Former President Barack Obama is said to view Tuesday’s keynote at the Democratic National Convention as more important than the appearance 20 years ago that rocketed him to national attention and, eventually, the White House.
An unnamed confidante of Obama’s spoke to CNN, explaining that the former president had told advisers that Tuesday’s speech was far more important to the country than his 2004 address.
“Of course, he still believes Donald Trump could win,” the source told CNN. “But he believes Kamala Harris can win.”
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When Obama appeared at the DNC in 2004, he was still a state senator from Illinois with virtually no household name recognition.
His 17-minute speech to the delegates in Boston changed that, beginning his four year journey to the White House.
In that speech, Obama spoke of his hope for all Americans to work together “to reaffirm our country’s values and commitments”, while also offering his support for the Democratic nominee that year: John Kerry.
On Tuesday night in Chicago, the Illinois native will look to offer his most full-throated support to date for Vice President Kamala Harris.
The confidante reportedly told CNN that Obama would be looking to praise President Biden while also carefully casting Harris, a longtime friend, as the path forward for the party and the nation.
ABC reported that the speech would emphasize that relationship, including when Harris was among the first to campaign on Obama’s behalf in 2007, when he was still a longshot for the party’s nomination, let alone the presidency.
Obama endorsed Harris a few days after Biden said he was stepping down, in a joint statement with his wife, Michelle.
“At this critical moment for our country, we’re going to do everything we can to make sure she wins in November. We hope you’ll join us,” they said in a social media post.
Their statement was shared along with a video of a phone call between the Obamas and Harris.
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