DNC 2024 live: Obamas close out DNC night two as they endorse Harris and warn Trump ‘sequel’ would be worse

Barack Obama was greeted with roars from crowds at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago on Tuesday night, declaring “it’s good to be home” as he heaped praise on president Joe Biden.

Following remarks from his wife and former first lady, Obama told crowds: “I don’t know about you but I’m feeling fired up. I am feeling ready to go! Even if I’m the only person stupid enough to speak after Michelle Obama.”

He went on: “History will remember Joe 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.”

In her own remarks Michelle Obama took aim at Donald Trump’s baseless accusations that Democrats are letting immigrants enter the country illegally and taking “Black jobs,” a statement that has been widely derided as racist.

“Who’s gonna tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs?” she said, prompting raucous laughter in the convention hall.

The Obamas addressed their hometown shortly after state representatives jubilantly pledged their delegates for Kamala Harris, confirming her as the Democratic presidential nominee.

Harris will officially accept the nomination on Thursday.

Key Points

• Barack Obama heaps praise on Joe Biden in DNC remarks

• Crowds go wild as Michelle Obama slams Trump over ‘Black jobs’ remark

• In pictures: The Obamas take the DNC by storm

• Who is performing on day two of the Democratic convention?

Former Trump press secretary tells DNC former president has ‘no fidelity to the truth'

Wednesday 21 August 2024 00:25 , Mike Bedigan

Donald Trump’s former White House press secretary-turned-nemesis told delegates at the DNC that she was now voting for Kamala Harris.

Stephanie Grisham, who held the role from July 2019 to April 2020, said the former president had “no empathy, no morals and no fidelity to the truth.”

“Behind closed doors Trump mocks his supporters, he calls them ‘basement dwellers’,” she said. “He has no empathy no morals and no fidelity to the truth... It does matter, what you say matters and what you don’t say matters.”

She added: “Kamala Harris tells the truth, she repsects the American people and she has my vote.”

Grisham is one of severalRepublican figures invited to the convention in Chicago to denounce the “extremism” of the former president and his campaign.

Who is performing on day two of the Democratic convention?

Wednesday 21 August 2024 00:35 , Mike Bedigan

The opening night of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) saw performances from country singer Mickey Guyton and Americana artist Jason Isbell.

James Taylor had also been expected to perform but his set was reportedly cut due to time restraints after the show overran and it came time for President Joe Biden to take the stage.

Kevin EG Perry looks at who is expected to perform on night two:

Who is performing on day two of the Democratic convention?

Trump’s former White House press secretary speaks at Democratic convention

Wednesday 21 August 2024 00:55 , Mike Bedigan

Donald Trump’s former White House press secretary spoke on the second night of the Democratic National Convention.

Stephanie Grisham, who held the role from July 2019 to April 2020, is one of several Republican figures invited to the convention in Chicago to denounce the “extremism” of the former president and his campaign.

Read more here:

Trump’s former White House press secretary speaks at Democratic convention

Democrat ceremonial delegate roll call begins

Wednesday 21 August 2024 00:56 , Mike Bedigan

The Democrats’ ceremonial delegate roll call has begun!

The roll call involves delegates from all states pledging themselves to a particular nominee who they wish to be the party candidate for president.

Kamala Harris already secured the requisite number of delegates to clinch the nomination on August 6 during a virtual roll call.

But this is fun...

Michigan Senator tells DNC that union members ‘will pay the price’ if Trump wins in November

01:05 , Mike Bedigan

Senator Gary Peters of Michigan slammed Donald Trump and JD Vance, saying that if they win, union members “will pay the price.”

He added that their Project 2025 agenda is the “same old, same old – gut overtime pay, cut health care programs, and give billions in tax breaks to billionaires.”

“We cannot let that happen, and we will not let that happen,” Peters said.

The senator said he grew up in a “union household” with a father who worked as a teacher and a mother who was a nurse’s aide.

“Kamala Harris and Tim Walz grew up just like me, I know they will fight for all of us,” he said.

The Independent’s Alex Woodward notes:

Senator Peters had introduced retired Teamster Kenneth Stribling — a bit of contrast to Teamsters president Sean O’Brien speaking at the RNC. Rank-and-file Teamsters members have been invited to the DNC, but O’Brien didn’t get the invite after he was the first-ever union boss to address the RNC last month.

In his remarks, Stribling, wearing a signature satin Teamsters jacket, said that after his pension was reduced, his wife was battling cancer. Stribling said he promised her to “never quit until we made this right.” She died in 2019.

“As president, I know Kamala Harris will have our backs. She will fight for our retirement, Social Security and Medicare,” Stribling said.

Lil Jon Turns Down for What?

01:07 , Mike Bedigan

US rapper just gave a short rendition of his hit song Turn Down For What? as he helped the state of Georgia pledge their delegates to Kamala Harris.

Ok, that was pretty awesome!

Watch: Trump calls supporters ‘basement dwellers’, claims former press sec Stephanie Grisham

01:15 , Mike Bedigan

DJ Cassidy: the man behind the wild musical roll call at the DNC

01:20 , Mike Bedigan

Cassidy Durango Milton Willy Podell – known by his stage name of DJ Cassidy – is in charge of the musical backing for the roll call vote.

Podell has been doing this for a while having played a similar role at the 2012 Democratic convention in Charlotte for former President Barack Obama’s re-election.

Cassidy already had a long history with Obama, helping to coordinate music for the inaugural balls in 2009.

Watch: Democratic Party chair asked when Beyonce is performing...

01:25 , Mike Bedigan

Actor Wendell Pierce declares Louisiana for Harris

01:25 , Mike Bedigan

The next famous face to appear in the roll call was actor Wendell Pierce who declared his home state of Louisiana for Kamala Harris.

Pierce is known for his performances as Bunk Moreland on The Wire and Antoine Batiste on Treme, and a New Orleans native from Gentilly’s Ponchartrain Park.

Large-scale mural of Kamala Harris painted outside DNC hall

01:30 , Mike Bedigan

A large-scale mural of Vice President Kamala Harris has been painted on the United Center for the Democratic National Convention, in a show of support for her presidential campaign.

The mural, created by EMILYs List, will be on display throughout the duration of the DNC. The mural was carried out by Teamsters union members and Carpenters union members assembled and will disassemble the mural by the end of the week.

EMILYs List President Jessica Mackler said: “Vice President Kamala Harris is the best and most qualified candidate to lead this country.

“She is an accomplished and battled-tested leader, and a tireless advocate for our fundamental freedoms, including reproductive rights. EMILYs List has supported Harris from the beginning of her political career, endorsing her for each of her previous offices, and we could not be more excited and determined to help her make history as the next president of the United States.”

EMILYs List is the nation’s largest resource for women in politics and works to elect Democratic pro-choice women up and down the ballot and across the country.

Spike Lee joins NY governor Kathy Hochul in pledging state delegates

01:37 , Mike Bedigan

New York Governor Kathy Hochul was flanked by director Spike Lee and NY Attorney General Letitia James as she pledged her state’s delegates for Kamala Harris.

DJ Cassidy duly obliged by playing what has become New York City Mayor Eric Adams’s walk-out song for virtually every event: “New York Srate of Mind” as the delegates were pledged.

“Cole and Ella here. We love you, Dad."

01:40 , Mike Bedigan

North Carolina’s delegates pledged by youngest state Democratic party chair

01:42 , Mike Bedigan

North Carolina’s delegates were pledged by, Anderson Clayton, the youngest state Democratic party chair in the US.

Read more about Clayton here. Words by Ariana Baio.

Meet the 26-year-old Dem trying to convince her Gen Z peers to vote for Biden

Josh Shapiro leads Pennsylvania in exuberant pledge for Harris and Walz

01:46 , Mike Bedigan

Josh Shapiro led Pennsylvania representatives in an exuberant casting of state votes.

“Together Pennsylvania casts 178 votes for the next madam president of the United States, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz,” he said, to roars from the DNC crowd.

Pennsylvania was teed up by DJ Cassidy with Boyz II Men’s “Motown Philly” and then Wiz Khalifa’s “Black and Yellow.”

In pictures: The Democrat delegate roll call

01:51 , Mike Bedigan

‘Tennessee Three’ lawmaker declares state for Harris

01:54 , Mike Bedigan

Tennessee state representative Justin Pearson of Memphis, one of the “Tennessee Three” lawmakers who was expelled from the state legislature for joining gun control protests on the floor, delivered the votes for Harris, to the tune of Dolly Parton’s “Nine to Five.”

Former Planned Parenthood president declares Texas delegates for Harris

01:57 , Mike Bedigan

Former Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards is delivering the votes for Texas with Kate Cox, among several abortion patients who have sued the state over its expansive anti-abortion laws and restrictions on emergency care.

Read more abotu Cox’s own story here:

Kate Cox’s ‘hellish’ experience reveals the reality of Texas’s abortion exceptions

Watch: Rapper Lil Jon makes surprise appearance at DNC day two

02:00 , Mike Bedigan

Spike Lee joins New York delegates at DNC as state backs Harris

02:05 , Mike Bedigan

Walz's former student helps declare state of Minnesota for Harris

02:12 , Mike Bedigan

One of Tim Walz’s former students, Hans Storvick, along with former NFL player John Randle, and senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar cast the votes for Minnesota.

Walz worked as a geography teacher and football coach at Mankato West High School in Minnesota, where his wife Gwen Walz is from.

He joined the school’s coaching staff as a defensive coordinator and helped the team won its first state championship in 1999.

As the votes for Minnesota were declared, DJ Cassidy played “1999” by Prince – a Minnesota native.

Gavin Newsom pushes Harris over the line

02:17 , Mike Bedigan

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared the delegates for his state, the final tranche, officially crowning Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate for president.

“Alright” and “Not Like Us” played while Newsom spoke.

Harris then gave brief remarks, in which she thanked attendees in Chicago, via video feed from Wisconsin, where she has been campaigning on Tuesday.

Harris campaign raises half a billion dollars in first four weeks

02:20 , Mike Bedigan

Kamala Harris’ campaign has raised around $500 million since she entered the race four weeks ago, sources have told Reuters.

The sources described the milestone as an “unprecedented campaign cash haul” in such a short amount of time.

More pictures: The DNC in Chicago

02:30 , Mike Bedigan

Bernie Sanders takes the stage at the DNC

02:33 , Mike Bedigan

Bernie Sanders took to the DNC stage shortly before 8.30pm local time in Chicago. The Vermont Senator recapped the early achievements of the Biden-Harris adminstration in the face of multiple crises faced in the US.

“It’s an honor to be with you tonight as we lay the groundwork for Kamala Harris to become the next President of the United States,” he said.

“Remember where we were three-and-a-half years ago — in the midst of the worst public health crisis in 100 years, and the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.

“3,000 Americans were dying every day as our hospitals were overwhelmed with Covid patients. All across the country, businesses were shutting down. Unemployment was soaring... People were being evicted from their homes... Children were going hungry.

“That was the reality the Biden-Harris Administration faced as they entered the Oval Office: a nation suffering — a nation frightened — and people looking to their government for support.

“And, within two months of taking office, our government DID respond.”

Sanders rails against the ‘radical agenda’ of Donald Trump and Project 2025

02:40 , Mike Bedigan

In his remarks, Sanders railed against the “radical agenda” of Donald Trump and the controversial Project 2025 plan

“My friends, we won’t let that happen. Fellow Americans, in the last three-and-a-half years, working together, we have accomplished more than any government since FDR. But much, much more remains to be done,” he said.

“We must have the courage to stand up to wealth and power and deliver justice for people at home and abroad.”

Sanders called for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East.

“On November 5th, let us elect Kamala Harris as our president. And let us go forward to create the nation we know we can become.”

Watch: Kamala Harris makes second surprise appearance at DNC virtually from Milwaukee rally

02:50 , Mike Bedigan

JB Pritzker skewers Trump during DNC remarks: ‘take it from an actual billionaire'

03:00 , Mike Bedigan

Governor of Illinois JB Pritzker took multiple swipes at Donald Trump and his wealth during his remarks at the DNC.

“Donald Trump thinks we should trust him on the economy because he claims to be very rich,” he said. “But take it from an actual billionaire, Trump is rich in only one thing... stupidity!”

Pritzker, an American businessman, politician, philanthropist, and attorney, is worth around $3.5 billion, according to Forbes.

He continued: “More than anything, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz want a country where we can all live with a little serenity... and if there’s one thing I know about Donald Trump, he’s not bringing anyone any kind of serenity.

“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 the authority and the title to match the job!”

With a flouris, Pritzker concluded: “Vice president was a good title for Kamala Harris, but you know an even better one? President of the United States of America. Let’s go gettem!”

Tim Walz impersonates Trump at Wisconsin rally

03:10 , Mike Bedigan

Scenes of jubilation at the DNC delegate roll call

03:20 , Mike Bedigan

Pro-Palestinian protesters burn American flag outside Israeli consulate in Chicago

03:30 , Mike Bedigan

As the celebratory roll call for Vice President Kamala Harris took place at the inside the United Center in Chicago on Tuesday, demonstrators set an American flag on fire in the street outside the nearby Israeli embassy.

Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters charged a line of police in an intense standoff with hundreds of officers outside outside the consulate on the second night of the DNC.

Protesters chanted “Let them go!” as police handcuffed at least four people and led them away from the demonstration. Officers carrying wooden clubs shouted “move” and penned the demonstrators in on the street, preventing them from marching, according to The Associated Press.

The outlet reported that as protesters regrouped and approached a line of police in riot gear in front of a Chicago skyscraper that houses the Israeli consulate, an officer said into a megaphone, “You are ordered to immediately disburse.”

A woman in the front of the march shouted back with her own megaphone: “We’re not scared of you.”

Cole Emhoff introduces his father at the DNC with heartwarming video message

03:36 , Mike Bedigan

Cole Emhoff introduced his father, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, via a heartwarming video message at the DNC.

Cole, 30, who has stayed largely out of the spotlight, described his “goofy dad” as “the glue that keeps this family together.”

“In 2014 Kamala became Momala, she took over Sunday night dinner and taught Doug how to actually cook. Our blended family wasn’t used to politics or the spotlight, but when Kamala became senator we were excited to step up, especially my dad,” he said.

“The Kamala became vice president and it felt like Doug was a little out of place on Capitol Hill. I thought what is my goofy dad doing here, but he embraced it.

“I was so proud to watch him do it, to stand by her side, an example of true partnership. Anyone who gets close to him knows he’s kind loving and fiercely protective.

“This is my dad, the first second gentlemen in the histroy of this nation... and next he’s gonna make history again as the first, first gentleman, I can’t wait for everyone to get to know why he all love him. He’s the glue that keeps this family together

“We might not look like other families in the White House, but we are ready to represent all families in America.”

The pair embraced as Emhoff took to the stage to deliver his own remarks.

Doug Emhoff hugs son Cole onstage at DNC ahead of remarks

03:38 , Mike Bedigan

Watch: JB Pritzker says it's time to 'stop expecting women to clean up messes' in DNC speech

03:40 , Mike Bedigan

Michelle Obama met with roars and standing ovation as she addresses DNC

03:47 , Mike Bedigan

Michelle Obama was met with roars from crowd as she took to the stage at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night, telling attendees: “Hope is making a comeback.”

The former first lady made her remarks ahead of her husband Barack Obama, and was greeted with the biggest cheer of the night, with some people in the convention hall refusing to sit down.

Theo Von discusses using cocaine with Trump in bizarre podcast interview

03:50 , Mike Bedigan

Podcaster and comedian Theo Von — who has a YouTube audience of nearly 3 million people — has released his hourlong interview with Donald Trump, who talked at length about why he doesn’t smoke, drink or do drugs.

At one point, the conversation turned to cocaine.

“I would just do cocaine, that’s not really… yeah,” Von said.

“That’s down and dirty,” Trump said. “You’re not doing it anymore?”

“No, I don’t do it anymore, man, and I’m not doing it,” Von said. “Some of the stuff started to get a real rattle in it, too. I don’t even know where we were getting it from in this country, but, it started making me feel like I was a mechanic or something.”

“Is cocaine a stronger up?' Trump asked. “So you’re way up, with cocaine, more than anything else you can think of?”

“Cocaine will make you turn into a damn owl, homie, you know what I’m saying?” Von said. “You’ll be out on your own porch, you know. You’ll be your own street lamp. You’re freaking—”

“And is that a good feeling?” Trump said. “It’s a miserable feeling?”

Michelle Obama: ‘Hope is making a comeback'

03:51 , Mike Bedigan

Michelle Obama — coming out on stage to Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke” — tapped into the room energy, saying: “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.

“A familiar feeling that’s been buried too deep for too long. You know what I’m talking about? It’s the contagious power of hope.”“Hope” — the word that defined Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign — is “making a comeback.”

Turning her attention to Kamala Harris she continued: “Kamala harris is more than ready for this moment. She is one of the most qualified people ever to seek the office of the presidency and she is one of the most dignified.

“Her story is your story, it’s my story, it’s the story of the vast majority of americans trying to build a better life. Kamala knows... we all deserve the opporituny to build a better life.”

“No one has a monolpoy on what it means to be an American, no one.

“Kamala has shown he allegiance to this nation... by living a life of service and always pushing the doors of opportuny open for others.”

DNC crowds go wild as Michelle Obama slams Trump over ‘Black jobs’ remark

04:03 , Mike Bedigan

Attendees at the DNC went wild as Michelle Obama laid into Donald trump during her remarks, referring to his previous and infamous remarks about “Black jobs.”

“Donald Trump did everything in his power to make people fear us. See, his limited narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who happened to be Black,” she said.

She added: “I wanna know, who’s gonna tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs?”

Trump has baselessly accused Democrats of letting immigrants enter the country illegally and that they are taking “Black jobs,” a statement that has been widely derided as racist

Obama added: “It’s his same old con, doubling down on ugly misog racist lies as a substitute for real ideas and solution that will actually make people’s lives better.”

Barack Obama takes to the stage at DNC

04:06 , Mike Bedigan

Former president Barack Obama has taken the stage at the DNC, introduced by his wife and former first lady Michelle Obama, who described him as “the love of my life.”

The pair embraced as Obama took to the stage.

“Chicago, it’s good to be home. I don’t know about you but I’m feeling fired up. I am feeling ready to go! Even if I’m the only person stupid enough to speak after Michelle Obama,” he said, to roars from the crowd.

“I am feeling hopeful because this convention has always been pretty good to kids with funny names who believe that anything is possible.”

Barack Obama heaps praise on Joe Biden (and savages Trump) in DNC remarks

04:21 , Mike Bedigan

Barack Obama heaped praise on his former vice president Joe Biden in his remarks, before moving on to savage Donald Trump.

“History will remember Joe 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 said.

Moving on to Trump he continued: “Here is a 78-year-old billionaire who has not stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago.

“There’s the childish nicknames, the crazy conspiracy theories, this weird obsession with crowd sizes.”

“We do not need four more years of bluster and bumbling and chaos. We have seen that movie before, and we all know that the sequel is usually worse.”

Obama jokes about Tim Walz’s wardrobe: ‘I love this guy'

04:35 , Mike Bedigan

Obama joked about Tim Walz’ wardrobe, telling crowds: “I love this guy.”

“Tim’s the kind of person who should be in politics — somebody who was born in a small town, served his country, taught kids, coached football, and took care of his neighbors,” he said. “He knows who he is and what’s important.”

“You can tell those flannel shirts he wears don’t come from some political consultant. They come from his closet, and they’ve been through some stuff.:

A camera on Tim Walz’s wife Gwen showed her appearing mouth “true” as she smiled and waved her hands.

Michael Cohen is living his best life at the Democratic convention among band of Republicans who ditched Trump

04:50 , Mike Bedigan

Former Trump fixer Michael Cohen joined a string of Republicans who have ditched his former boss at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday and joked he would speak to Kamala Harris’s Chicago crowd “if they let me.”

Cohen and a group of former Trump voters and anti-Trump Republicans, including the former president’s ex-press secretary Stephanie Grisham, were in Chicago on the second night of the convention.

Gustaf Kilander has been noting their movements:

Michael Cohen is living his best life at the Democratic convention

Michelle Obama means business in navy power suit as she calls on Democrats to fight for Kamala at DNC

05:05 , Mike Bedigan

Michelle Obama took power dressing to the next level at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night.

The former first lady appeared on stage in a deconstructed, sleeveless navy blue suit by Monse paired with matching silver earrings and an elegant braided hairstyle.

Olivia Herbert was watching closely. Read more here:

Michelle Obama means business in power suit as gives DNC speech

Trump offers rare praise of Obama ahead of predecessor’s DNC remarks

05:20 , Mike Bedigan

Donald Trump offered rare praise for his predecessor, Barack Obama while speaking to reporters ahead of his scheduled appearance at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night.

In typical Trump style, he laid into Obama’s time in the Oval Office, but described him as a “nice gentleman” whom he happens to “like and respect” in an interview with CNN.

“I thought he was a terrible president. He didn’t do the job. He let people take advantage of us on trade,” Trump said while on the campaign trail in Michigan.

“Especially trade—he was very weak on trade. But I happen to like him. I respect him and his wife.”

Sadly, Obama and the former first lady Michelle Obama were not as reciprocal in their comments about Trump...

Supporters react to Obamas speeches

05:35 , Mike Bedigan

Attendees of the Democratic National Convention said they were “encouraged and inspired” after seeing Barack and Michelle Obama speak.

“I’m so encouraged and so inspired, it was phenomenal,” Kristal Moore-Clemons told The Independent, shortly after the convention concluded for the day.

“When Michelle said that telling us that we’re in crisis if we don’t get out and vote, stop all this foolishness, that’s what stuck out for me,” she said.

Like the Obamas, Moore-Clemons, 43, is originally from Chicago, but now lives in Virginia.

Lilana Mazurkevich, who is her 50s, added: “Every little word they said was so energising.”

“Barack was really hitting Trump which was good.The atmosphere was scintillating, exciting, energy, it was once in a lifetime” she told The Independent.

“[It was] inspirational. They gave us some facts to keep this momentum alive. And I appreciate hearing facts that are true,” said Deloris Rome Hudson, 76, from Ohio.

When asked what stuck with her from the Obamas’ speeches, she told The Independent: “They were saying about their humble beginnings, how they grew into who they are now. And that with doing that, everyone can do the same.”

Watch: Michelle Obama’s best quotes from Democratic National Convention speech

05:50 , Mike Bedigan

Analysis: Obama is hopeful division is not what defines America

06:05 , Mike Bedigan

The Independent’s Alex Woodward writes:

Barack Obama has been at the center of the division that Trump has energized, from amplifying “birther” conspiracy theories, refusing to beat back the racism brewing in his party, leaning into “Barack Hussein Obama” — he uniquely knows what Trump is capable of.

But he’s hopeful that it’s not what defines the country both men were elected to lead.

In his remarks, addressing the nation moreso than the delegates assembled at the DNC, Obama noted that the 2024 race will still remain tight in a “closely divided country … where too many Americans are still struggling, where a lot of Americans don’t believe the government can help.”

“People who will decide this election are asking a very simple question. Who will fight for me? Who is thinking about my future, about my children’s future, about our future together? One thing is for certain,” he said “Donald Trump is not losing sleep over that question.”

His remarks largely focused on repairing those deepening social and political divisions, but “the vast majority of us do not want to live in country that is bitter and divided,” he said.

“We want to be better,” he added. “The joy and excitement we’re seeing around this campaign tells us we’re not alone.”

Obama notes Trump’s ‘weird obsession’ with crowd sizes...

06:20 , Mike Bedigan

Nebraskan woman, 84, inspired by Obama at her first DNC

06:35 , Mike Bedigan

Maurine Gard, 84, who travelled to Illinois from Nebraska told The Independent she is attending her first DNC just to see Kamala Harris, but said she was “inspired” by Michelle Obama’s speech.

“I really think Michelle hit it over the top,” she said. “I think Michelle gave the most powerful speech. She’s just inspiring, she makes you think about the future.”

Gard described the atmosphere on day two of the convention as “tremendous,” adding “it was electric, you couldn’t sit down you had to stand up.”

“I came strictly because I wanted to see the first woman for president. That’s what I came for and I didn’t think I’d ever live to see that.”

Obama describes Trump as ‘a neighbor who keeps running his leaf blower outside your window'

06:50 , Mike Bedigan

During his remarks Obama invoked a somewhat memorable analogy that compared Donald Trump to a neighbor “who keeps running his leaf blower outside your window every minute of every day.”

“For a neighbor, that’s exhausting,” he said. “For a president, that’s just dangerous.”

Harris, on the other hand, is “the neighbor rushing over to help when you need a hand.”

ICYMI: All of the celebrities at the Democratic convention’s starry roll call

07:05 , Mike Bedigan

The Democratic National Convention transformed what should have been the driest part of the evening – the roll call – into a party Tuesday, complete with lively music and several celebrity appearances.

Although the Democratic party previously held a virtual vote on August 6 that made Harris the party’s official nominee, they held a “celebratory” roll call vote to reaffirm her nomination.

Here’s a list of the famous faces who appeared on Tuesday:

Here are all of the celebrities at the Democratic convention's starry roll call

Watch: Barack Obama attacks Donald Trump in DNC speech

07:20 , Mike Bedigan

Doug Emhoff describes Kamala Harris as ‘a joyful warrior'

07:35 , Mike Bedigan

DNC punters inspired by Michelle Obama’s mother

07:40 , Mike Bedigan

Jessica Nichols, 53, from Alexandria, Virginia, said she had been inspired by Michelle Obama’s speech, part of which made reference to her late mother Marian Robinson.

"They were so uplifting and they had a lot of good messages that we, as delegates, can repeat, when we're talking to other voters. It was just amazing,” Nichols told The Independent.

“We recruit people at the farmers market, and Michelle Obama said 'Do something', and I'm going to tell people that. If they come up to us and they're worried I'm going to tell them that, that we need to do something.”

“Do something” is a phrase that Obama has attributed to her mother, who died in May of this year.

"I'm going to take that message from her and carry it on,” Nichols told The Independent.

She added that the atmosphere was "electric, wonderful and I've been telling people that we deserve the joy, because we've been through hell. We deserve the joy.”

07:50 , Mike Bedigan

Michelle Obama blasts Trump over ‘Black jobs’ remark

08:05 , Mike Bedigan

In pictures: The Obamas take the DNC by storm

08:20 , Mike Bedigan

Trump’s ex-press secretary appears at Democratic convention to endorse Kamala Harris

08:40 , Mike Bedigan

Donald Trump’s former White House press secretary spoke on the second night of the Democratic National Convention to endorse Kamala Harris.

Stephanie Grisham, who held the role from July 2019 to April 2020, is one of several Republican figures invited to the convention in Chicago to denounce the “extremism” of the former president and his campaign.

Read more here:

Trump’s ex-press secretary appears at Democratic convention to endorse Kamala Harris

ICYMI: Michelle Obama's best quotes from Democratic National Convention speech

09:00 , Mike Bedigan