CHICAGO – Barack and Michelle Obama made a powerful entrance at the 2024 Democratic convention on Tuesday, delivering a clear message: Yes we can support Kamala!

As they spoke to an energized audience hanging onto their every word, the Chicago duo highlighted the core values in play and their conviction that Vice President Kamala Harris is exceptionally qualified to lead as America’s next president.

“I feel hopeful because this convention has always favored kids with unique names who dream of a country where anything is possible,” Barack Obama remarked, referencing his famous line from the 2004 Democratic convention regarding being a “skinny kid with a funny name.”

The prominent Democratic couple has been vocal about their concerns regarding the possibility of Donald Trump returning to power.

Through different spokespersons, Barack Obama has voiced his fears about a Trump comeback. Meanwhile, Michelle Obama revealed her “terror” at the thought, which she also hinted at during her speech on Tuesday. However, she asserted that Harris’ candidacy presents the chance to “overcome the fears, divisions, and hatred” facing the nation.

“America, hope is making a return,” Michelle Obama declared.

With President Joe Biden’s concluding remarks behind them, the Obamas concluded a night dedicated to outlining Harris’ philosophy, her background, and her policy objectives, while sharpening the campaign’s focus for the upcoming election.

A significant focus is being placed on Project 2025, a strategic plan from the conservative Heritage Foundation that has been criticized by progressives as indicative of what might occur if the GOP takes back the White House. Trump has attempted to distance himself from this platform and redirect attention to Harris’ positions and record.

Similar to Monday, there was a noticeable contrast between the lively musical rollcall for Harris inside the United Center and the tense protests happening outside, with Chicago police detaining several activists near the Israeli consulate in a demonstration against the conflict in Gaza.

Here are the highlights from Day 2 of the DNC convention.

‘It’s going to be a battle’: Obama criticizes Trump, champions Harris

The Obamas are revered figures in the Democratic party, and they demonstrated their popularity on Tuesday. They energized the United Center from start to finish while critiquing Trump and highlighting Harris’ potential presidency.

Barack Obama took to the stage that once launched his own historic campaign as the first Black president. He began by discussing his former vice president, Joe Biden, calling him a brother.

“History will remember Joe Biden as a president who stood up for democracy during a critical time,” he stated. “I am proud to call him my president, and even prouder to call him my friend.”

The 44th president then turned his attention to the GOP nominee, mocking him for his “childish nicknames and bizarre conspiracy theories, not to mention his fixation on crowd sizes.” He labeled Trump as a leader “whose antics have grown stale,” but also tagged him as “dangerous” if he were to reoccupy the White House.

“We do not need another four years filled with noise and chaos,” Obama warned. “We’ve all seen that movie — and we know the sequel tends to be worse.”

In his roughly 30-minute address, Obama presented Harris as the solution. He emphasized that Democrats shouldn’t rest on previous achievements, including his own 2010 healthcare reform, while also refraining from criticizing Trump’s supporters.

“Our fellow citizens deserve the same kindness we hope they’ll show us,” he urged.

Instead, he pointed out that the party and the Harris campaign should demonstrate that “democracy can genuinely work,” while noting that others around the globe are observing to see if the U.S. can succeed. He stressed the importance of voters recognizing who will advocate for them and their children’s futures.

“Kamala will be that president,” Obama affirmed.

Michelle Obama conveys a sense of ‘magic in the air’

In her impactful speech, Michelle Obama energized her fellow Democrats, passionately advocating for Kamala Harris and sharply criticizing Donald Trump.

“There’s something truly magical in the air, isn’t there?” Obama remarked as she took to the stage. “We can feel it right here in this venue, and it’s spreading everywhere across this beloved country. It’s a familiar sentiment that has been buried for too long.”

While speaking from her native Chicago, she expressed that the Democrats are experiencing the “exhilaration of being on the verge of a brighter future” but cautioned against complacency, reminding them that defeating Trump in November would be challenging.

Michelle Obama urged her party to “take action” to support Harris’s election, prompting the crowd to chant “do something” in response.

“We only have two and a half months left to make this happen, folks,” she emphasized.

This speech seemed to echo her renowned address at the DNC in 2016, where she famously stated, “When they go low, we go high.”

She highlighted how both she and Harris learned pivotal lessons from their mothers about diligence, sacrifice, and the importance of caring for others.

“Kamala Harris is exceptionally prepared for this moment,” Obama affirmed. “She is among the most qualified individuals to ever run for the presidency; her dignity is a testament to her mother, to my mother, and likely to yours as well.”

Most notably, Michelle Obama criticized Trump—who notably began his political journey by promoting the “birther” conspiracy against Barack Obama’s citizenship.

Michelle pointed out that Harris knows well that most Americans “won’t have the luxury of falling forward.”

“If we let a business fail or struggle during a crisis, we don’t get multiple opportunities,” Obama stated. “If circumstances don’t favor us, we can’t afford to complain or cheat our way ahead. We can’t just rewrite the rules to ensure our victory.”

“My husband and I are all too familiar with” the kinds of attacks Trump has leveled at Harris, she pointed out.

“His narrow-minded view of the world causes him to feel threatened by competent, highly educated, successful individuals simply because they are Black,” Obama asserted.

“Who will inform him that the role he’s now vying for might inherently be one of those ‘Black jobs?’”

Lil Jon, Spike Lee add excitement to rollcall

When the Democrats decided to hold a virtual roll call vote to officially nominate Kamala Harris earlier this month, some members were concerned that a significant tradition of the party convention might be lost.

Nevertheless, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) still managed to inject some fun into the evening, even if it was just a symbolic vote for Harris’s nomination.

A convention DJ played different songs for each state’s delegation as they announced their commitments to Harris.

Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” was chosen for Michigan, Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” for New Jersey, and Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” for Tennessee.

For Harris’ home state of California, they played Tupac’s “California Love” just before Governor Gavin Newsom announced California’s delegates, which helped push her over the finish line.

To enhance the festivities, rapper Lil Jon appeared for the Georgia delegation, performing his 2002 hit “Get Low.” The Harris campaign cleverly adapted the song’s lyrics: “To the widow … to the Walz,” referring to her running mate Tim Walz.

Director Spike Lee joined the New York delegation, while actor Sean Astin, known for his role in “Rudy,” represented Indiana.

Following her nomination, Kamala Harris took the stage at a campaign rally in nearby Milwaukee.

“The roll call has just concluded,” Harris announced. “They’ve nominated Coach Walz to be the next vice president and president of the United States of America.”

The DNC’s roll call was almost unanimous, backing a nominee who had garnered no votes in the Democratic primary.

Dems persist in treating Project 2025 as their enemy

Democrats have ramped up their criticism of Project 2025, the conservative agenda put forward by the Heritage Foundation, aiming to connect it to Trump.

Although Trump is trying to distance himself from Project 2025 – which suggests controversial policies like restricting access to abortion pills and abolishing the Department of Education – Democrats are insisting he should be accountable for it.

“Typically, Republicans are about banning books, but now they’re force-feeding this radical agenda to us,” stated Malcolm Kenyatta, a Democratic state representative from Pennsylvania and a candidate for state auditor, during the convention. “It’s a drastic plan aimed at rolling back progress, financially harming the middle class, and increasing costs for working families like ours.”

The Heritage Foundation’s “Mandate for Leadership,” released in April 2023, serves as a list of desired policies for Trump to enact if he wins a second term.

This agenda proposes numerous significant changes, including revamping federal agencies such as the FBI, cutting federal funding for climate science projects, instituting new work requirements for food assistance, dramatically reducing efforts to alleviate student loan debt, and lowering the capital gains tax.

The agenda also highlights plans to restore a Trump executive order, which would enhance a president’s authority to hire and dismiss federal employees by substituting civil servants with political appointees across the government.

“Their Project 2025 initiative is just a rehash of outdated proposals: reducing overtime pay, cutting healthcare programs, and providing tax breaks to the wealthy,” said Senator Gary Peters, D-Mich. “We cannot allow that to happen, and we will fight against it.”

The DNC highlighted stories from “pension warriors” who had served in government, arguing that their retirement benefits would be at risk under Project 2025.

Trump claimed he is “unaware of who is behind” Project 2025, despite it being created by over 100 former officials from his administration. The director of Project 2025 is Paul Dans, previously the chief of staff at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management during Trump’s tenure.

Former GOP members advocate for Kamala Harris

Trump’s rise to power within the Republican Party has faced challenges. Some individuals, including his former vice president Mike Pence, have chosen not to support his campaign for a third term.

However, this has also led to some Republican opponents publicly backing the Democrats, which the party eagerly showcased during the evening. They shared video testimonials from voters who may have supported Trump previously but declared their opposition for the upcoming 2024 election.

Throughout the convention on Tuesday, other prominent figures expressed similar views, including former Representative Adam Kinzinger from Illinois, former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, and Stephanie Grisham, who was the White House press secretary.

Grisham shared with the audience that as one of Trump’s closest aides, she was initially a “true believer.” However, after the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, she resigned. “I could no longer be part of the insanity,” she remarked.