Gambiaj.com – (CHICAGO, United States) – In a rousing appearance at the United Center in Chicago, former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama threw their full support behind Vice President Kamala Harris, underscoring the stakes of the upcoming presidential election. With trademark humor and pointed critiques, Obama emphasized Harris’ experience and vision, urging Democrats to rally behind her in what is shaping up to be a closely contested race against former President Donald Trump.
Obama didn’t miss the chance to revisit his own legacy, taking a moment to highlight the enduring popularity of the Affordable Care Act. “We should all be proud of the enormous progress that we’ve made through the Affordable Care Act,” Obama said, noting how it has provided millions of Americans with access to affordable healthcare. He couldn’t resist a quip about the law’s evolving reputation: “Since it’s become popular, they don’t call it ‘Obamacare’ anymore.”
The event saw the return of familiar rallying cries, with Obama updating his famous slogan “Yes, we can” to “Yes, she can” in support of Harris. This chant was taken up enthusiastically by the crowd, which greeted the former president with a rock star reception in his home state of Illinois.
In a speech laced with humor and sharp critiques, Obama took aim at Trump’s penchant for conspiracy theories and what he described as the former president’s “weird obsession with crowd sizes.” The former president warned of the dangers of a return to what he described as the “bluster, bumbling, and chaos” of Trump’s time in office, characterizing the upcoming election as pivotal for the future of the nation. “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,” he added.
Obama highlighted Harris’ new housing plan and her commitment to expanding healthcare access through the Affordable Care Act. “We need a president who actually cares about the millions of people across this country who wake up every day to do essential, often thankless work,” he said. “And Kamala can be that president. Yes, she can.”
Michelle Obama also took the stage, reminding the crowd of the razor-thin margins that often decide elections. “Let us work on it like our lives depend on it,” she urged before introducing her husband.
The night wasn’t just about Democratic unity. The event also featured a diverse lineup of Republican speakers who emphasized their anti-Trump stance. Mesa, Arizona Mayor John Giles and former Trump White House official Stephanie Grisham were among those who voiced their support for Harris, framing their decision as a choice of patriotism over partisanship.
Grisham, who served as Trump’s press secretary before resigning in the wake of the January 6th insurrection, delivered a scathing critique of her former boss. She claimed that Trump mocked his supporters behind closed doors, a stark contrast to the image he presents publicly. Her remarks followed those of Kyle Sweetser, a construction worker and former Trump supporter, who shared his decision to back Harris this year. “I’m voting for Kamala Harris because she’ll make us proud to be American again,” he said.
The presence of Republican figures at the Democratic National Convention aimed to appeal to moderate voters disillusioned by Trump’s leadership. While their comments avoided focusing heavily on Harris’ policies, they emphasized her character, describing her as a leader who could restore dignity to the presidency.
The event closed with a reminder from Democratic strategist Ana Navarro that electing a president is not just about policy but also about character. “We cannot elect a president who does not like dogs or hangs around with people who shoot them,” she said in a pointed jab at South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem.
With the race between Harris and Trump tightening, the event marked a significant moment in what promises to be a fiercely contested election, highlighting the sharp contrasts between the candidates and the wide-ranging coalition rallying behind the vice president.
