that’s actually been getting worse now that he’s afraid of losing to Kamala,” Barack Obama told the crowd. “There’s the childish nicknames, the crazy conspiracy theories, this weird obsession with crowd sizes. It just goes on and on and on.”
The former Democratic president criticized Trump’s platform on issues from immigration to reproductive rights, as well as his character.
“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,” Barack Obama said. “Now from a neighbor, that’s exhausting. From a president, it’s just dangerous.”
Calling Trump a “stale” act, former President Obama said the country is “ready” for someone different.
“We do not need four more years of bluster and bumbling and chaos. We’ve seen that movie – and we all know that the sequel is usually worse,” he said. “America’s ready for a new chapter. America’s ready for a better story.”
-- Savannah Kuchar
Former President Barack Obama honors Joe Biden
Former President Barack Obama said choosing President Joe Biden as his running mate sixteen years ago turned out to be the best decision he made.
“Other than some common Irish blood, Joe and I come from different backgrounds. But we became brothers,” Obama said. “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.”
Obama touted Biden’s handling of the economy and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“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,” he said.
He said that history will remember Biden as an “outstanding president who defended democracy at a moment of great danger.”
“And I am proud to call him my president, but I am even prouder to call him my friend,” he added. “Now the torch has been passed. Now it’s up to all of us to fight for the America we believe in.
-- Sudiksha Kochi
Michelle Obama's new catch phrase: Do something
The former first lady reminded her fellow Democrats on Tuesday that presidential elections are marathons, not sprints.
"If we see a bad poll, and we will, we’ve got to put down that phone and do something!" she told the crowd, before chants of "do something!" broke out multiple times.
It appeared to be a new catch phrase for Michelle Obama. In her 2016 convention speech, her comments that “When they go low, we go high” instantly went viral.
— Marina Pitofsky
Michelle Obama: 'Something wonderfully magical is in the air'
Former first lady Michelle Obama kicked off her remarks by asking the Democratic crowd in Chicago "Something wonderfully magical is in the air, isn’t it?"
"Not just here in this arena… but spreading all across this country we love," she said, adding "It’s the contagious power of hope!"
— Marina Pitofsky
Michelle Obama criticizes Trump during remarks
Former First Lady Michelle Obama said that for years, Trump “did everything in his power to try to make people fear us.”
“His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who also happened to be Black,” she said, referring to her and her husband former President Barack Obama.
“Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those “Black jobs?” she added. “It’s his same old con- his same old con: doubling down on ugly, misogynistic, racist lies as a substitute for real ideas and solutions that will actually make people’s lives better.”
She knocked the former president’s policies on healthcare, reproductive healthcare access, educational policies and book banning.
“Going small is never the answer,” she said. “Going small is the opposite of what we teach our kids. Going small is petty, it’s unhealthy, and quite frankly, it’s unpresidential. So, why would any of us accept this from anyone seeking our highest office? Why would we normalize that type of backward leadership?”
She said that Americans “deserve so much better.”
“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 Walz,” she said.
-- Sudiksha Kochi
Michelle Obama cautions against “Goldilocks” voters
Former first lady Michelle Obama said Tuesday this year’s election will still be an uphill battle for Democrats, and she offered the party a warning: “We cannot be our own worst enemies.”
“The minute something goes wrong," Michelle Obama said, “the minute a lie takes hold, folks, we cannot start wringing our hands.”
“We cannot get a Goldilocks complex about whether everything is just right.”
While enthusiasm on the left has soared, evidenced by rally attendance and campaign donations, since Harris took over the ticket, some progressive voters have raise their concerns about the vice president’s record.
“Kamala and Tim, they have lived amazing lives, and I am confident they will lead with compassion, inclusion and grace,” Michelle Obama said. “But they are still only human. They are not perfect. And like all of us, they will make mistakes.”
-- Savannah Kuchar
Doug Emhoff makes debut on convention stage Tuesday
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff kicked off his remarks by acknowledging his family members in the audience, especially his mother.
“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,” he joked.
Emhoff recalls the time he connected with Harris: he got set up on a blind date and was given none other than Harris’ phone number.
“Now for generations, people have debated when to call the person you're going to set up with. And never in history has anyone suggested 8:30am,” he said. “And yet that's when I dialed. I got Kamala's voicemail, and I just started rambling.”
He later added, “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.”
He said that he loves her laugh, which has been criticized by Trump and other Republicans.
“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, and as I got to know her better, and just fell in love fast,” he said.
-- Sudiksha Kochi
Sen. Duckworth shares personal infertility story in speech
Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois highlighted reproductive rights when addressing the convention crowd, speaking to her own experience having children with the help of invitro fertilization.
“If they win, Republicans will not stop at banning abortion,” Duckworth said.
Speaking to her own journey having children, the senator and veteran blasted Trump and his running mate Ohio Sen. JD Vance.
Duckworth warned of what she called “Trump’s anti-woman crusade.”
“My struggle with infertility was more painful than any wound I earned on the battlefield,” Duckworth said. “So how dare a convicted felon like Donald Trump treat women seeking health care like they’re the ones breaking the law. How dare JD Vance criticize childless women on cable news, then vote against legislation that would have actually helped Americans to start families.”
-- Savannah Kuchar
McCain’s GOP is ‘gone,’ Arizona Republican says
The late Sen. John McCain’s Republican Party is “gone” and voters don’t owe a “damn thing” to today’s GOP, said a Republican mayor from the battleground state of Arizona.
Mesa Mayor John Giles is leading a coalition of Republicans who support Harris in Arizona. He brought his pitch to Chicago on Tuesday night.
“John McCain’s Republican Party is gone and we don’t owe a damn thing to what’s been left behind,” Giles said.
Giles called McCain his hero during his remarks, and had harsh words for former President Donald Trump. He said that Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will put “country over party” in the same spirit as McCain, who represented Arizona in the U.S. Senate for three decades.
The Mesa mayor also noted that despite appearing at the Democratic National Convention, he’s a lifelong Republican.
“I feel more at home here than in today’s Republican Party,” Giles said. “The Grand Old Party has been kidnapped by extremists and devolved into a cult.”
-- Stephanie Murray
Alsobrooks, friend of Harris, knocks Trump
Angela Alsobrooks, a friend of Harris’s and Democratic nominee for Maryland Senate seat, told convention attendees Tuesday that she’s “always been inspired by women like my grandmother, women who imagined 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,” she said.
Alsobrooks blasted Trump, saying that ever since he rode down the escalator in 2015 announcing his presidential run, “we as a nation have felt trapped.”
“Every national decision has been made in reaction to this one man and his extremist Maga movement,” she said. “We are still frozen by the fear that Donald Trump might once again come to power. And it's not just our politics that have been trapped. It's our imagination, and then Kamala came along. Kamala has reminded us that we don't need to fear anything, not the future, and certainly not that man.”
-- Sudiksha Kochi
Trump only rich in ‘stupidity,’ billionaire Pritzker says
Gov. JB Pritzker bashed Trump’s personal fortune – and his intellect – during a DNC speech in the governor’s home state of Illinois.
“Donald Trump thinks that we should trust him on the economy because he claims to be very rich. But take it from an actual billionaire, Trump is rich in only one thing: Stupidity,” said Pritzker, a billionaire whose family owns the Hyatt hotel chain.
Pritzker was seen as a contender for vice president before Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to join her on the Democratic ticket. He praised both candidates and credited Harris for cleaning up Trump’s “mess” during her time in the Biden administration.
“We have a choice, America, between the man who left our country a total mess and the woman who has spent four years cleaning it up. And I think it’s time we stop expecting women to clean up messes without the authority and the title to match the job,” Pritzker said.
-- Stephanie Murray
Sanders touts Biden record, says more to be done
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., praised the Biden administration and called for additional reforms in what would be a consecutive Democratic White House if Harris wins 2024.
“Brothers and sisters, bottom-line: We need an economy that works for all of us, not just the billionaire class,” Sanders, 82, said in his convention speech.
The senator, who ran against both Biden and Harris in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, gave the vice president his backing Tuesday.
“I look forward to working with Kamala and Tim to pass this agenda,” Sanders said.
-- Savannah Kuchar
Harris and Walz tune in to the DNC live from Wisconsin
After the convention delegates finished up their roll call, reaffirming Harris as the party’s nominee, the crowd at the convention turned their attention to a live broadcast of Harris and Walz speaking from a campaign event in Wisconsin.
“We are so honored to be your nominees,” Harris said. “This is a people powered campaign and together, will charge a new way forward.”
-- Sudiksha Kochi
Schumer calls for a Democratic majority in the Senate, condemns antisemitism
Dancing to the tune of Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk” as he entered the convention stage, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer began his remarks offering a stark contrast between a Harris term and a Trump term.
“This November, we can choose a brighter, a fairer, a freer future, or we can relive the dark night of Trump's American carnage. Only one candidate will move America forward, Kamala Harris,” he said.
Working with Harris in the Senate, Schumer said he saw a leader who was fearless and stood up for middle class families.
“She will lead America forward into a brighter future, but she can't do it alone. She needs a Democratic majority in the Senate of the United States,” Schumer said.
He also closed his remarks on a personal note, discussing his background as a high ranking Jewish elected official.
“I want my grandkids and all grandkids to never, never face discrimination because of who they are. But Donald Trump, this is a guy who peddles antisemitic stereotypes… I am wearing this blue square to stand up to antisemitism, to stand up to all hate. Our children, our grandchildren, no matter their race, no matter their creed, their gender or family, deserve better than Donald Trump's American carnage,” he said.
-- Sudiksha Kochi
Why did Minnesota and California go last at the Democratic convention?
The ceremonial roll call at the Democratic convention mostly went in alphabetical order by state on Tuesday as delegates cheered for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.
But why did Minnesota and California wrap up the roll call? Those are Harris and Walz's home states, receiving the traditional honor of finalizing the proceedings.
? Marina Pitofsky
Ana Navarro hits Donald Trump, Kristi Noem
"The View" co-host criticized former President Donald Trump on Tuesday and gave Kamala Harris a sweeping endorsement. But she also focused on man's best friend's role in the 2024 election.
"We cannot elect a president who does not like dogs ? or hangs around with people who shoot them," Navarro said.
Trump during his term in office said he didn't have time for a furry friend. But South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem earlier this year faced major backlash after sharing in her book that she had shot a family dog that exhibited aggressive behavior.
? Marina Pitofsky
Harris certified as presidential nominee in party atmosphere
In an enthusiastic ceremonial vote Tuesday, Democrats approved Vice President Harris as their 2024 presidential nominee.
Going alphabetically, representatives from each state cast votes in a process that included appearances from politicians as well as stars like Lil Jon, Spike Lee, Eva Longoria, Sean Astin and DJ Cassidy."
Harris had already secured the official nomination ahead of the convention via a virtual roll call earlier this month. Democrats held a similarly (but less star-studded) ceremonial vote for Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Monday.
-- Savannah Kuchar
What’s that song that keeps playing in Chicago?
As Democrats gather in United Center, party organizers have nodded to the home of the Chicago Bulls and star Michael Jordan with use of the basketball team’s iconic theme song, “Sirius.”
The song played as introduction for Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker during Tuesday’s ceremonial roll call as well as for former Bulls player, now NBA head coach Steve Kerr, who addressed the convention Monday.
Other state-related hits made the roll call playlist, including “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Lose Yourself” by Michigan’s Eminem.
-- Savannah Kuchar
Trump says he would consider appointing RFK, Jr., to administration
Trump has changed his tune considerably on Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., now that the independent candidate is thinking about endorsing him.
Asked by a CNN reporter Tuesday if he would consider a role for RFK, Jr., in a second Trump administration, the former president said: “I didn’t know he was thinking about getting out, but if he is thinking about getting out, certainly I’d be open to it.”
Trump called Kennedy “a brilliant guy" and "a very smart guy" - a far cry from April, when he called him “far more liberal than anyone running as a Democrat." At the time, Trump expressed concern that Kennedy's independent candidacy might cost him votes in the general election.
Trump's softer tone came after Kennedy running mate Nicole Shanahan said that their campaign was considering dropping out of the presidential race and endorsing Trump.
-David Jackson
Trump fixer Michael Cohen turns heads at the DNC
Michael Cohen, who worked as a fixer and attorney for former President Donald Trump, was spotted at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.Cohen, who spent more than two years behind bars for lying to U.S. congressional committees about Trump projects, testified against the former president during his May trial in which he was convicted on 34 felony counts related to the hush money payments to a porn star in 2016.DNC attendees stopped to take pictures with the frequent TV personality, who is reportedly shopping his own TV show called “The Fixer.”--Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy
Anti-Trump Republicans bash former president on convention stage
At the convention Tuesday, anti-Trump Republicans discussed why they were supporting Kamala Harris in November.
Kyle Sweetser, a former Trump voter, said that he used to donate the Trump campaign. But changed, he said, when he “started to see Trump's tariff policy in action.”
“Costs for construction workers like me were starting to soar. I realized Trump wasn't for me. He was for lining his own pockets,” said Sweetser. “Now I'm not left wing, period. But I believe our leaders should bring out the best in us, not the worst. That's why I'm voting for Kamala Harris.”
Stephanie Grisham, a former Trump press secretary, said that she wasn’t just a supporter of the former president. She said she was a “true believer” and one of his “closest advisors” who would spend her holidays at the Mar-a-Lago.
“On January 6, I asked Melania if we could at least tweet that while peaceful protest is the right of every American, there's no place for lawlessness or violence,” said Grisham. “She replied with one word, no. I became the first senior staffer to resign that day. I couldn't be part of the insanity any longer.”
? Sudiksha Kochi
Common: ‘Harris will change the world’
Common, the award-winning rapper, actor and activist from Chicago, performed on stage with gospel musician Jonathan McReynolds on Tuesday night.
“I thank God for this moment in time where Kamala Harris will change the world for the better,” Common said when he took the stage. The pair sang about being “fortunate to be alive” during their performance.
? Stephanie Murray
Jimmy Carter's grandson honors the former president
Jason Carter, the grandson of former President Jimmy Carter, opened his remarks by honoring his 99-year-old grandfather.
“I can tell you that he wishes he could be here tonight. He and my grandmother led their lives with an unwavering faith in God, a respect for human dignity, honesty and a commitment to loving their neighbors as themselves,” Jason Carter said. “Those principles guided them throughout their lives, including during their four years in the White House and the four decades since.”
Jimmy Carter has been in hospice care for over a year and former first lady Rosalynn Carter, his wife, died last year.
“Kamala Harris carries my grandfather's legacy. She knows what is right, and she fights for it. She understands that leadership is about service, not selfishness, that you can show strength and demonstrate decency,” said Jason Carter.
? Sudiksha Kochi
JFK grandson Jack Schlossberg speaking on night two
Jack Schlossberg, grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, is set to appear at the Democratic convention Tuesday.
The 31-year-old Vogue political correspondent was photographed earlier Tuesday meeting former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., conjuring flashbacks to decades ago when Pelosi, then 17, met Kennedy, a senator at the time.
Schlossberg is scheduled to take the stage immediately after another presidential descendant: Jason Carter, grandson of former President Jimmy Carter.
– Savannah Kuchar
James Taylor addresses scrapped performance at DNC 2024: 'Sorry to disappoint'
The acclaimed singer-songwriter James Taylor was scheduled to perform at the opening night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday. Taylor was slated to take the stage at the United Center alongside appearances from country music star Mickey Guyton and Americana singer Jason Isbell.
But while Guyton and Isbell delivered their DNC performances as promised, Taylor was notably absent from the Day 1 lineup.
In an Instagram post Tuesday, Taylor addressed his absence from the DNC lineup Monday night.
"We had a great rehearsal with @RickeyMinor and terrific singers, @KenyaHathaway and Mathew Johnson before the event," Taylor wrote. "But it became clear, as the evening unfolded, that there wouldn't be time for our 'You've Got a Friend' with cello and voices. Maybe the organizers couldn't anticipate the wild response from the floor of the United Center…"
– Edward Segarra
DNC speakers schedule tonight: See who is speaking Tuesday, including Barack and Michelle Obama
The 2024 Democratic National Convention resumes Tuesday in Chicago after the first day saw appearances and speeches from the likes of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, basketball coach Steve Kerr and President Joe Biden.
Tuesday will also see its fair share of party heavyweights take the stage, with former First Lady Michelle Obama and former President Barack Obama, among others, expected to speak.
Here's a full list of everyone expected to speak at the convention Tuesday evening.
– Gabe Hauari
Sen. Raphael Warnock calls Donald Trump a 'plague on the American conscience'
Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia on Monday said the 2024 election is "about the character of the country."
"People with no vision traffic in division," Warnock said. "(Former President Donald Trump) doesn't know how to lead us, so he wants to divide us. Make no mistake, Donald Trump is a plague on the American conscience. He is a clear and present threat to the precious covenant we share with one another."
Warnock also praised Biden as a "true patriot who has always put the people first."
?Melissa Brown
'A fiasco': Officers arrest retired doctor, 70, biking near Gaza war convention protest
A 70-year-old retired emergency room physician said he was bicycling along an empty street Monday near a Gaza war protest when a Homeland Security officer arrested him for trespassing.
Charles Steinbruegge, of Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood, wanted to check out the demonstrations near the United Center, where Democrats are gathering this week for their national convention.
Steinbruegge, a 20-year Army veteran who considers himself politically moderate and feels "agnostic" on the Israel-Hamas war, was not a protester, but a curious onlooker. He said he biked down a deserted street, away from an area police had cordoned off. Then an officer approached him, said he was in a restricted area ? and promptly slapped him in handcuffs.
– Sophie Carson
What time will Michelle Obama speak?
Former first lady Michelle Obama will address the convention shortly before 10 p.m. CT, according to a DNC schedule. She will speak immediately before her husband, former President Barack Obama, who is slated to take the stage at 10 p.m.
Michelle Obama gave a memorable speech at the 2016 convention, where her “when they go low, we go high” catchphrase went viral.
– Stephanie Murray
What time will Barack Obama speak?
Former President Barack Obama is scheduled to speak at 10 p.m. ET, right after his wife Michelle Obama takes the convention stage.
– Sudiksha Kochi
Convention honors civil rights icon, Rev. Jesse Jackson
Democrats paid tribute Monday to Rev. Jesse Jackson, 82, the longtime civil rights activist and politician.
Jackson announced last year his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. He appeared on stage in a wheelchair and received a standing ovation from delegates.
?Savannah Kuchar
Who is DNC guest Jesse Jackson? Former presidential candidate makes appearance
Kinzinger, Grisham: Anti-Trump Republicans to hit the stage at the convention
Republicans who have been vocal critics of former President Donald Trump will appear on stage at the convention to discuss why they are supporting Kamala Harris.
These Republicans include former Trump press secretary Stephanie Grisham, former Illinois U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger and Geoff Duncan, the former lieutenant governor of Georgia.
– Sudiksha Kochi
Jasmine Crockett, Steve Kerr: Monday night’s memorable convention moments
Democrats began their convention with a packed lineup of night one speakers, albeit with a few last minute cuts after events ran more than an hour past schedule.
Several Democratic lawmakers took the stage, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, who rose to prominence in part over her spars with Georgia's firebrand on the other side of the aisle, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia.
On Monday, Crockett turned her attention and ire to Trump: "Kamala Harris has a resume, Donald Trump has a rap sheet," Crockett said, also calling the former president a "vindictive, vile villain."
The convention kick-off also included some non-Washington stars, like head coach of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors Steve Kerr.
Kerr, who just helped lead the USA basketball to gold in the 2024 Paris Olympics this summer, said he now wants to see Americans (presumably even Jayson Tatum) “playing on the same team” and voting for Harris in November.
“And after the results are tallied that night, we can, in the words of the great Steph Curry, we can tell Donald Trump night night!” Kerr said.
– Savannah Kuchar
Trump attacks Harris over crime and police policy
Republican candidate Donald Trump made crime and police policy his major themes Tuesday, part of his ongoing counter-convention campaign against Democratic opponent Kamala Harris.
Speaking at a county sheriff's office in Howell, Mich., Trump decried what he called a "Kamala crime wave" – despite surveys showing reductions of crime in recent years – and assailed Harris' law enforcement views.
"It's a real anti-police crusade," Trump said of the vice president who has also been a district attorney in San Francisco and attorney general of California.
Opponents also hit Trump for holding his anti-crime event in Howell, a city with a troubled racial history, including links to the Ku Klux Klan back in the 1960s and 1970s; just last month, groups of white supremacists marched through the city, carrying Nazi flags and chanting "We love Hitler. We love Trump."
In an interview with ABC News, Mich. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said: "This is, I think, a troubling, troubling strategy that we see from the other side to divide us and to scare us and to stoke fear and anger." Trump rejected that complaint after his speech, and reminded reporters that President Joe Biden visited Howell in 2021.
– David Jackson
How to live stream Democratic convention
You can watch USA TODAY's live stream of the Democratic convention below.
Obama's legacy looms large in Chicago
Outside the Democratic National Convention, screen, printer and T-shirt vendor and Chicago native Rod Robinson, 60, said Obama represents the hope people like his grandparents long sought. As a Black family, Robinson said they admire Obama’s hard work and success from the very beginning: He never broke their faith.
Tuesday, Robinson was selling a special commemorative T-shirt featuring Obama and Harold Washington, Chicago's first Black mayor. Obama was a community organizer in Chicago before becoming a law professor at the University of Chicago and entering politics.“He’s as advertised: He’s not someone you can go dig up social media dirt in. He’s a good father, a good husband, a good man. And he came through for a lot of people,” Robinson said. “To see somebody … who followed all the rules, followed all of the instructions, went to school, went to college and came out in top? He’s like a superhero. He just doesn’t have a cape or invisible jet.”
A USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll of Black voters in several swing states shows Obama remains wildly popular among Black Democrats, especially: In Michigan, 84% of Black voters had a favorable impression of Obama, compared to 72% for Harris, 64% for Biden and 15% for Trump. In Pennsylvania 82% of Black voters have a favorable opinion of him, compared to 68% for Harris, 58% for Biden and 15% for Trump.
The survey of 500 Black voters in each of those states was conducted earlier this month. Harris is trying to persuade those Obama supporters to turn out for her in November, battling dissatisfaction felt for Biden by Black Americans, a key voting bloc to a Democratic win.
– Trevor Hughes
Will Taylor Swift endorse Kamala Harris? Swifties in London weigh in
While the DNC is in full swing in Chicago, Swifties in London spent most of Tuesday afternoon debating whether the singer would announce the rerelease of her album “Reputation.” So while many fans were dressed in outfits featuring the album’s black color scheme and snake motif, other garb had political implications.
Halli Baker of Ohio walked down Olympic Lane to Wembley Stadium wearing a “Taylor for President 2024” white T-shirt.
“The shirt is not leaning red. It’s not leaning blue,” Baker said. “I do think she’ll come out and be supportive of the Democratic Party.”
Meghan Connors of Joplin, Missouri, agreed, saying Swift has already passively endorsed Harris.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if she doesn’t publicly endorse her by the end of September or maybe mid-October,” Connors, 30, said. “I think she’ll promote it on social media, but don’t think she’s going to the DNC. American politics can get so volatile or so aggressive, you look at the Capitol attack. She wouldn’t put herself in that much of the public eye because it would be dangerous.”
Rochelle Ulloa from Los Angeles thinks Swift has planned out when she will make a political move.
“It's like all eyes are on Taylor to make a move, but she's always made a good, honest effort,” Ulloa said. “Like she supported President Biden in the last campaign, and I think she just waits for when the time is right.”
— Bryan West
'He’s just, like, an old guy': Gen Z Democrats laugh at Donald Trump-Taylor Swift AI drama
When does the Democratic National Convention start tonight?
Convention organizers are “making adjustments” to Tuesday night’s programming to ensure the festivities don’t stretch into the early hours of the morning, as they did on Monday.
Day 2 of the Democratic convention will start at 5:30 p.m. CT/6:30 p.m. ET.
Speakers will include former President Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and second gentleman Dough Emhoff.
— Karissa Waddick
Sen. Bernie Sanders on Harris' economic plan, Israel-Hamas war
In an exclusive interview with USA TODAY, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders weighed in on the economic plans coming out of the Harris campaign, the Israel-Hams war and progressive candidates in this year's primaries.
Sanders on Kamala Harris’ economic plan: Harris unveiled a plan last week which includes plans to ease rent increases, cap prescription drug prices for everyone, boost first-time homebuyers, end grocery price gouging and bolster the child tax credit. Sanders said he was "impressed" and would like to see the details fleshed out soon.
Sanders on Israel-Hamas war and U.S. aid: While he has been a staunch supporter of what Biden and Harris have done on domestic issues, on this issue, “I think the president is wrong,” he said. “Israel had a right to defend itself against this horrible Hamas terrorist attack, but it did not have the right to go to war against the entire Palestinian people,” Sanders said. “And now creating a situation where tens and tens of thousands of children face starvation because Israel is not letting humanitarian aid come through.”
Sanders on progressive members of the Democratic primaries losing: Reps. Jamaal Bowman, D-New York, and Cori Bush, D-Missouri, all members of the informal group of House lawmakers known as the "Squad," were booted by more moderate Democrats. Asked if the progressive wing of the party was weakening, Sanders pointed to Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minnesota, who defeated a primary challenger. “We have a campaign finance system today which is corrupt,” he said, blaming the defeats of Bush and Bowman on super PACs. ”And that is not, to me, what democracy is about.”
— Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy
Harris commences transition planning
Kamala Harris has begun preliminary planning for a potential presidential transition, a move expected of any presidential candidate, according to a source familiar with the planning efforts.
The transition team will be led by Yohannes Abraham, U.S. Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Abraham served as executive director of the Biden-Harris transition in 2020 and worked in various roles in the Obama administration. The law firm Covington & Burling, which conducted Harris’ VP vetting and counts former Attorney General Eric Holder among its partners, will advise how best to set up the transition team.
Donald Trump announced his official transition team on Friday. WWE co-founder and former chief executive officer Linda McMahon and businessman Howard Lutnick will co-chair the effort.
— Karissa Waddick
Republicans speaking at Democratic convention
It’s not just a Democratic affair in Chicago this week. Some prominent Republican leaders are also expected to speak at the United Center in support of Kamala Harris.
Those speakers include Geoff Duncan, the former lieutenant governor of Georgia, John Giles, the mayor of Mesa, Arizona, and former Illinois U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger. Olivia Troye, a former Trump White House national security official and Stephanie Grisham, a press secretary in the Trump White House, will also address the crowd.
“True conservatism has been replaced with a cult. I’ll be making that clear,” Kinzinger said of his speech in a post on X. He will speak Thursday.
Grisham similarly said in a statement that she never thought she’d be speaking at a Democratic convention. “But after seeing firsthand who Donald Trump really is, and the threat he poses to our country, I feel very strongly about speaking out,” she added.
— Karissa Waddick
Harris, Walz to host rally in Milwaukee Tuesday night
Kamala Harris and Tim Walz will head north to Milwaukee on Tuesday to host a rally as their surrogates take the stage in Chicago for the second night of the Democratic convention.
The pair will speak at the Fiserv Forum, the same place where Donald Trump accepted the Republican presidential nomination just over a month ago. The rally is expected to end at 9 p.m. CT and will overlap with much of the Day 2 festivities at the convention, which are slated to last until 10 p.m. CT.
— Maia Pandey and Karissa Waddick
Trump: There will not be a Sept. 4 debate (but a 'Tele-Town Hall' instead)
Donald Trump has confirmed something we already knew: There will not be a Sept. 4 Trump-Harris debate on Fox News.
Instead, Trump announced late Monday on his Truth Social website he will conduct a "Tele-Town Hall" with Fox News host Sean Hannity in Pennsylvania.
Trump proposed a Sept. 4 debate as part of a three-debate plan after Harris entered the presidential race. But there was never a chance that the new Democratic nominee would accept such an early contest, especially one on Fox.
Harris and aides said Trump needed to stick with his commitment for a Sept. 10 debate, an agreement he made with President Joe Biden before he withdrew from the race.
The Trump and Harris campaigns are also negotiating a second debate in October.
— David Jackson
What Barack and Michelle Obama will say tonight at the Democratic National Convention
Tonight is one of the most anticipated nights of the 2024 Democratic convention when Barack and Michelle Obama take the stage in their political backyard.
Two decades ago, Obama, a barely 40-something Illinois Senate candidate, launched himself into America's history books with a speech that's still talked about.
"It's good to be home in Chicago," Obama said in a post Monday evening on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The 44th president said he looks forward to joining party faithful to "share what's at stake in this election," and why Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Walz, her running mate, should be elected.
"President Obama believes this is an all-hands-on-deck moment, and is committed to doing all he can to elect Vice President Harris and Democrats across the country," Eric Schultz, a senior adviser to Obama said in a statement.
"His strategy this fall will be driven by where he can move the needle with Democrats and persuadable voters, especially in states with key races. That is why he will continue to engage in traditional and creative tactics to reach voters where they are and mobilizing the electorate in advance of Nov. 5."
Read more on what to expect from former president's speech tonight.
— Phillip M. Bailey
2024 Democratic National Convention schedule
Barack and Michelle Obama are the among the Democratic heavyweights scheduled to speak on Tuesday, the second day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Here's a look at the full schedule for the 2024 DNC for Tuesday.
Note: All times listed are in Central Time.
7 a.m.-9:30 a.m.: Delegation breakfasts
9 a.m.-10 a.m.: Morning press briefing
9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: Women's Caucus meeting
12 p.m.-1:30 p.m.: Disability Caucus meeting
12 p.m.-1:30 p.m.: Youth Council meeting
12 p.m.-1:30 p.m.: Rural Council meeting
1:45 p.m.-3:15 p.m.: Veterans & Military Families Council meeting
1:45 p.m.-3:15 p.m.: Poverty Council meeting
1:45 p.m.-3:15 p.m.: Interfaith Council meeting
6 p.m.-10 p.m.: Main programming
Pop stars, massive crowds and history: How the Obama and Harris campaigns compare
Casting himself as “a skinny kid with a funny name” instantly made a barely 40-something Barack Obama a star.
The future president won over the heart of swing voters on the Democratic convention stage in Boston two decades ago with a message that a country where slaves once sang freedom songs had a place for people like him too.
Obama of course made history four years later winning election as America’s first Black president with a new coalition that coated most of the Midwest - including Indiana, Iowa and Ohio, along with a few southern states - in blue paint.
Now, Obama and a vast network of loyalists are back on his home court of Chicago with a goal to make history once more by helping elect the first woman of color to the most powerful job on the planet.
Read more on how the two campaigns compare.
— Phillip M. Bailey and Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy
DNC takeaways: Joe Biden's goodbye, Gaza ceasefire protests swarm Chicago streets
Democrats entered the United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks, with a much more upbeat outlook about their chances at retaining the White House. Harris is surging past Trump in battleground states, according to polling.
Much of the convention this week will focus on that enthusiasm and turning the page as Democrats focus on reproductive rights, bringing down costs for average Americans and attacking Trump's character.
Protests outside the arena threaten to distract from the progressive unity fest, however, as left-leaning activists demand Harris and the Democrats do more to end Israel's bombardment of Gaza as a result of its war with Hamas stemming from the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack.
Here are some key takeaways from Day 1.
'Thank you, Joe': Biden's farewell kicks off DNC 2024: Democrats paid tribute to Biden's five-decade career Monday evening, which began in the Richard Nixon era as the country's youngest senator and ends as its oldest president.
Biden leaves the DNC, and he ain't coming back: The president and first lady Jill Biden quickly left Chicago after his speech for Santa Ynez, California, to vacation in wine country – and the pair won't be around at the DNC convention for the rest of the week.
'Abandon Harris': Gaza protests swarm Chicago's streets outside convention: One of the more anticipated protests started Monday at Union Park, which is about a half-mile from the convention hall, with chants of "free, free Palestine." The crowd swelled to roughly 1,000 people as it approached the United Center.
AOC, Beshear and other rising Dems shine: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia, and Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas were among those who addressed the convention.
Read more takeaways from the kickoff to the Democratic convention.
— Phillip M. Bailey and Joey Garrison
DNC schedule Tuesday: See full list of events, where to watch Democratic convention
Biden wanted his Democratic convention speech to be a launchpad. It became his swan song.
The cheers for President Joe Biden as he stepped on stage at the Democratic National Convention Monday night were so deafening that they rattled the rafters at the United Center in Chicago ? thanking him for a half-century in politics, a crucial victory in 2020 and nearly four hard-fought years in the White House since then.
And thanking him for now being willing to leave.
The final speech on the convention's first night capped the most astounding turnaround in an election that has had more than its share of upheavals, including on the Republican side the unprecedented conviction of a former president on criminal charges and his defiant response to an assassination attempt.
Read more on Biden's Monday convention speech.
— Susan Page
Full speech: Read President Joe Biden's full speech from the DNC night one
When did Joe Biden drop out?
Joe Biden announced on Sunday, July 21 that he would not seek reelection amid intense pressure from Democratic leaders sounding the alarm that his path to beat Donald Trump in November had vanished.
"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President," Biden said in a letter addressed to Americans. "And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and my country for me to stand down and to focus solely on my duties as President for the rest of my term."
— USA TODAY Network
Who spoke at the DNC last night?
Monday's kickoff to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago included a notable list of speakers — including Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Steve Kerr. Here are some highlights.
Read President Joe Biden's full speech from the DNC night one
'Donald only cares about himself': Watch Hillary Clinton's speech at DNC convention
Coach Steve Kerr endorses Kamala Harris for President, tells Donald Trump 'night night'
What happens at the DNC?
Unlike the RNC, the DNC decided to confirm their nominee during a virtual roll call on Aug. 5 to satisfy ballot deadlines in several states. According to a news release, 99% of participating delegates supported Harris in the virtual roll call, and Harris and Walz accepted the nomination a day later.
In the meantime, there is still plenty left to do for the Democratic delegates. The DNC offers them a chance to adopt and unify a comprehensive party platform, taking a stance on issues like reproductive rights, immigration and economic policy. They'll also have a kind-of ceremonial vote for Harris, but her position as Democratic nominee is already final
The Democratic Party will post updates on its convention website, which can be found at demconvention.com.
— Maya Homan
Where is the DNC?
The convention will be in Chicago, just 90 miles south of Milwaukee, where the Republican National Convention was recently held.
The Democratic Party has held a national convention every four years since 1832 to nominate its chosen candidates, and Chicago has a storied history of hosting conventions on both sides of the political aisle dating back to 1860, with the nomination of Abraham Lincoln.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, this will be the Windy City’s 26th political convention.
— Maya Homan
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DNC live replay: Barack Obama honors Joe Biden, backs Kamala Harris
