With day two of the Democratic National Convention and 76 days until Election Day, here’s what you need to know.
CHICAGO (AP) — Former President Barack Obama Michelle Obama is scheduled to speak on the second day on Tuesday. Democratic National ConventionThe party has tapped two of its biggest stars to shift attention to the vice presidency. Kamala Harris ‘Opposition movement Republican Donald Trump.
Also speaking on Tuesday will be Sen. Doug Emhoff, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, progressives’ favorite independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and, in a move likely intended to rile up Trump, former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, who has now become a fierce critic of her former boss.
Democratic presidential candidates Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden take the stage with Vice President Doug Emhoff, left, and First Lady Jill Biden, right, during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Monday, Aug. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
“I never thought I’d be speaking at the Democratic Convention,” Grisham said in a statement ahead of her speech, “but after seeing firsthand what Donald Trump is really like and the threat he poses to our country, I feel compelled to speak out.”
While the Obamas headlined Tuesday’s speech, the diverse cast of faces underscored the breadth of the political coalition Harris’ team is trying to assemble to defeat Trump this fall. Like President Joe Biden in 2020, Harris is seeking to win the support of young people, voters of color, working-class whites, suburban moderates and even anti-Trump Republicans.
And while the theme of the night was “A Bold Vision for America’s Future,” the various factions of Harris’ evolving coalition showed they were united, above all, by a deep desire to ensure that America returns to a Trump presidency.
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Douglas Emhoff speak following First Lady Jill Biden during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Monday, Aug. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Ms. Harris traveled to Milwaukee on Tuesday for a rally in the battleground state of Wisconsin, scheduled to coincide with prime-time programming at the convention, an unusual coincidence of events during a convention, raising the possibility that Ms. Harris will address the convention via video from the rally.
Thousands of people had already taken their seats hours before at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum, where Trump accepted the Republican nomination just a month earlier.
Trump, meanwhile, is visiting battleground states during the convention, including a visit to Howell, Michigan, on Tuesday where, flanked by sheriff’s deputies, he called Harris the “ringleader” of a “Marxist attack on law enforcement nationwide.”
Obama, the nation’s first black president, will be returning to the convention stage for the first time in 20 years, since his first appearance at the national convention in Boston in 2004, which brought him national attention ahead of his victory in the 2008 presidential election.
In his speech on Tuesday, Obama is expected to identify why Harris and Walz are the right leaders for the country at this time, lay out the Democratic agenda for the next 10 weeks and focus on the values at stake in this election and the core of our politics, according to a person familiar with the remarks.
The former president believes now is all-out war and is determined to do everything in his power to help Harris win, the people said, adding that Obama will use a variety of tactics, both traditional and creative, to appeal to voters over the coming weeks.
The thousands gathered at the convention will hear from a host of prominent Republicans, including former Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger, former Georgia lieutenant governor Geoff Duncan, former Trump White House staffers Olivia Troye and Grisham, all of whom are current critics of Trump.
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The Harris campaign also announced on Tuesday a list of speakers from battleground states who will be speaking later this week, including Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Sen. Gary Peters, Rep. Elissa Slotkin, Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin. Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly will speak along with Mesa Mayor John Giles, a Republican.
Offering premium seats to local elected leaders, many of whom have higher approval ratings in their home states than the top candidates, is a move aimed at reaching undecided voters and maximizing Harris’ path to winning the 270 electoral votes, the Harris campaign said.
The Democratic Party changed its policy with 76 days left in the election campaign. The graceful departure of a sitting presidentHe was given a hero’s welcome during his appearance on Monday.
Associated Press Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports that in his farewell speech, President Biden strongly endorsed Kamala Harris as his successor for the Oval Office.
Biden didn’t take the stage until about 11:30 p.m. Eastern time on Monday night because of delays in his speaking schedule. The program didn’t finish until after midnight Eastern time, despite some speakers canceling. Famed singer-songwriter James Taylor was removed from the schedule.
Democratic National Convention Chairman Alex Hornbrook said Tuesday morning that “we made adjustments in real time last night” and that “we are continuing to work with our speakers this evening to make sure we stay on schedule,” adding that “adjustments are being made,” including a 5:30 p.m. Chicago time start time.
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Cooper reported from Phoenix.
