‘Yes She Can’: In Soaring Speech, Obama Calls Kamala Harris ‘New Way Forward’

CHICAGO ― Former President Barack Obama delivered a lofty speech in support of Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday, hailing her as a visionary leader with the experience and values to help the country “move past some of the tired old debates that keep stifling progress.”

Harnessing Democrats’ sense of excitement about Harris, Obama presented the Democratic presidential nominee as a natural heir to his optimistic first presidential bid.

After explaining how the country needs a president committed to empowering workers in “this new economy,” Obama said, “Kamala will be that president.”

Someone in the crowd shouted out, “Yes she can!” ― a play on the Obama presidential campaign slogan, “Yes we can.” Obama heard it and repeated it. “Yes she can!” he said. “Yes she can.”

The crowd was electric from the moment Obama walked on stage ― in part because he was preceded by former First Lady Michelle Obama, who arguably gave the most rousing speech of the night. The one-two punch of the Obamas ― both Chicagoans ― fit with the spirit of a convention that has sought to conjure the effervescence of Obama’s early candidacy, but subtly break with the pandemic, inflation and anxiety over President Joe Biden’s age.

Michelle, who has never run for public office, remains one of the Democratic Party’s most gifted speakers. Her focus on “hope,” a core theme of her husband’s two campaigns and presidency, set the stage for his subsequent speech. He opened with an affectionate joke about her speaking abilities.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling fired up!” he said. “I’m feeling ready to go ― even if I’m the only person stupid enough to speak right after Michelle Obama.”

With uncanny ease, Obama combined encomiums to the