It falls upon Harris and Walz to demonstrate their capability of securing victory.
Democratic Party veterans spent the initial two days of their gathering doubling down on their late entry gamble for their energetic new presidential duo.
Now it's Kamala Harris and Tim Walz who carry the weight.
The vice president and Minnesota governor are largely unfamiliar figures to large portions of the country, and they're about to face the whirlwind of an election confrontation against Donald Trump that they could hardly have anticipated.
But they couldn't have hoped for better reinforcements than the Democratic Party heavyweights of the past 40 years.
A president, Joe Biden, hung up his political hat after a 50-year stint.
An ex-president, Barack Obama, appealed to a divided nation to revive the emotions that Abraham Lincoln referred to as "bonds of affection" and to rally behind Harris.
Hillary Clinton, who almost crushed the male monopoly on the presidency, observed the tiniest fractures in the highest, most formidable glass ceiling and pictured Harris assuming the presidential oath.
And another former first lady, Michelle Obama, recognized a reemergence of hope while petitioning voters to act against a Trump restoration.
Harris sets her slogan into motion
As the following two nights unfold in Chicago, Harris and Walz face the challenge of determining whether their easygoing rapport can advance into a substantial electoral force as their campaign advances to a critical stage.
Wednesday marks Walz's moment under pressure to make the shift to the large political stage. On the following night, it's Harris' turn to revive her political reputation and demonstrate her potential as a president following a challenging tenure as vice president.
Harris has practically wiped out Trump's polling edge. She's rekindled Democratic aspirations of reclaiming the House and maintaining control of the Senate. And she's sketched an optimistic blueprint for America that veers away from the bleak picture favored by the GOP nominee of a nation under the grip of a strongman leader.
She's coined a catchphrase that her party, alarmed by the prospect of Trump's return, is eagerly adopting: "We are not going back."
But that's just the beginning.
Harris and Walz now need to harness the momentum, unity, and fresh purpose swirling around the Chicago convention hall into a campaign capable of capturing a presidency.
She's under the microscope to demonstrate that following an underwhelming vice presidency and a swiftly fading 2020 campaign, she can sustain a grueling, tight race against a formidable Republican opponent. And her primetime address on Thursday night is her best chance to convince America that she looks the part of a president and possesses the resolve to serve as commander in chief.
Walz steps up next
On Wednesday, the nation will get a close-up look at a Minnesota governor who's a military veteran, a former teacher, a high school football coach, a hunter, and a middle-class father from the Midwest. A Democratic operative, referring to the various demographics Walz can cater to, described him privately as a "living coalition" on Tuesday.
But he'll follow an object lesson of what can happen when a vice presidential pick's debut fails to impress. Trump's running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, delivered an unremarkable address at the Republican National Convention last month, triggering a rocky start and a plunge in approval ratings, contributing to the Trump campaign's downturn in the late summer.
Vice presidential nominees don't determine elections, but Walz, with his heartland vibe, could serve as a balance to a Harris candidacy that might unsettle some voters resistant to change.
Walz can also offer a political alternative to MAGA conservatism to middle-class men. Democratic strategists hope that he can be particularly valuable to the ticket in court rural voters who might respond to his common touch in a way that could potentially lessen some margins in districts where Trump performs strongly.
“Here’s a guy who can speak anywhere and people can connect with him as a human being, as a coach, as a former teacher,” former Montana Democratic Governor Steve Bullock — who was renowned for connecting with culturally conservative voters even as his party moved left – told CNN on Tuesday. “He will talk to people where they are. He will talk to them about issues that matter in their lives.”
But Walz, despite having served in the House, enters this trial with less experience on the national political scene than some other vice presidential candidates in recent years – including Biden, who was a long-time senator when he teamed up with Obama in 2008, ex-Defense Secretary Dick Cheney, who partnered with George W. Bush in 2000, and Sen. Al Gore, who was Clinton's pick in 1992.
The Trump campaign recognizes the threat. It's gone hard on Walz over the timing of his retirement from the Army National Guard just before his unit headed to Iraq. (The Minnesota governor said he had no advance notice of the deployment.) Vance has criticized him over his mistaken implication that he bore arms in a war zone, prompting a correction from the Harris campaign. And on Monday, the Ohio Republican – risking further alienating female voters – accused Walz of dishonesty about his and his wife Gwen's use of fertility treatments. The Trump team is also highlighting Walz's progressive stint as governor, which could turn complicated for the Harris campaign's effort to project his homely demeanor as a symbol of moderation.
Nancy Pelosi once again demonstrated her remarkable political acumen by assisting in pushing Biden aside and paving the way for a new generation to rise.
Biden, initially hesitant, but ultimately with dignity, acknowledged Harris' significant role in guiding his most significant accomplishments. He bestowed his legacy upon her on the convention's opening night and took off on Air Force One, bound for retired status.
Clinton, without a hint of jealousy, looked forward to the day when Harris could surmount the last obstacle for women in politics.
Tuesday, during prime time on the East Coast, Sen. Bernie Sanders lent his support to the growing economic populism of the party's emerging leader.
The sense of urgency presented by the Obamas was the most notable. The couple experienced the torment of relinquishing the White House to Trump in January 2017. Their speeches demonstrated the dread of the fictional recurrence.
The former first lady – who eight years ago advised Democrats to perpetually "rise above" in confronting Trump – delivered the sternest criticism of the ex-president during this convention, condemning his racially charged discourse.
“His limited and narrow perspective made him feel threatened by the existence of two diligent, intellectually gifted, successful individuals who happened to be Black,” she said, alluding to herself and her spouse. “Who is going to inform him that the position he is currently vying for may just be one of those ‘Black positions’?” she asked.
The 44th president contended, with the credibility of someone who's held the position, that Harris is exceptionally qualified to assume the presidency and portrayed Walz as entirely genuine. “I am smitten by this man. Tim is the sort of individual who ought to be in politics. Raised in a small town, served our country, taught children, coached football, took care of his neighbors – he recognizes his identity and what's significant,” Obama said.
However, while instilling hope, this Democratic pantheon of recent heroes and heroines could not dispel the fear that their endeavors might not suffice.
“For the next 78 days, we must work harder than ever. We must repel the hazards that Trump and his associates pose to the rule of law and our way of life. Don't get sidetracked or become complacent,” Hillary Clinton remarked.
Barack Obama added: “Regardless of the impressive energy we've been able to generate over the past few weeks, for all the rallies and memes – this election will still be a close one in a deeply divided country.”
But the gravity of the situation seemed most acute for Michelle Obama, who warned, “This is our responsibility – each of us – to be the answer we seek. ... It is our responsibility to be the remedy to all the darkness and division.”
“Act,” she implored, as the crowd echoed her plea.
As the convention's most crucial business enters its phase, her admonition now applies to Harris and Walz as well.
Harris and Walz will need to harness the support and momentum from Democratic Party heavyweights to effectively translate their easy rapport into a substantial electoral force, aiming to capture the presidency. Their former opponents, such as Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, have expressed their support and faith in the duo's ability to lead the nation.
In the following days, both Harris and Walz will face scrutiny and pressure to solidify their positions as potential presidential candidates. While Harris has shown promise in chipping away at Trump's polling edge and revitalizing Democratic aspirations, Walz needs to solidify his standing on the national political stage and project a moderate image to reach out to middle-class voters in rural areas.
