DNC 2024 Day 2: 'Yes, she can': Obama endorses Harris, blasts Trump

Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff re-introduced himself to America in his Tuesday night's speech.

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Last updated: Wednesday, August 21, 2024 4:54AM GMT
Barack and Michelle Obama speak at DNC: Hope is making a comeback
The 2024 DNC Day 2 speaker schedule culminated with Democratic political royalty: former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.

CHICAGO -- In a presidential campaign like no other -- and just four weeks after President Joe Biden bowed out of the race -- Democrats are gathering in Chicago this week to nominate Vice President Kamala Harris as their candidate to take on former President Donald Trump.

ABC News will have special coverage of the DNC -- including primetime coverage from 10 p.m. until 11 p.m. ET on ABC every day of the conventions, and on ABC News Live from 7 p.m. until 12 a.m. ET.

See DNC Day 1 updates here.

Aug 21, 2024, 4:52 AM

Read the full text of Barack and Michele Obama's speeches

Want to revisit the speeches from Former President Barack Obama or First Lady Michelle Obama?

You can read the full text of their speeches and watch them again by clicking here for Barack and here for Michelle.

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Aug 21, 2024, 3:09 AM GMT

Barack Obama takes the stage, met with 'Yes we can' cheers

The former president received a warm welcome from the crowd in the United Center, who revived his iconic campaign slogan "Yes we can!"

"I'm feeling fired up!" Obama said. "I am feeling ready to go -- even If I am the only person stupid enough to speak after Michelle Obama."

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Aug 21, 2024, 3:23 AM GMT

'We cannot get a Goldilocks complex': Michelle Obama

The former first lady warned that "we can not be our worst enemies" and not take things for granted in this election.

In her closing remarks, former first lady Michelle Obama warned that a handful of votes in select states would decide the election and pushed Americans to come out to the polls.

"We cannot get a Goldilocks complex about whether everything is just right," Michelle Obama said to cheers.

"We cannot indulge our anxieties about whether this country will elect someone like Kamala instead of doing everything we can to get someone like Kamala elected," she added.

Obama said she is confident that Harris would be a great leader but noted that there will be a lot of opponents who will put out lies about her.

"It's up to us to remember what Kamala's mother told her: Don't just sit around and complain, do something," she said. "So if they lie about her, and they will, we've got to do something."

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Aug 21, 2024, 3:23 AM GMT

Michelle Obama takes jabs at Trump

The former first lady took several subtle and clear jabs at former President Donald Trump, contrasting his past scandals with Harris' years of accomplishments.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama speaks during the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama speaks during the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago.

"She understands that most of us will never be afforded the grace of failing forward we will never benefit from the affirmative action of generational wealth," she said.

"If we bankrupt a business or choke in a crisis, we don't get a second, third, or fourth chance," she added.

Michelle Obama got more direct and noted that Trump "did everything in his power to try to make people fear us."

"His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who also happened to be Black," she said.

"Who's going to tell him that the job he's currently seeking might just be one of those 'Black jobs?'" Obama asked to a cheering crowd.

"It's his same old con: doubling down on ugly, misogynistic, racist lies as a substitute for real ideas and solutions that will actually make people's lives better," she added.

Aug 21, 2024, 3:07 AM GMT

Michelle Obama reflects on mom's influence

Michelle Obama reflected on her mother's memory and the values that she instilled in her from an early age.

Former first lady Michelle Obama speaks during the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago.
Former first lady Michelle Obama speaks during the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago.

"Kamala Harris and I built our lives on those same foundational values. Even though our mothers grew up an ocean apart, they shared the same belief in the promise of this country," she said.

Obama continued to tout Harris' skills, experience and temperament during her years of service.

"Kamala Harris is more than ready for this moment," she said. "She is one of the most qualified people ever to seek the office of the presidency."