What Went Down On Night 3 Of The DNC

I think my final thought, as we begin to wrap here, was really best expressed by this tweet:

Harris’s speech was fine; if you want to get a better sense of her biography and abilities, I recommend her presidential announcement speech. However, the rest of tonight was really strong — the best convention night yet. One of the most trusted politicians in America, Barack Obama, gave a compelling and somber speech about the importance of ousting Trump. But unfortunately for Democrats, the best stuff came before prime time: a powerful speech from Gabby Giffords, and some emotional videos on immigration, gun violence and women in politics.

Harris makes history tonight by accepting the vice presidential nomination, but one thing I’ve been struck by in this virtual format is just how hard it is to replicate some of the more traditional aspects of the convention — like giving an acceptance speech. The intimate style of ordinary Americans sharing their stories or Michelle Obama talking from her home, as she did Monday, just resonates more in this format. But I understand why Harris spoke on stage tonight, and I assume Biden will do so tomorrow as well. It’s just harder to land those lines.