CHICAGO (CN) — The Democrats launched the second night of their DNC programming Tuesday with a lineup meant to project the image of a diverse and growing party.
The kumbaya projection began with invocations from Rabbi Sharon Brous and Imam Dr. Talib Shareef, whose messages played on the idea of an America recovering from years of tumult.
“Help us write America’s redemption story… some say that this story is impossible, but we know that the God of this world is the god of the impossible,” Brous prayed.
Hat tips followed to the party’s old hats, with Jimmy Carter and John F. Kennedy’s grandsons — Jason Carter and Jack Schlossberg — both taking the stage. Schlossberg didn’t mention his relative Robert F. Kennedy, who’s also running for president. Instead they played up their granddads’ accomplishments, assuring convention attendees that Kamala Harris was a worthy successor to their legacies.
“My grandfather can’t wait to vote for Kamala Harris,” Carter said.
After a Kamala Harris-name dropping performance by Common, the party contrasted its image of unity and diversity by bringing out two Trump converts — voter Kyle Sweetser and the former president’s former press secretary Stephanie Grisham. Both attested to toxicity in the Trump camp, with Sweetser saying he hoped Kamala Harris would “make us proud to be American again.”
Grisham emphasized her come-to-Jesus story even more, calling herself a former “true believer.”
“On Jan. 6, I asked Melania if we could at least tweet that while peaceful protest is the right of every American, there’s no place for lawlessness and violence. She replied with one word: ‘No,’” Grisham recalled. “I became the first senior staffer to resign that day. I couldn’t be part of the insanity any longer.”
The effort to showcase the party’s growing appeal among diverse voting blocks reflected the stated theme of the night, “a bold vision for America’s future.”
The party even threw a bone to its progressive wing, bringing up Bernie Sanders to talk on many of the same issues that animated his two presidential campaigns. He called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza — echoing protesters demonstrating outside the city’s Israeli consulate as he spoke — but stopped short of criticizing the Biden administration’s continued support of Israel.
“We must have the courage to stand up to wealth and power and deliver justice for people at home and abroad,” Sanders said.
Sanders was followed on stage by billionaire Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. In a discordant moment, Pritzker, referring to himself as “an actual billionaire” earned thunderous applause by mocking Trump’s financial acumen, less than ten minutes after Sanders derided “the greed of the billionaire class” in his own speech.
The mood was buzzy in the halls outside the convention floor, as delegates and attendees filed in for the night’s proceedings.
As the second day of Democratic festivities got underway, delegates said they were pleased with Monday night’s symbolic passing-of-the-torch from President Joe Biden to Harris.
“Joe got his recognition, which he definitely needed and deserved,” said Michael Golojuch Sr., a delegate from Hawaii attending the convention with his son, Michael Jr. He told Courthouse News that he was happy to see the president lending his support to Harris.
Golojuch Jr., a one-time candidate for the Hawaii House of Representatives, said he felt the first night of the convention “hit all the right notes,” addressing Middle America and battleground states Democrats need to win to clinch the election in November.
“It won’t be good for anybody if the other guy gets it,” he said.
Linda Henry, a delegate from Missouri, was equally pleased with how Democrats treated the outgoing Biden.
“I thought it was a wonderful tribute to him,” she told Courthouse News. “I thought he was able to talk about his own accomplishments, which was beautiful, and then paved the way for the new generation.”
Asked about other highlights from Monday evening, Henry said she was particularly impressed with remarks delivered by former Secretary of State and 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Clinton, who nearly became the first female U.S. president, gave a heartfelt and at times emotional tribute to Harris, who if elected herself will become the first Black woman in the Oval Office.
“The glass ceiling thing just really hits home, being a woman of a certain age,” Henry said.
Meanwhile, as convention-goers filed into the United Center, some chatted over Chicago-style hot dogs and ogled the paltry offering of Harris-Walz merchandise on sale.
Compared with the loud and sometimes gaudy Donald Trump swag available at the Republican National Convention in July, the campaign chic for many DNC attendees was more conventional — though several convention-goers were spotted wearing the viral Harris-Walz camouflage caps, a reference to breakout indie star Chappell Roan’s similarly-styled “Midwest princess” hat.
And, true to the DNC’s quest to capture the youth vote, there was no shortage of internet and media personalities milling about outside. Former YouTube star turned TikTok news aggregator Philip DeFranco made his way through the crowd, and Jordan Klepper of the “Daily Show” needled attendees.
Klepper was heard quipping to one convention-goer about President Joe Biden’s Monday night speech, which began more than an hour after its scheduled start time and sparked accusations — albeit with no evidence — that Democrats were relegating him to a minor role in the event.
“It’s like, thanks Biden, don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out,” Klepper joked to the attendee he was interviewing.
Delegates began their ceremonial roll call vote after a brief lull in which the whole arena had its photo taken by a 110 year-old camera. The roll call was mostly on-script, with every state and territory throwing their weight behind Harris and Walz. The only bump in the proceedings came when Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers momentarily struggled to recall Harris’ name.
Convention attendees watched Harris herself from her rally in Milwaukee, where she addressed both crowds.
“We are so proud to be your nominees. This is a people-powered campaign, and together we will chart a new path forward,” Harris said.
Several states, like Illinois and Hawaii, also played up their connections to Barack Obama when announcing their delegate votes — foreshadowing the night’s scheduled headline appearance by the former president.
Both Michelle and Barack Obama took the stage before the night ended, playing to their respective hits.
Michelle urged attendees at the convention to “do something!”
“Because this is going to be close. In some states, just a handful of votes in every precinct could decide the winner. So we need to vote in numbers that erase any doubt,” she said.
The former president, meanwhile, referenced his “Hope” presidential campaign slogan, told convention-goers booing Trump’s name “don’t boo, vote,” and poked fun at the Affordable Care Act being called “Obamacare.” His speech stirred the crowd, which erupted into raucous applause at multiple points.
He concluded his remarks by urging for a “return” to a kinder, gentler America vis-a-vis a Harris presidency.
“We’ll elect leaders up and down the ballot who will fight for the hopeful, forward-looking America we believe in. And together, we too will build a country that is more secure and more just, more equal and more free,” he said. “So let’s get to work.”