The Obamas, Delegates Dancing and More From Day Two of the DNC

Kamala Harris’ White House bid received a boost from Obama at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night, as attendees also saw party members dancing and listened to speeches from Republican defectors.

Rap artist Lil Jon added celebrity power to the list as Democratic delegates made the formal move to endorse Ms Harris.

Monday night saw an emotional farewell from President Joe Biden, who reflected on the decades he spent at the top of US politics before making way for Kamala Harris to run for the Democratic presidential nomination.

But the next night, the Obamas were eager to bring a positive message about the future to the conference — and make a few jokes poking fun at Donald Trump.

Here are some memorable moments from that night.

In back-to-back speeches, Barack and Michelle Obama mixed jokes with serious calls for Democrats to get out to vote in November — pointing out that Ms Harris is in a close race with Donald Trump.

Mr Obama described the Republican presidential candidate as selfish and dangerous, joking that he was obsessed with crowd size.

And Mrs. Obama mocked Trump for using the term “black jobs” on the campaign trail, suggesting that Trump might be looking for one of those jobs — a reference to her husband’s previous tenure in the White House.

By contrast, Ms Harris represents “hope,” Ms Obama said, echoing her husband’s 2008 campaign message.

One of the speakers that night was none other than Trump’s former White House press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, who resigned following the attack on the US Capitol by Trump supporters on January 6, 2021.

Ms. Grisham said she would vote for Ms. Harris in November, explaining her reason for voting as follows: “I can no longer be a part of this madness.”

She also criticized Trump, accusing him of having “no empathy, no ethics and no loyalty to the truth”.

Other Republicans who have moved into politics also spoke — including Mayor John Giles of Mesa, Arizona. Whether their intervention will sway the GOP remains uncertain, as Trump and his allies have a firm grip on their party.

The former president’s allies have certainly offered fresh criticism of their own. Trump’s running mate JD Vance used a press conference to attack Harris for “failures” during her vice presidency, focusing on crime and public safety.

America’s second gentleman had his moment to shine.

Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, was introduced on stage by their son Cole, who said their “blend family” had adapted to life in Washington.

“I felt like Doug was a little out of place on Capitol Hill,” said Cole, Harris’s stepson. “I thought, ‘What is my dumb dad doing here?’ But he accepted it.”

Mr. Emhoff went on to praise his wife as “the right person” for him and for America.

Meanwhile, a plane carrying Ms Harris herself – who had just left a rally in Wisconsin – was said to have circled for about 10 minutes in the air so she could watch the rest of her husband’s speech before landing.

Adding some excitement to the political event were filmmaker Spike Lee and actress Eva Longoria, among other famous faces.

Lil Jon also appeared, performing a tribute to his hometown in a rap that had Democrats dancing in the audience.

When asked who Georgia would vote for in the 123 states, he endorsed Ms Harris and sang her hit Turn Down For What.

Conference attendees also witnessed the move by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who danced to the music on stage, sending the room into fits of laughter.

Bernie Sanders gave his own speech on Tuesday night – but the energy in the arena was described by BBC North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher as “minimal”. You could hear people talking at the same time in hushed tones.

That was in contrast to the warm welcome the veteran senator received in 2016, the year he challenged Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination, when supporters flocked to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Eight years later, Mr. Sanders is still seen criticizing plutocrats and corporate interests, but the atmosphere is very different.

One explanation is that the chamber is filled with early Joe Biden delegates—not Sanders loyalists. But it could also signal that the senator has no clear successor to lead the progressive left wing of the Democratic Party.