The first day of the Democratic national convention is tied up with a bow. Here’s what happened:
- Supporters of senator Bernie Sanders started with boos and ended in tears as their candidate took the stage and urged them to vote for Hillary Clinton, saying she “must become the next president of the United States”.
- The big question of the night – can the Democrats unify behind their candidate? – appeared unresolved at night’s end, with even core Sanders ally Elizabeth Warren facing heckles and chants from Sanders backers.
- The roiling emotions in the convention hall added to the suspense of Clinton’s anticipated speech on Thursday, and what it will mean for the party. It appeared possible that the candidate may face waves of booing even as she claims the nomination.
- But there were highlight moments, notably in a powerfully personal speech by first lady Michelle Obama that pointed to a different possibility – to a Democratic party that leaves Philadelphia with new energy and something resembling unity.
- Significant ice in the hall between the Sanders and (much larger) Clinton camps was broken by comedian Sarah Silverman, who advised: “To the ‘Bernie or Bust’ people, you’re being ridiculous.”
- Another notable speech came from Senator Cory Booker, whose optimistic refrain “America will rise” pulled the crowd repeatedly to its feet.
- Before the marquee speakers took the stage, the convention seemed in danger of succumbing to forces of dissent and even scandal. The dissent was embodied by pro-Sanders demonstrators in the streets and inside the hall, where they interrupted the opening prayer with chanting. The scandal came thanks to the star-crossed Democratic National Committee, whose chairwoman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, resigned on Sunday in fallout from an emails leak that showed top party officials arrayed against Sanders.
- Hours before the curtain went up, Wasserman Schultz announced she was also abdicating her ceremonial convention duties, and would not gavel the event to order.
- That wasn’t all bad news. It set up a star turn by fill-in gaveller Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, the mayor of Baltimore, who initially forgot to pound the gavel and had to run back to the lectern to do so:
I think this gif has potential to outlast the election season. @NBCNightlyNews pic.twitter.com/XZfx1B4U9S
— David Freddoso (@freddoso) July 25, 2016
