Five weeks ago, Donald Trump delivered the longest convention speech in history, lashing out at his enemies and railing against immigration and “crazy” Democrats as he accepted his party’s nomination for president. Last night, Kamala Harris showed just what Trump is up against in November as she gave the speech of her life. Panic mode: Within minutes of Harris finishing up an address that electrified and enraptured the United Center in Chicago, Trump had phoned into Fox News to blast his presidential rival, and issued a flurry of social media posts. “Worst Speech Ever!” screamed one of several press releases issued in his name. Game on: Not that the thousands of party faithful in Chicago cared —Democrats are on a high as they head back to their home states today, laden with “Madam President” and “I’m speaking” tote-bags and merchandise, a nod to one of the many Harris phrases that have gone viral since she jumped to the top of the Democratic ticket last month. Who needs Beyoncé? Despite the build-up all week to last night’s acceptance speech, the real focus for much of the evening was a rumored appearance by pop star Beyoncé, with delegates cramming into the arena to try to glimpse the Grammy award-winning star. In the end, Harris was more than enough for the fans, helped by a smattering of celebrity appearances throughout the evening, which included actress Eva Longoria, pop star Pink and country-rock stars The Chicks. HARRIS MEETS THE MOMENT MAKING HER PITCH: She's campaigned for office in California, successfully run for a U.S. Senate seat and has been vice president of the United States for three-and-a-half years. But last night, Kamala Harris delivered the most important speech of her political career as she made her pitch to become the next U.S. president. Stepping up: Out from the shadow of Joe Biden, Harris showed she’s up to the job, even if she continued to avoid details of how her economic strategy will work. While her campaign has embraced the concept of “joy” and the power of positivity, her acceptance speech struck a very different tone — sober, serious and forceful. Some key takeaways: — She told her personal story, describing her upbringing in California, and how her mother influenced her career. “She taught us to never complain about injustice. But … do something about it.” — She projected strength as she sought to embrace the role of commander-in-chief, focusing more on foreign policy than had been expected, and pledging that America will always have “the strongest, most lethal fighting force in the world.” — She leaned into her middle-class credentials, describing how her mother worked long hours and how she had grown up in a “working-class neighborhood of firefighters, nurses, and construction workers, all who tended their lawns with pride.” — She derided Donald Trump, accusing him of cozying up to “tyrants and dictators” like North Korea's Kim Jong Un who are rooting for him “because they know he is easy to manipulate with flattery and favors.” — She zoned in on reproductive rights and the fight over abortion that is raging across America following the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. “When Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom, as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law.” Key quotes: “In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man. But the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious.” “I know there are people of various political views watching tonight. And I want you to know: I promise to be a president for all Americans.” “I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself and I will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself.” “President Biden and I are working to end this war such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity. Security. Freedom. And self-determination.” NOW THE WORK BEGINS THAT WAS THE EASY PART: As the curtain falls on the four-day Democratic National Convention, Harris is now back to reality, continuing her job as vice president while hitting the campaign trail. Will it last? Harris has closed Biden’s polling gap with Trump since she entered the race, and crucially she has made big inroads with independent voters, as my colleagues report. But her challenge is now to build on this momentum in order to lock-in victory in November. Getting out the vote: Sen. Elizabeth Warren — who arrived on stage last night to deafening cheers — warned delegates at a Massachusetts breakfast earlier in the day that victory needs to be earned. “We win through grassroots, we don’t win through the billionaires. We win through knocking on doors, texting, making phone calls, persuading people.” Step by step: Rachel Palermo, a former adviser to the vice president in the White House, insisted the party is not complacent. “It’s going to be a close race; the polls are tight. But momentum is on Vice President Harris’ side,” she told Global Playbook. “People are motivated, they’re excited — they know they have to roll up their sleeves." She also defended Harris’ economic policies — a potential vulnerability for the vice president. “What’s important at this point is that she tells her story — who she is, why she is the leader she is, and what her vision of the country is. She unveiled the first plank of her economic policy last week. We’re going to see much more of that in the next few months,” Palermo said. America is back: Maryland Congressman Kweisi Mfume told Global Playbook that Harris’ nomination was important for America’s standing in the world. “I think it sends a clear message to our allies, that the stability they’ve seen over the last four years after Donald Trump turned his back on the world, that that sort of stability is going to be found in Kamala Harris.” Speaking to Gen Z: One key strategy for Democrats is increasing the youth vote in November’s election. The party wants to capitalize on the wave of enthusiasm that swept platforms like TikTok in the weeks after Harris’ ascent to the top of the ticket. To this end, the DNC credentialed more than 200 social media influencers for the first time at a convention. Back of the queue: Digital content creators were welcomed at a special “creators lounge” on the ground floor of the United Center throughout the week where they enjoyed food and beverages just feet from the convention floor. Not on the list? The thousands of media representatives from traditional news outlets, a sign of who sits where in the pecking order of a changing media landscape. LATINO VOTE IN FOCUS NO VOTE LEFT BEHIND: Also important as Democrats try to map out a path to victory — in congressional contests as well as the presidential race — is the Latino vote. While Hispanic and Latino voters have traditionally leaned Democrat, they have been shifting to the right in recent elections. Biden lost ground among this key constituency in 2020, particularly in Florida and Nevada, and turnout remains a key challenge. Playbook interview: “We are very focused on Latino outreach, and we will be very focused on Latino turnout,” Texas Rep. Veronica Escobar told Playbook. The congresswoman, who represents the El Paso district on the U.S.-Mexico border, has been dispatched to Latino communities in battleground states across the country. Have Democrats neglected this constituency in recent years? “We are not taking anyone for granted, and we are especially not taking Latino voters for granted,” Escobar said. “I hope Latino voters will recognize that their home is the Democratic Party, because we are the party that actually cares about them.” It’s the economy, stupid: Escobar, who addressed the convention earlier this week, said economic concerns top the agenda for many of her constituents. “While immigration is an issue for many border Latinos, the number one issue nationally for Latinos is the economy,” she said. Like many Democrats this week, she linked Trump to Project 2025, an initiative spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation, pointing to its calls for cuts in overtime pay. “That’s not good for the working people of America, and we're going to make sure everyone knows about it,” she said. Download now: For more on the final night on this week's convention and last night's speech by Vice President Harris, check out POLITICO's Power Play podcast where host Anne McElvoy is joined by POLITICO's Global Editor-in-Chief John Harris and DC Playbook's Eugene Daniels. CONVENTION NOTES C-SUITE LEVEL: While free seats were a rare commodity in the United Center each night, VIPs were getting the star treatment in the suites dotted around the United Center on the Club and Penthouse levels. Democratic A-listers, business titans and most importantly donors were wined and dined by party staff throughout the week, with politicians dropping by to give the required face time at various points in the evening. Hanging with the stars: Some lucky DNC staffers have been assigned to protocol duty, dealing with the “talent” that graced the stage each night in the arena. The low-lit green rooms located in the basement of the center offer everything stars like Stevie Wonder and Sheila E. could need — though no alcohol was provided by the DNC, we're told. MERCH-ALERT: Delegates leaving Chicago this morning are armed with swag-bags and merchandise. Maryland delegates are heading home with bottles of “Jamie’s Strong & Sweet Democracy Mustard,” decorated with the smiling face of Congressman Jamie Raskin and the tag-line “Mustard that agrees with your Constitution.” Wisconsin’s representatives got a goody-bag filled with local delicacies including sweetened dried cranberries, a block of cheddar from Hook’s Cheese Company, and some cheese-shaped soap. SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND: Chicago boasts one of the best art museums in the world, so take some time before you leave town to check out some American classics like Grant Wood’s American Gothic and Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks on display at the Art Institute of Chicago. Not to be missed — the current Georgia O’Keeffe exhibition, “My New Yorks,” focused on the artist’s time in NYC. PROGRAMMING NOTE Global Playbook is heading to the United Nations General Assembly next month in New York. Drop a line to slynch@politico.eu if you’ll be in town. Thanks to editor Jones Hayden and producer Dato Parulava. | 
