Former Pres. Barack Obama: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris 'believe that in a democracy, the right to vote is sacred, and that we should be making it easier for people to cast their ballots—not harder.'
-- making official her place in history as the first Black woman and first person of Indian descent to be nominated for national office by a major political party.
Preparations are made on the stage on the third day before the Democratic National Convention at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del., Aug. 19, 2020.ABC News Live will kick off primetime coverage each day at 7 p.m. ET on the network's steaming news channel and primetime coverage will air from 10-11 p.m. ET each night of the convention on the ABC Television Network.
Former President Barack Obama speaks by video feed on the third night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Aug. 19. 2020.Citing statistics from the coronavirus pandemic -- 170,000 dead and millions of jobs lost -- Obama said our worst impulses have been unleashed, our reputation around the world"badly diminished" and our democratic institutions threatened"like never before.
She said the plans reflect a central truth,"our economic system has been rigged to give bailouts to billionaires and kick dirt in the face of everyone else." "Who is standing in the way? Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump. So here is our answer: we will see them in November," she said. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic nominee for president, said America needs a better president than Trump and that Biden and Harris would be the team to"pull our nation back from the brink."
Estela Juarez from Florida read a letter she wrote to the president after her mother was deported to Mexico. Estela Juarez, 11, reads a letter to President Trump, during the third night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Aug. 19, 2020. Her father served as a Marine and her mother was deported to Mexico during the Trump administration.9:42 p.m. Trump talks to Florida voters at 'telerally' about immigration, 'radical left' policies
A Democratic official confirms to ABC News that former President Barack Obama was originally slated to close night three of the DNC, but asked to swap the order and precede Sen. Kamala Harris to symbolically pass the torch to her. "Why is the Democratic Party, the party of the people, not using their convention to talk about how we're going to serve our people?" she asked.Addressing climate change, New Mexico Gov.said she is proud that her state has"shown what climate leadership looks like."
Actress and activist Kerry Washington introduces former Representative Gabrielle Giffords addresses the virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention, Aug. 19, 2020.In an opening segment focused on ending gun violence, former Rep. Gabby Giffords -- a victim of a mass shooting -- reminded viewers that"we can be on the right side of history."
Sen. Kamala Harris opens the third day of the 2020 Democratic National Convention with a message about voting, Aug. 19, 2020. Later in the program she accepts the party's nomination for vice president. Guests watch television coverage of the 2020 Democratic National Convention at a DNC watch party overlooking the city of Pittsburgh, Aug. 18, 2020.Democrats across the country are adjusting to the format of this year's convention - nowhere more than in Wisconsin, where delegates who looked forward to hosting the party have traded banners, flags and floor passes for lawn signs and videoconference links.
"I think what she really hopes tonight is that people will see themselves in her speech. You're going to hear her tell her own story -- highlight the examples and experiences of others that resonate with her. You're going to hear her really talk about her life and how her growing up, shaped her," Bedingfield said.
"There is incredible excitement around Senator Harris joining the ticket, and we want people to hear from her as much as possible," according to the campaign.
The night culminates with a speech by Sen. Kamala Harris, who is also set to be formally nominated as the vice presidential nominee -- the first person of Black and Indian descent in that role.
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