Barack and Michelle Obama electrify Democrats but warn of tight race

Michelle and Barack Obama strongly supported Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night, urging Democrats across the country to vote in November to defeat Donald Trump.

“Hope is making a comeback,” said Michelle Obama in Chicago, echoing her husband’s past message of “hope and change.”

In their speeches, the Obamas praised Harris and criticized Trump, calling his presidency full of “bluster and chaos.” They also warned Democrats that the race is still very close and will be decided in key swing states.

Former President Obama, 63, said, “Make no mistake, it will be a fight.” Michelle Obama, 60, emphasized that people need to vote in large numbers to avoid any doubt, saying, “We need to overwhelm any effort to suppress us.”

Barack Obama expressed confidence in Harris, saying, “We are ready for a President Kamala Harris. And Kamala Harris is ready for the job.”

The Obamas’ message highlighted concerns within the party about the tight race between Harris and Trump, who still has strong support among his followers.

Harris currently leads in national polls, but the race remains close in important battleground states. Even though Harris is the incumbent candidate, she and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, see themselves as underdogs.

The Obamas also acknowledged the renewed excitement in the party since Harris replaced Joe Biden after he left the race. This excitement is similar to the energy that helped Barack Obama win the presidency in 2008.

Michelle Obama, known for her memorable 2016 line, “When they go low, we go high,” did not hold back in criticizing Trump. She attacked him for spreading “ugly, misogynistic, racist lies” instead of offering real solutions to help people. Her sharpest comment came when she mocked Trump for talking about “black jobs,” saying, “Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those black jobs?” referring to her husband’s presidency.

She also took a moment to honor her late mother, Marian Robinson, who passed away earlier this year at age 86. She said, “I wasn’t even sure if I could be steady enough to stand before you tonight, but my heart compelled me to.”

Meanwhile, Trump and his running mate JD Vance have been holding events in swing states. Vance used a news conference in Wisconsin to criticize Harris’s vice-presidency, focusing on crime, public safety, and the economy.

Harris, who was campaigning in Wisconsin, did not attend the second day of the convention in Chicago. However, the event featured a lively roll call where delegates from each state symbolically cast their votes for Harris and Walz. The roll call quickly turned into a celebration with music, dancing, and performances.

Harris then addressed the crowd virtually from Milwaukee, the same city where Trump accepted his party’s nomination four weeks earlier. She said, “We are so honored to be your nominees. I’ll see you in two days, Chicago.”

Before the Obamas spoke, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Harris’s husband, shared personal stories about her. He talked about how they met on a blind date in 2013 and described their “big, beautiful, blended family.” Emhoff called Harris a “joyful warrior” and a supportive partner. He also mentioned that they will celebrate their 10th anniversary on Thursday night when Harris officially accepts the party’s nomination.

“Kamala was exactly the right person for me at an important moment in my life,” Emhoff said. “And at this moment in our nation’s history, she is exactly the right president.”