They're with her: All living Democratic presidents unite for Harris
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Former US President Barack Obama exits after speaking during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, US, on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Democratic presidents spanning nearly five decades in office are using the Democratic National Convention stage to rally behind Vice President Kamala Harris as the face of the party's next era.
Why it matters: Jason Carter, representing his grandfather former President Jimmy Carter, former President Barack Obama and President Biden all tied Harris to the party's legacy in their DNC addresses this week, appealing to renewed Democratic unity after fractures were exposed before Biden left the race.
- Former President Bill Clinton will take the DNC stage later today. His remarks follow his wife Hillary Clinton's emotional proclamation Monday that Harris will be the trailblazer to "break through" the glass ceiling.
- Jack Schlossberg, the only grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, also spoke at the convention Tuesday.
The other side: The support for Harris from all three living ex-Democatic presidents and Biden is in contrast to the GOP, where former President George W. Bush and former President Trump are the only living former Republican presidents.
- However, Bush is seemingly at odds with the modern GOP, which he has characterized as having "loud voices who are isolationists, protectionists and nativists."
- In 2016, the former president and former first lady Laura Bush reportedly voted for "None of the Above for President," but backed Republicans down the ballot. In 2021, he revealed he voted for Condoleezza Rice, his former secretary of state, the year prior.
- In an interview with the Texas Tribune in 2021, Bush said the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol left him feeling "sick to my stomach," and affirmed he did not believe the election was stolen, as Trump has repeatedly claimed.
Zoom in: Obama applauded Harris as "ready for the job" during a Tuesday evening speech, saying, "This is a person who has spent her life fighting on behalf of people who need a voice and a champion."
- "Together, Kamala and Tim [Walz] have kept faith with America's central story — a story that says we're all created equal, that everyone deserves a chance, and that, even when we don't agree with each other, we can find a way to live with each other," Obama continued, adding, "That's the Democratic Party's vision."
- Biden, in his keynote speech Monday, vowed to be the "best volunteer" the Harris-Walz campaign has seen.
- "Selecting Kamala was the very first decision I made when I became our nominee," Biden said. "And it was the best decision I made in my whole career."
Jason Carter said his 99-year-old grandfather, who entered hospice care over a year ago, "can't wait" to vote for Harris.
- Harris "carries my grandfather's legacy," Carter added.
- The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported earlier this month that Jimmy Carter told his son, Chip Carter, that he was "only trying to make it to vote for Kamala Harris."
The bottom line: Former Democratic presidents are shining their post-presidency glow on Harris and positioning her as a torch bearer as the party seeks to define and hone her message in a crunch-time campaign.
- Clinton will address the convention this evening before vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz delivers his acceptance speech.
Go deeper: What to watch in Tim Walz's DNC speech
