Obama at DNC: Harris Represents Hope, Trump Would Prioritise Wealthy Friends
On the second day of the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) held in Chicago, former President Barack Obama delivered the keynote address.
The former President took the stage after his wife, Michelle Obama, delivered a rousing speech that asked Americans to “do something.”
Although Democratic Presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Governor Tim Walz, were out campaigning in Wisconsin, Obama’s speech first praised Joe Biden’s sacrifices, as some alleged that he was pushed out of the race by key Democrats. Obama then lauded Harris and Walz as America’s best choice.
“Looking back, I can say without question that my first big decision as your nominee turned out to be one of my best, and that was asking Joe Biden to serve by my side as vice president,” Obama told the crowd.
He added, “History will remember Joe Biden as an outstanding president who defended democracy from great danger.”
Barack Obama: Kamala Gives Me Hope, Trump Would Prioritise Himself and Wealthy Friends
Linking his own childhood with Kamala’s ‘humble’ beginnings, as the daughter of an immigrant father, Barack Obama told the crowd at the convention that he’s feeling hopeful because Kamala is ready to step into the White House.
“This convention has always been pretty good to kids with funny names who believe in a country where anything is possible,” Obama said.
A daughter of immigrants, whose father, Donald Harris, is originally from Jamaica, and mother, Shyamala Gopalan, from India, Kamala Harris shares a racial diversity that Obama, himself of mixed race, hinted at in his speech as America’s testament to giving opportunities to those who work hard.
“We have a chance to elect someone who has spent her entire life trying to give people the same chances America gave her,” Obama told the cheering crowd.
Since Joe Biden’s exit from the race and his subsequent endorsement of Kamala Harris, an act that propelled the former U.S. prosecutor as the Democratic Presidential candidate, the race to the White House, which appeared to have Donald Trump in the lead, took a significant turn.
Also Read: Biden Slams Trump, Praises Kamala Harris in DNC Keynote Speech
A pre-election poll released just before the start of the DNC showed that Harris leads Trump 49 percent to 45 percent among registered voters, and 51 percent to 45 percent among likely voters in a two-way race.
However, despite the early momentum Harris’s campaign has garnered, Obama warned that the election on November 5th would be a tight race.
“For all the incredible energy we’ve been able to generate over the last few weeks, for all the rallies and the memes — this will still be a tight race in a closely divided country,” he said.
But the former President believes that while Harris’s values align with empathy, equality, and freedom of choice in matters concerning women’s health, Trump would prioritize his wealthy friends.
“We do not need four more years of bluster and bumbling and chaos. We have seen that movie before, and we all know that the sequel is usually worse,” Obama said.
On how Kamala sees the world, Obama said, “When women are paid the same amount as men for doing the same job, all families benefit. They (Kamala and Walz) understand that we can secure our borders without taking kids away from their parents.”
On the Republican Presidential candidate, he continued, “Donald Trump and his wealthy donors don’t see the world that way. For them, one group’s gain is necessarily another group’s loss. For them, freedom means that the powerful can do what they please.”
To end his remarks, Barack Obama told the crowd that although there’s much to do, if they work hard, Kamala and Walz would be elected as President and Vice President.
“If we each do our part within the next 77 days — if we knock on doors, if we make phone calls, if we talk to our friends, if we listen to our neighbors, if we work like we’ve never worked before, if we hold firm to our convictions — we will elect Kamala Harris as the next President of the United States and Tim Walz as the next Vice President of the United States.”
“So let’s get to work,” the former President said, ending his remarks.
