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Former President Barack Obama told the crowd at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday that he is "feeling hopeful" because Vice President Kamala Harris is ready to step into the White House.
"I don't know about you, but I'm feeling fired up. I'm feeling ready to go," he said during his keynote speech.
He was introduced by his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama.
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"This convention has always been pretty good to kids with funny names who believe in a country where anything is possible," Obama said to cheers from the crowd. "Because we have a chance to elect someone who has spent her entire life trying to give people the same chances America gave her."
Obama went on to tell the convention crowd that America is "ready for a new chapter" with Harris.
"Kamala Harris is ready for the job. This is a person who has spent her life fighting on behalf of people who need a voice and a champion," the former president said.
"As you heard from Michelle, Kamala wasn't born into privilege. She had to work for what she's got, and she actually cares about what other people are going through. She's not the neighbour running the leaf blower – she's the neighbour rushing over to help when you need a hand."
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Obama then turned his attention to Trump, criticising his "stale" attempts at attacking Harris' camp.
"We don't need four more years of bluster and chaos," he told a cheering crowd. "We've seen that movie – and we all know that the sequel's usually worse."
The former president gave a glowing assessment of Harrris' running mate, Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor who was picked to run as her VP.
"I love this guy. Tim's the kind of person who should be in politics – somebody who was born in a small town, served his country, taught kids, coached football, and took care of his neighbors," Obama said.
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He also made a light-hearted reference to Walz' dress sense, saying it cements the fact the governor is a man of the people.
"He knows who he is and what's important," Obama said. "You can tell those flannel shirts he wears don't come from some consultant, they come from his closet, and they've been through some stuff."
The 44th president is expected to give a "forceful affirmation" that Vice President Kamala Harris is the right person to lead the country in this moment, an adviser previously said.
While the Democratic convention here this week represents a passing of the torch from President Joe Biden to Harris, it also underscores how her candidacy is forever intertwined with Biden and Obama.
Harris' quick ascension to the top of the Democratic Party would have been unlikely without the swift endorsement of Biden – whose own presidency was made possible in no small part by Obama.
Obama also played a key role in Harris' election as California attorney general in 2010, endorsing her candidacy and later endorsing her in California's all-Democratic Senate race.
