CHICAGO (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris urged Americans on Thursday at the conclusion of the Democratic Party Convention to seize a “precious, fleeting opportunity” to overcome political divisions and the threat posed by Republican Donald Trump.

Harris is the first black woman and first person of South Asian descent to be nominated, and her supporters throughout the convention audience wore white to mark the moment. The convention also featured rising stars of the Democratic Party, survivors of Mass shootings and others that highlighted pressing issues in American life.

The crowded lineup reflected the immense work Democrats have ahead of them as they launch a new presidential campaign less than a month after the election of President Joe Biden. eliminated of the race.

Here are some takeaways from last night’s Democrats.

Democrats for Change

Harris’ speech ended the party’s remarkable four-day effort in the White House to claim that it was the real engine of change in this election.

Trump’s dominating presence in the political dialogue over the past nine years helped Democrats make that argument, and when Biden passed to Harris, giving voters a new choice, they received an additional boost.

Harris tried to capitalize on this, telling delegates and the nation, “With this election, our nation has a precious, fleeting opportunity to put the bitterness, cynicism and divisive struggles of the past behind us.”

Her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, made a similar pitch one day earlier At the end of his speech, he attacked Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, saying, “I don’t know about you, but I’m close to closing the chapter with these guys.”

The Trump campaign team, in turn, argues that voters want to leave the Biden-Harris administration and the past four years behind them.

Fear and joy at the same time

Even though her campaign is about joy, Harris devoted a significant portion of her speech to the risks of another Trump term, calling the election “one of the most important in the life of our nation.”

Her focus on Trump showed that fear is still a strong motivator for many voters and she wants to use that.

Harris described how Trump January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol and his conviction for fraud. She spoke about his willingness to use the military against US citizens – and the possibility of doing so with immunity from criminal consequences due to a youngest Supreme Court ruling.

“Imagine: Donald Trump without guardrails,” she warned.

Task One: Tell your story

When Harris took the stage at the convention, the first thing she did was introduce herself.

Her sudden rise following Biden’s abrupt withdrawal from the race means many people are just beginning to size her up.

This is an opportunity for her – and a risk if Trump and his allies succeed in defining her first. On the stage of the party convention, Harris told her origin story with warmth, humor and intensity.

She described her parents’ unusual pairing: two college students, one from India, the other from Jamaica; her family’s many moves around the United States; and her own desire to become a lawyer after discovering that a high school friend had been sexually abused.

And she placed particular emphasis on the work ethic that her mother instilled in her.

“Never do anything half-heartedly,” Harris said her mother always told her.

Premieres not mentioned

If she wins, Harris will be the first female president, the first South Asian and the first black woman. Dozens of speakers at the convention addressed this issue, but the candidate herself did not mention it.

Harris admitted that her path had been “uncertain.” As the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants, she was raised by a single mother after her parents separated. However, she did not comment on the historic nature of her candidacy.

That’s a stark contrast to Hillary Clinton, the last woman to lose to Trump, who made breaking the glass ceiling a central theme of her campaign. Harris seems more likely to follow the example of Barack Obama, who didn’t have to tell everyone he would be the first black president, but instead incorporated his life story into an argument for why voters should support him.

A new generation gets its big moment

in the spotlight

The convention not only formally marked 81-year-old Biden’s exit from the election campaign, it also served as a showcase for the younger Democrats in the pool of political talent.

Speakers included rising politicians from swing states such as Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who portrayed Trump as unworldly and told delegates, “Kamala Harris understands us. She sees us. She is us.” Other speakers throughout the week included Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, both of whom were on the shortlist when Harris was looking for a running mate.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel caused a stir with her speech earlier this week when she warned Republicans and the U.S. Supreme Court: “You can rip this wedding ring out of my cold, dead, gay hand!”

Also present were rising celebrities from Democratic states, such as California Governor Gavin Newsom, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Angela Alsobrooks, Maryland’s Democratic candidate for a vacant Senate seat, and 34-year-old New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – all of whom are seen as representatives of a new generation of Democrats.

Just a few years ago, Democrats feared they were short of talent in the pipeline after President Barack Obama’s midterm elections saw dozens of officeholders voted out of office, but they have made a comeback in the Trump era.

Palestinian supporters never had a say

Pro-Palestinian delegates never had the opportunity to take the stage and speak at the convention, reflecting how the party has sought to avoid one of the most contentious issues this election season as the U.S. alliance with Israel has become a political flashpoint.

Israel’s response to the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 has sparked outrage over the mass casualties and Human rights violations in Gazaand pro-Palestinian protesters marched outside the arena every day.

“Undecided” delegate Abbas Alawieh had negotiated with DNC officials to speak outside the convention hall. After being rejected, he and other delegates decided to spend Wednesday evening on the sidewalk outside the convention hall in protest.

“When we ran out of options as unaffiliated delegates, we simply sat down together,” Alawieh said on Thursday.

Harris said she would “always defend Israel’s right to self-defense,” but said “at the same time” the “level of suffering” in Gaza was “heartbreaking.” She suggested that the suffering could end with a ceasefire and the release of the hostages kidnapped in the October raid. On Wednesday Parents of one of the young men The conference dealt with the hostage-taking in Gaza.

Party convention reflects emotional whiplash of the party since Biden’s departure

Harris’s nominating convention was a four-day celebration of party spirit and optimism. It’s safe to say it would have been a very different event had Biden been the party’s nominee.

Democrats have endured emotional whiplash since Biden dropped out of the race last month, clearing the way for Harris.

For months, Democrats were despairing over Biden’s poll numbers and his disappointing speeches. And many Democrats were convinced that Trump could win the election.

Compare that to the Harris nomination convention in Chicago: There was laughter in the air, the atmosphere was electric, and caustic jokes were made at Trump’s expense. The event also attracted a number of high-profile talent, from John Legend to Pink.

Not to forget: There were also words of warning about the hard work ahead.

Implementing social issues in economic policy

Polls show that voters consistently felt Republicans are better on economic issues – a perception that Democrats are trying to correct.

High inflation has damaged Biden’s popularity. Now Trump is trying to pin the blame on Harris, too, going so far as to call her a communist, nickname her “Comrade Kamala,” and falsely claiming that a relatively healthy economy is actually in shambles.

It is unclear how well Trump’s criticism will be received by Harris, but Democrats sought to demonstrate their economic policy skills on Thursday.

Democrats argue that Harris could do more for the middle class and entrepreneurs as the party tries to reframe social issues as economic issues.

Harris wants to give first-time home buyers a $25,000 down payment. “She knows that housing is a human right and a path to the middle class,” said Marcia Fudge, the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, at the party convention.

Harris is also calling for a $6,000 tax break for young parents and an expanded child tax credit. “Child care keeps our economy running,” Democratic Representative Katherine Clark of Massachusetts told delegates.

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Riccardi reported from Denver.