Historic Democratic Convention kicks off with Biden passing the torch to Harris

The Democratic National Convention began on Monday, marking a historic moment as President Joe Biden passed the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now the party's presidential nominee. This transition comes after Biden's challenging debate with former President Donald Trump in June. Harris has since gained momentum, leading in national polls by three points.

Biden delivered a nearly 50-minute speech, balancing praise for his own administration with support for Harris. The president highlighted his presidency as a recovery period from the Capitol Riot and the COVID-19 pandemic and expressed his confidence in Harris' ability to continue that progress.

Hillary Clinton also spoke, suggesting that Harris could finally break the "glass ceiling" and become the first female president. Harris made a brief, surprise appearance, energizing the crowd with a message of optimism and gratitude toward Biden.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wowed the convention with her star power, delivering a passionate speech in support of Harris and criticizing Trump. Meanwhile, outside the convention, protests over Biden's policies on Israel and Gaza were less impactful than expected, with lower-than-anticipated turnout and minimal disruptions. Another protest is scheduled for Thursday.

[Source: The Hill]