Barack and Michelle Obama rally for Kamala Harris at Chicago DNC: 'Yes she can'

Barack Obama returned to his hometown Tuesday to give Vice President Kamala Harris his full-throated support, 20 years after delivering a Democratic National Convention keynote speech in Boston about “a skinny kid with a funny name” that transformed him from an obscure state politician into a national superstar.

“America is ready for a new chapter. America is ready for a better story,” Obama said. “We are ready for a President Kamala Harris.”

Speaking after a rousing address from another revered South Sider, the former president said, “I’m feeling fired up. I am feeling ready to go — even if I am the only person stupid enough to speak after Michelle Obama.”

“I’m feeling hopeful because this convention has always been pretty good to kids with funny names who believe in a country where anything is possible,” Barack Obama said, referencing his famed 2004 DNC speech.

That’s when a 42-year-old state senator rose to national prominence overnight with a rousing message of unity, declaring “we coach Little League in the Blue States and have gay friends in the Red States.”

This time around, the 63-year-old former president lashed out at ex-President Donald Trump, held up Harris as the moral superior — and insisted “we want to be better.” He framed Trump as a selfish man obsessed with power.

“Here’s a 78-year-old billionaire who has not stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago. It has been a constant stream of slights and grievances. And that’s actually been getting worse because he’s afraid of Kamala,” Barack Obama said.

The former Democratic president slammed Trump’s “weird obsession with crowd sizes,” holding his hands a short distance apart and drawing huge laughs.

“It’s one of the oldest tricks in politics — from a guy whose act has gotten pretty stale. We don’t need four more years of bluster and chaos. We’ve seen that movie — and we all know that the sequel’s actually worse. America is ready for a new chapter. America’s ready for a better story. We are ready for a President Kamala Harris.”

Harris and Barack Obama met at a fundraiser when Obama was running for his Illinois Senate seat, when Harris served as the district attorney of San Francisco. Harris was also an early supporter of Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign — and Tuesday marked a full circle moment for that support.

“She’ll work for every American. That’s who Kamala is,” he said.

“Yes she can,” he said, re-purposing an old chant.

The Kenwood Democrat said Harris and running mate Tim Walz “understand that when everyone gets a better shot, we’re all better off. When women are paid the same as men for doing the same job, we all benefit. They understand we can secure our border without tearing children away from their parents.”

Michelle Obama’s speech

Perhaps even bigger cheers in the arena came for another Chicago icon: former first lady Michelle Obama, who said “something wonderfully magical is in the air.”

“A familiar feeling that’s been buried too deep for far too long. You know what I’m talking about: it’s the contagious power of hope,” she said. “The anticipation, the exhilaration of once again being on the cusp of a brighter day. The chance to vanquish the demons of fear, division and hate that have consumed us.”

“America, hope is making a comeback,” Michelle Obama declared, referencing the major theme of her husband’s first campaign.

Following the death of her mother, Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama said she “wasn’t even sure if I would be steady enough to stand here tonight” — but she did out of a “sense of duty” to the next generation of women.

“Kamala Harris is more than ready for this moment. She is one of the most qualified people to ever seek the office of the presidency. And she is one of the most dignified. A tribute to her mother and my mother and your mother too.”

The South Side product took a series of clear shots at Donald Trump without naming him.

“If things don’t go our way, we don’t have the luxury of whining or cheating others to get further ahead. We don’t get to change the rules so we always win.”

“Who’s gonna tell him the job he’s seeking might just be one of those ‘Black jobs?’” she said to raucous cheers.

She urged Democrats to work furiously to get out the vote, leading the crowd in cheers of “do something.”

“Consider this your official ask. Michelle Obama is asking — no, I’m telling you — to do something,” she said to cheers.

Illinoisans in the spotlight

Earlier, Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth took the stage in what was a big night for the local delegation, with Gov. J.B. Pritzker also delivering a primetime address.

During a four-minute speech focused on reproductive rights, Duckworth accused Trump of an “anti-woman crusade” that has affected Americans’ rights to have their own families. Duckworth had her two daughters through in vitro fertilization.

“If they win, Republicans won’t stop at banning abortions,” Duckworth said during an almost four-minute speech. “They’ll come for IVF next… Stay out of our doctors’ offices, and while you’re at it, our White House too.”