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Politics and Government News
The Associated Press

Day 2 of the DNC will feature the Obamas and second gentleman Doug Emhoff

The floor of a convention
Minyon Moore chair of the Democratic National Convention Committee and Jaime R. Harrison, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, open Day 1 of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center on Aug. 19.
Mike Segar-Pool | Getty

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Day two of the Democratic National Convention has begun.

Former President Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama and second gentleman Doug Emhoff will speak at the DNC, a day after the unofficial farewell for President Joe Biden, who served eight years as Obama’s vice president. Biden won’t be in the hall to see his former running mate speak, as he departed Chicago Monday after delivering his own speech.

With President Biden having addressed delegates, the week’s full focus now turns to Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov Tim Walz.

After Monday night delays, Democrats are now ahead of schedule

After Night 1 ran so long, the second night of the Democratic convention has raced out far ahead of its early schedule.

A series of speeches and video montages wrapped quickly and organizers began setting up for a state-by-state roll call about 35 minutes before it had been scheduled to begin.

Harris already formally clinched the Democratic nomination in a virtual vote earlier this month, but, per tradition, each state’s delegation will have a chance to symbolically pledge its delegates to her on the convention floor.

Organizers promised tweaks to the schedule to keep Tuesday’s program moving. It’s early yet, but so far they’ve kept that promise.

The DNC pivots away from Biden

President Joe Biden was the star of the DNC on Monday night as he delivered his swan song to his party after 50 years in elected office. He was a bit player as the convention’s second evening got started.

“The torch has been passed to a new generation,” former New Orleans mayor and White House official Mitch Landrieu opened the second night’s program saying. The first hour of speeches featured praise of Harris and criticism of Trump, but only passing reference to the unpopular Democratic incumbent. The praise and thanks to Biden for stepping aside that permeated the Monday program yielded only to minor mentions of the “Biden-Harris administration.”

It was the latest sign of Biden’s waning influence in the party as he prepares to leave the White House in January.

Democrats highlight former Trump voters who switched to supporting Harris

For the second in as many nights, the Democratic convention has frequently featured stories from ordinary voters, who talked about voting for Trump in 2016 or 2020 or both, but said they wouldn’t do so again.

The voters, filmed in what to be in their homes in states around the country, described being fed up with Trump’s criminal conviction, his frequent lying for political gain and his leading a mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol in January 2021.

The effort recalled Republicans, who during their convention featured frequent videos of “everyday Americans” to fire up their own crowd last month in Milwaukee.

This is a developing news story. Check back for updates.