Kamala Harris and Barack Obama headlined the third night of the Democratic National Convention. Watch the video and read through our live chat here.
Kamala Harris and Barack Obama headlined the third night of the Democratic National Convention. Watch the video and read through our live chat here.
Full Analysis of D.N.C. Night 3
Aug 19, 2020
Full Analysis of D.N.C. Night 3
Kamala Harris and Barack Obama headlined the third night of the Democratic National Convention. Watch the video and read through our live chat here, orcatch up on all the news from Day 3.
Sydney Ember
National Politics Reporter
It’s such a strange way to experience a historic moment.
Thomas Kaplan
National Politics Reporter
It was odd last week to see Biden and Harris wave as if there was a crowd before them — and it was odd again tonight.
Sydney Ember
National Politics Reporter
And that’s a wrap for the speakers tonight. Tomorrow night — Joe Biden accepts the presidential nomination.
Thomas Kaplan
National Politics Reporter
And now we’re being led out of the hall.
Sydney Ember
National Politics Reporter
So! Key takeaways, anyone?
Maggie Haberman
White House Correspondent
It was, I think, the most impactful of the three nights so far, featuring a number of core Democratic issues.
Alan Rappeport
Economic Policy Reporter
There was very little policy fodder offered for the Trump campaign to attack as socialism. Even Elizabeth Warren’s remarks had a moderate tone.
Matt Flegenheimer
National Politics Reporter
The last hour brought more signature moments, surely, with an Obama speech delivered with force and urgency and Harris’s historic elevation as a running mate. But I was really struck by the policy focus of the opening frames tonight. It felt like the most grounded of the three nights, in its way, even if conventions aren’t necessarily forums for 12-point plans.
Alexander Burns
National Political Correspondent
To Alan’s point, we have seen the Trump campaign telegraph a more direct attack on Biden’s actual record this week – yesterday they put out a press release on Biden’s “half-century of horrible judgment” – which follows months of trying to run against him as though he is an anarchist revolutionary, which he is obviously not.
Maggie Haberman
White House Correspondent
I also think Obama’s case against Trump may be more compelling for voters this time around than it was in 2016, now that they’ve seen four years.
Sydney Ember
National Politics Reporter
This night felt the most urgent of the nights so far. From Clinton to Warren to Obama to Harris, everyone tried to make clear what was at stake. For Democrats, the idea that democracy is on the line is a through line.
Jennifer Medina
National Politics Reporter
For those curious about stage music, Harris walked away to Mary J. Blige’s “Work That,” with lyrics that were clearly chosen carefully. “I just wanna be myself. Don’t sweat girl be yourself.”What Does Campaign Rally Music Say About a Candidate?Aug. 19, 2019
What Does Campaign Rally Music Say About a Candidate?
Matt Flegenheimer
National Politics Reporter
An and/but to Alex’s point. In our inboxes from the Trump campaign just now: “Democrats are still hiding Joe Biden, but they can no longer hide their radical socialist agenda.”
Thomas Kaplan
National Politics Reporter
One takeaway from being in the room: I have no clue what the Harris speech felt like onscreen. But in person, it’s a strange vibe when there’s no crowd reaction, to say the least.
Jennifer Medina
National Politics Reporter
Tonight, especially in the second half with Clinton, Obama and Harris, was about making the case that this is an election that is not normal. There was urgency, as you said Sydney, and an argument that a Biden-Harris administration would return to stability. And there were nods to youth and diversity, more overt than in previous nights, as Harris took the stage.
Sydney Ember
National Politics Reporter
We have one more night of the 2020 D.N.C. Anyone have thoughts on what tomorrow will bring? What are people looking forward to?
Matt Flegenheimer
National Politics Reporter
There were discussions during the V.P. selection process about how a dynamic running mate might overshadow Biden as a speaker. Well, we’ve had three nights. Can he “land the plane” – to borrow a loathsome cliché political types use – and make a compelling case on his own behalf? While giving a speech under conditions he hasn’t navigated across his nearly half-century of speech-making in public life? It’s an ask.
Jennifer Medina
National Politics Reporter
I am curious to hear how Biden both looks back at the past and toward the future. His character and deep Washington experience are obviously key to his appeal. But how does he make the case for what comes next now?
Sydney Ember
National Politics Reporter
All right, everyone, another day is done and only tomorrow awaits. To read more about everything that happened tonight,head over to our convention briefing.
Sydney Ember
National Politics Reporter
Good night!