CHICAGO − Former President Barack Obama, whose political career was propelled by his compelling speech at the Democratic National Convention two decades ago, urged voters on Tuesday night to support the party’s current nominee, Kamala Harris, just as they did for him in the past.

“This will undoubtedly be a challenge,” Obama stated, rallying for Harris at the United Center, where he received a warm reception. “Despite the surge of enthusiasm we’ve experienced recently, we’re still facing a competitive race in a nation that is closely divided — a place where many people still feel the government isn’t there to help them.”

He warned that Donald Trump poses a threat to essential national values. “So let’s get started.”

Obama and former first lady Michelle weren’t the only prominent figures from the past addressing the convention that ceremonially nominated Harris during an animated state roll call on Tuesday.

This week’s event in Chicago showcases a remarkable display of unity in a political party often labeled as “in disarray,” a term that has become a running joke. Every living Democratic president is participating in some form, representing a history that spans five decades.

President Joe Biden addressed the crowd on Monday, warmly embracing Harris before stepping back from the campaign. Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to speak on Wednesday. In a spirited address on Monday, Hillary Clinton expressed confidence that Harris would break the “highest, hardest glass ceiling” that she herself could only partially breach during her 2016 campaign. Jesse Jackson, a pioneering presidential candidate at 82, gave a thumbs-up to the audience from his wheelchair on stage.

Even 99-year-old former President Jimmy Carter, currently in hospice care in Plains, Georgia, shared a message with attendees through his grandson. “My grandfather is eager to vote for Kamala Harris,” Jason Carter announced.

Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, followed by drawing a parallel between Harris and his grandfather. “The torch has been passed once more to a new generation,” Schlossberg remarked, “to a leader who embodies my grandfather’s enthusiasm, vision, and optimism for our future.”

While elections are fundamentally about what lies ahead, it’s important to remember that endorsements can only sway a limited number of votes. Millions of today’s voters were born after Bill Clinton’s presidency and long after Carter had left the Oval Office.

However, no one else holds the same degree of celebrity and influence as the Obamas, currently the two most beloved figures in Democratic politics. As the first Black president, Obama understands the challenges that a groundbreaking candidate like Harris will face in the next few months of this campaign.

Harris, whose mother is Indian and father is Jamaican, would make history as the first woman and the first person of Asian descent to become president, if victorious.

If she wins, that is.

Two Decades On: A More Stern Tone

The tone of Obama’s address on Tuesday in Chicago was notably sharper compared to the powerful keynote speech he gave at the 2004 convention, which nominated Massachusetts Senator John Kerry for president. (Kerry lost the election, but four years later, Obama was himself nominated and won twice.)

Back then, he famously asserted, “There is not a liberal America and a conservative America — there is the United States of America,” amidst rising cheers in Boston. “There is not a black America and a white America and Latino America and Asian America — there’s the United States of America.”

This time, however, his tone was more ominous, particularly concerning Trump.

Obama stated, “This is a 78-year-old billionaire who hasn’t stopped complaining about his issues since he rode down that golden escalator nine years ago. His complaints have only escalated as he fears losing to Kamala.”

Still, he suggested these tactics might not be effective, saying, “Because most of us desire a country that is united and not fragmented. We aspire for betterment. The enthusiasm and joy around this campaign indicate that we are not alone.”

Michelle Obama, also greeted with enthusiasm, offered cautionary advice as well.

During the 2016 convention, she encouraged the audience to maintain ethical standards when faced with opposition, stating, “When they go low, we go high.” This time around, however, she portrayed Trump as a whiner and a cheater, suggesting his wealth and privilege have shielded him from the consequences of his failures. She predicted he would employ ruthless tactics against Harris.

Michelle remarked, “It’s his same old trick. He relies on ugly, misogynistic, and racist lies instead of presenting real ideas and solutions that could genuinely improve lives.”

Meanwhile, at the Fiserv Forum

As the roll call wrapped up on Tuesday, the Jumbotron at the convention displayed a live image of Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, entering a rally less than 100 miles away in Milwaukee at the Fiserv Forum, which had previously hosted the Republican National Convention where Trump was nominated last month.

Clips from the Chicago convention were broadcasted on the Jumbotron in Milwaukee.

“We are privileged to be your nominees,” Harris proclaimed, promising to lead “a campaign powered by the people” and to return to the Chicago convention on Thursday to formally accept the Democratic nomination.

The attendance of longstanding party figures contrasted sharply with the Republican event. Except for Trump, no former Republican presidents, vice presidents, or presidential candidates were present.

Figures such as former president George W. Bush, former vice presidents Dick Cheney and Dan Quayle, and former presidential nominee Mitt Romney were absent. Even Trump’s previous vice president, Mike Pence, did not attend.

This absence is understandable given the negative sentiments following the January 6 Capitol riot, when rioters supported by Trump’s divisive language targeted the Capitol, calling for “hang Mike Pence” due to his refusal to obstruct the Electoral College vote count that confirmed Joe Biden’s election.

Ruth Bloch Rubin, a political scientist from the University of Chicago who studies political parties, noted that Trump may prefer to be the main focus. “This has always been his event,” she commented, adding that other GOP leaders might not wish to participate either. “It could indicate that many former Republican leaders want to distance themselves from Trump, whether due to disagreements with his policies or a reluctance to adhere to his methods.”

In contrast, in the Democratic Party, the presence of former officials is likely a response to Trump as well. Many former officials, rivals, and activists have quickly rallied behind Harris, driven by a shared goal of preventing Trump from securing a second term.

“They might view him as a threat to democracy or simply find him unconventional; that’s certainly a strong motivating factor,” she stated.

Outside the Chicago convention hall, protests regarding Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in Gaza have occurred since the Hamas assault on Israel last fall. However, significant disruptions have not been reported within the arena thus far. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, whose supporters famously disrupted the 2016 convention that nominated Hillary Clinton, delivered strong support for Harris on Tuesday.

He declared that it is Trump’s agenda which is “radical”, stating, “and we will not allow it to happen.”