Attendees wave “Coach Walz” signs as Minnesota Governor and 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz speaks on day three of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Tim Walz formally accepted the Democratic vice presidential nomination during his keynote address at the convention on Aug. 21, calling it “the honor of my lifetime.”
Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images
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Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images
Conventions are about unifying parties and galvanizing grassroots voters to action for the rest of the campaign. And they can also be an opportunity to reach out to vulnerable voters in swing states and introduce the ticket to the broader public.
That’s exactly what Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., who was picked by Vice President Kamala Harris as her running mate, did Wednesday night not only before a crowd of worshippers at the Chicago arena, but also before voters watching at home.
However, audiences also got to hear speeches from President Biden, the Obamas, the Clintons, even Oprah Winfrey, as well as several other speakers before Harris herself took the stage Thursday night.
Here are six key takeaways from the conference so far:
1. “Coach Walz” gives a speech to motivate the Democrats.
Democrats have had trouble portraying themselves as elitist, as more rational than emotional. But Walz, as he did in his first speech when he was introduced as Harris’s nominee, showed that he has common ground. It’s worth noting that the Ivy League-educated ticket is Trump-Vance, not Harris-Walz. (Joe Biden, by the way, is the first president since Reagan without an Ivy League degree.)
Walz also doesn’t have San Francisco roots like Harris, but is belong to Midwest, from a small town in Nebraska, a former congressman from a once-red district in Minnesota, governor of that state, and of course football coach. The Democrats have really embraced that last part of his resume. And Walz leaned into that in his speech, telling the crowd that this is the fourth quarter of the election and that Democrats are missing a target, but they’re attacking and driving down the field. To get across the finish line, he said, it’s the job of the crowd and the job of the watchers to “get in the trenches and do the blocking and tackling” in the election.
2. The Democrats have tried to make a broad appeal and demonstrate that their values are mainstream.
Oprah Winfrey gestures as she speaks on stage on day three of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
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Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Whether it was Oprah — who Donald Trump has said he would like to be his vice president in an ideal world — Bill Clinton, Pete Buttigieg, Walz, or a handful of Republicans who spoke, Wednesday could be seen as a call to action for undecided voters and persuasive independents, as well as Republicans who give them the structure to vote for Harris.
Oprah noted that she is a registered independent and urged “all independents and undecided people” to vote for Harris. “Dignity and respect will be on the ballot in 2024,” she said, adding, “Common sense tells us that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz can bring us decency and respect. … Let us choose common sense over nonsense.”
For his part, Walz also makes the case for Democratic ideas that are not as radical as Republicans try to portray them, but rather mainstream ideas—things like making housing more affordable, lowering prescription drug prices, reducing medical debt, providing meals to kids in schools, and fighting for abortion rights.
“While other states ban books from their schools, we have eliminated hunger from our schools,” Walz said.
3. This is also a night to honor the rising stars of the Democratic Party.
The conference is always an event that not only introduces the candidates in the current election but also provides an opportunity for potential future candidates to shine, stand out and make their name in front of a large audience.
They certainly showed that on Wednesday night with speeches not just from Buttigieg but also from the likes of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore — three names the country will likely hear again in a Democratic primary four or eight years from now.
4. This is not Joe Biden’s convention.
See Jon, Lil. The Democratic National Convention has been a noisy and enthusiastic affair so far. Part of the reason is President Biden’s decision to concede in favor of Harris. Democrats, who have been telling pollsters for more than a year that they don’t like his pick, have been energized.
There seemed to be a double meaning to the chants of “Thank you, Joe.” Thank you for what you’ve done as president, but also thank you for dropping out of the race. Biden gave a lengthy closing speech, but also made it clear why Democrats should be worried about his candidacy.
5. Michelle Obama gave a speech she could never have given as first lady or potential first lady.
Michelle Obama’s husband said after her speech and right before his own that he might be the only person stupid enough to follow her. And that’s because she brought the floor down. Her speech was a series of things she had been holding back from saying for at least eight years. She made some harsh statements about “generational wealth’s positive action,” and that Trump was trying to stoke fear in her and her husband because he felt threatened by two highly educated, successful people “who just happened to be black.”
It was something her political advisers had warned her not to say while she was on the campaign trail in 2007 and then in the White House, as she and her husband had to be careful not to offend white voters who might be wary of voting for a black man for president. But Michelle Obama is now one of the most popular Democrats in the country. She has the power to say what she said, and she is clearly liberated by no longer being actively involved in electoral politics.
6. Doug Emhoff supported his wife, but also showed what a modern family looks like.
Much has been made of the fact that Harris will be the first woman to become president, the first black woman, and the first person of South Asian descent to serve in the office. That would be a historic feat. But it would also be unusual to see a man step into the shoes of his political candidate’s wife, who is running for president. It’s also very different from what Bill Clinton did for Hillary Clinton in 2016, the only other time a speech like this was given. Not only is he a famous former president, but the Clintons have an adult child.
Emhoff, on the other hand, is a lesser-known figure, and his family’s story has brought new perspectives to the political scene. It highlights an interracial marriage and the complexities of stepparenting. And remember, a A significant proportion of marriages end in divorceSo millions of Americans can sympathize with blended families.
And now, the stage is set for Harris. She will speak to perhaps her largest crowd ever. This is her chance to build on the momentum her candidacy has generated. Can she deliver?
