It was a French navy blue, chic but somber pantsuit and blouse for Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. There were many rumors that she would follow in the footsteps of Hillary Clinton and wear “suffragette white” to signal the historic nature of her candidacy. But when I asked if we could expect her to talk about the prospect of becoming the first female president, an aide replied tensely, “Kamala doesn’t need to prove her credentials.”

The message in Chicago was different from that of Clinton’s failed 2016 campaign and Hillary’s constant references to her encounters with the “glass ceiling.” Harris downplays this aspect of her beliefs – or perhaps calculates that Americans, aside from sympathetic voters, are not always sympathetic to women who talk about their problems.

The aim of a spare, well-formulated speech was to lead Harris from the niche of the feminist, liberal Californian, who is being molded by the Trump-Vance camp into a caricature of ultra-left, pushy activists, into the role of a thoroughly average American citizen: a sensible, open-minded and reliable contact person for the security of America and the West.

It was also a week of female hall of famers, with Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama electrifying the convention with their speeches, while the audience packed an event featuring “steel magnolia” Nancy Pelosi. The former House speaker spoke about why she saw it as her “duty” to campaign for Joe Biden’s resignation, telling the crowd, “I knew exactly what I was doing.” This gathering of the Democratic clans featured an all-star cast of women — and the challenge of delivering the final coup de grace to Donald Trump’s hopes of a second presidency.

If that is the outcome in November, it will be as much personal as it is purely business for most involved. Harris chose a matter-of-fact tone, calling her rival an “unserious” person whose re-election could result in “serious consequences” and expressing her prosecution zeal for his beliefs and moral failings. Clinton – a more engaging and less strident speaker now than she was during her Waterloo against Trump in 2016 – was still out for her revenge: “We have him on the run now.”

But in terms of sheer eloquence and confidence, there was only one gold medalist: Michelle Obama, who delivered hard-hitting, personal lines with a fiery gaze and a doomsday mood.

She knew from experience that Trump would likely resort to “ugly, misogynistic, racist lies” about Harris. But she was also funny: Trump’s disparaging description of immigrants filling “black jobs” was turned into a cute jibe: “Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking (the presidency) might just be one of those black jobs?”

Open image in gallery

This reference to her husband’s two terms as president was a reminder that the Obamas are still natural show-stealers, drawing the affection of the party faithful more than any other former White House incumbent. No doubt, this was Michelle’s “it should have been me” moment.

None of this comes without a certain amount of grandeur and even domineering. “Michelle Obama is telling you to DO SOMETHING” was an instruction to activists to become even more active in defeating Trump.

The glitz and glamour of US politics today owes much to the legacy of the Obamas, who were the first presidential couple to understand the role of social media and reinvented the connection between politics and pop culture with the help of DJs, rappers, fashion designers and comedians. At 60, Michelle Obama is as slim as an Arkansas greyhound. No expense is spared in the style wars: she turned up in a very expensive sleeveless Monse jumpsuit and shiny black Jimmy Choos (the official power shoe is always a vertiginous pencil heel in black or nude patent leather). She has abandoned neat hairstyles in favour of a snappy braid, hair extensions and hoop earrings. She is probably relieved never to have to wear safe pastels from J Crew again.

The convention was an extremely elegant and lavish production, with a female supporting cast that included Maya Harris, considered the closest unofficial adviser to her sister, Oprah Winfrey, and the a cappella country band The Chicks, who sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” as Harris’ introduction in place of the old Torch Song singers.

That bubble of excited optimism will soon be punctured by reality when Harris faces Trump in their first televised debate on September 10. That will test Harris’ ability to respond to strong provocations in the moment. Hillary Clinton once told me in an interview, “You have no idea what it’s like to have Trump coming after you – it’s a ball of fire.” Harris has the advantage of prior knowledge.

But it would be unwise to underestimate the challenge of a live confrontation with a headstrong, ruthless opponent. She is said to spend a third of her time preparing for the debate. Harris’ style has weaknesses – she lacks the “empathy factor” that helped Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. The debate will show whether she can be agile under pressure, which has not been her strong suit.

But she has a strong cadre of women supporting her. I just interviewed Tammy Duckworth, the Senator from Illinois, who is an Iraq veteran. When I asked her about this point, she replied with military precision, “She’s going to kick his ass.”

A woman running for the most important political office in the world must combine a bewildering number of qualities: She must be a tough campaigner while defending patriotic American values ​​(a dozen national flags and a pin with the American flag banner were on display on stage, to make that clear); she must avoid the accusations of shrillness that hurt Hillary Clinton in her battle against Trump, yet remain undaunted by an opponent who fights with his bare fists.

To quote the campaign slogan that echoed all week, “We are not going backwards,” then Harris must start showing Americans that she can move them forward.

The DNC reminded us how much female talent has emerged in US politics over the past few decades and that none of them have yet landed in the Oval Office. If Harris makes history, she will also have plenty of grown-up girl power behind her.

Anne McElvoy is the moderator of Political power play Interview podcast (politico.eu/power-play-podcast)