Democrats open convention with attacks on Trump, calls to unite around Harris to 'save democracy'

Democrats opened their national convention Monday in Chicago with calls to coalesce around their presumptive nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, and attacks on GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Keynote speaker President Biden touted his record in office and called on Democrats to come together and vote for "prosecutor" Harris to defeat Trump, referring to her career as assistant district attorney of San Francisco and attorney general of California.

Biden, in his roughly 50-minute speech, said his defeat of Trump in 2020 "saved democracy" and that voters "must save democracy again in 2024."

He assailed Trump as a liar and "loser," similar to comments from earlier speakers, including 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and progressive stalwart New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. 

"Think of the message he sends around the world when he talks about America being a failing nation," Biden said. "He says we're losing. He's the loser. He's dead wrong."

Biden dropped out of the presidential race in July following a disastrous performance in his presidential debate with Trump in June, then endorsed Harris.

He also said crime in the U.S. will continue to come down "when we put a prosecutor in office and not a convicted felon," referring to Trump being found guilty in May in a New York City court of falsifying business records.

Biden did not finish his speech until after midnight and political commentators criticized the opening night of convention programming as bloated with too many speakers. 

Harris, since being backed by Biden and becoming the party's presumptive nominee, has narrowed Trump's national and swing states leads, according to numerous polls. The race is now essentially deadlocked as the November election fast approaches. 

Clinton, a former secretary of state, said Harris is writing a new chapter in history.

"Do we push forward or pull back? Come together as we the people or split into us versus them?" she said. "That's the choice we face in this election. Kamala has the character, experience and vision to lead us forward."

She also said: "As a prosecutor, Kamala locked up murderers and drug traffickers. She will never rest in defense of our freedom and safety. Donald Trump fell asleep at his own trial. And when he woke up, he made his own kind of history. The first person to run for president with 34 felony convictions."

The crowd began chanting "lock him up" in reference to the chants of "lock her up" at Trump rallies when he was running against Clinton in 2016 and criticizing her over mishandling of classified information.

Ocasio-Cortez thanked Biden for his service and praised Harris for “working tirelessly to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza," while also saying Trump would "sell this country for a dollar.” 

Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton are also set to speak at the convention, titled "For the People, For Our Future,” as well as Harris' running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Harris is set to officially accept the nomination on Thursday.