Tuesday night sure felt like the crescendo of the Democratic National Convention, yet we still have two days to go before Kamala Harris accepts the presidential nomination. It was a night of big sweeping and slashing speeches by former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama in the city they still call home. Gov. JB Pritzker and Sen. Tammy Duckworth also had top spots in the line-up after a boisterous convention roll call. Michelle Obama wowed: In a poignant moment, she paid tribute to her mother, who died just two months ago, saying she wasn’t exactly up for taking the stage but she wanted to for Harris. Her big line: “Kamala Harris is more than ready for this moment,” Michelle Obama said. “She is one of the most qualified people ever to seek the office of the presidency. And she is one of the most dignified — a tribute to her mother, to my mother and probably to your mother, too.” The crowd erupted in applause. Their messages: Both the Obamas wove big themes into their speeches along with attacks on Donald Trump. The Obamas brought the crowd to new heights tonight, by POLITICO’s Calder McHugh Tammy Duckworth uses her IVF story to slam Republicans, by POLITICO’s Megan Messerly Pritzker: “Take it from an actual billionaire, Trump is rich in only one thing: stupidity,” he said, via your Playbook host Drum roll: Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz speaks tonight. SOME BIG NEWS: Gov. JB Pritzker wants to bring the DNC back to Chicago again in 2028, he told POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin. THE ROLL CALL: Pritzker and Democratic Party Chair Lisa Hernandez led the Illinois’ delegation support for Kamala Harris as president during the boisterous roll call. See the video, via WBEZ’s Tessa Weinberg THE PUSHBACK: Trump ramps up his DNC counterprogramming by attacking Harris on immigration and crime, by POLITICO’s Meridith McGraw. In Illinois, Senate Republican Leader John Curran called Pritzker’s primetime address “disconnected” with what’s really happening in Illinois economy-wise. CONVENTION HEADLINES The Obamas approach to Trump: Make him small, by POLITICO’s John F. Harris Michelle Obama, thrashing Trump, suggests the presidency is a ‘Black job,’ by The New York Times’ Katie Rogers Meet the DNC delegates: A ‘bad retiree,’ a New Jersey dentist, a bright green relish skeptic and more, by the Tribune’s Jonathan Bullington Obama’s 2004 convention speech made him a star. History proved him wrong, by POLITICO’s Calder McHugh The DNC action is at the United Center. But the randomness and behind-the-scenes stuff is at McCormick Place, by the Tribune’s Christopher Borelli 'The Late Show Live’ gives a hat tip to Gov. JB Pritzker, video here (at 9:30 minutes) Congresswoman Lauren Underwood appeared on “The Daily Show” as part of the Dem convention. Watch her appearance here. Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton headlines the morning breakfast: Illinois delegates put the attention on abortion rights, by Capitol News’ Peter Hancock and Jerry Nowicki PROTEST ZONE Nearly 70 protesters arrested in Loop as pro-Palestinian demonstrators engage with cops: “Police clashed with demonstrators outside a rail station on Madison Street about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Those detained are being brought to a police station at Belmont and Western where they are expected to be booked and released,” by the Sun-Times’ Andy Grimm If you are Michelle Obama, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email: skapos@politico.com
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