Against the historic backdrop of nominating the first woman of color for president, Democrats began their convention in Chicago by emphasizing that they are the party of hope and opportunity for all Americans.

First night speakers, which included such heavyweights as President Biden, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Former Secretary of State  Hillary Clinton and US Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) saluted 2024 nominee Kamala Harris for her achievements as a federal prosecutor, US Senator and Vice President; empathy for working class Americans; and commitment to protecting reproductive rights and other freedoms.  

Noting that the country came close to "cracking the last glass ceiling for women" in 2016, Secretary Clinton, who lost to Donald Trump that year, urged Americans to finally "close the deal" and elect Harris as the country's first female president on November 5.

The vice president, who will give her acceptance speech on Thursday night, delighted delegates by making a surprise appearance on the convention floor to thank them for their support and commend President Biden for his "amazing and consequential service to the nation."

The president, who closed out the program, was greeted by wild enthusiasm from delegates who chanted "Thank You, Joe!"   Biden, who stepped down as the party's presumptive nominee, credited Harris as his full partner while touting the accomplishments of his administration in such areas as infrastructure, job creation, climate change and other areas.

In a symbolic "passing of the torch" to the vice president, Biden said his selection of Harris as his running mate in 2020 was the "best decision I made in my whole career."

While voicing their loud approval of her candidacy, convention speakers reiterated the threat to democracy that former President Donald Trump poses to the nation's democratic institutions.

Speaker after speaker castigated Trump for his actions on January 6 which culminated in a brutal attack on the US Capitol; his emphasis on giving tax cuts to the very wealthy at the expense of the working class; and his often divisive and racist rhetoric.

They also called attention to his failures as president.

"Forget Donald Trump's wild claims," US Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) told delegates.  "He lost millions of jobs.  He promised to bring manufacturing back and failed.  Promised to deliver infrastructure and failed.  His record was defined by failure.  To put it another way, he's like a bad boss."

The only ominous sign for Democrats on an otherwise positive first night was the presence of demonstrators critical of the Biden-Harris administration's support of Israel in the ongoing Gaza conflict.  For the most part, protestors were confined to a site called Union Park, several blocks from the convention site at the United Center.

A political concern for Democrats is that Palestinian-Americans who represent a sizable population in the key swing state of Michigan, for instance, could hurt Harris' chances in November.

For the City of Chicago, which still suffers to this day from repercussions of the turbulent 1968 DNC, handling the protests with respect but restraint will be key to an overall successful convention. 

For the moment, however, Democrats expect to build on the momentum from opening night and take it all the way to Harris' acceptance speech on Thursday and beyond.