CHICAGO– At the conclusion of the Democratic Party Convention on Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris urged Americans to seize a “precious, fleeting opportunity” to overcome political divisions and the threat posed by Republican Donald Trump.

Harris is the first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to be nominated, and her supporters wore white robes to mark the moment. The convention also featured rising stars of the Democratic Party, survivors of mass shootings and others who addressed pressing issues in American life.

The large number of participants reflected the enormous work that lies ahead for the Democrats, who have managed to put together a new presidential campaign in just under a month since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race.

Here are some takeaways from last night’s Democrats.

Democrats for Change

Harris’ speech ended the party’s remarkable four-day effort in the White House to claim that it was the real engine of change in this election.

Trump’s dominating presence in the political dialogue over the past nine years helped Democrats make that argument, and when Biden passed to Harris, giving voters a new choice, they received an additional boost.

Harris tried to capitalize on this, telling delegates and the nation, “With this election, our nation has a precious, fleeting opportunity to put the bitterness, cynicism and divisive struggles of the past behind us.”

Her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, had used a similar slogan the day before, ending his speech with harsh criticism of Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance: “I don’t know about you, but I’m close to closing the chapter with these guys.”

The Trump campaign team, in turn, argues that voters want to leave the Biden-Harris administration and the past four years behind them.

Fear and joy at the same time

Even though her campaign is about joy, Harris devoted a significant portion of her speech to the risks of another Trump term, calling the election “one of the most important in the life of our nation.”

Her focus on Trump showed that fear is still a strong motivator for many voters and she wants to use that.

Harris described how Trump inspired the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and his conviction for fraud. She spoke about his willingness to use the military against U.S. citizens – and the ability to do so with immunity from criminal consequences due to a recent Supreme Court ruling.

“Imagine: Donald Trump without guardrails,” she warned.

Task One: Tell your story

When Harris took the stage at the convention, the first thing she did was introduce herself.

Her sudden rise following Biden’s abrupt withdrawal from the race means many people are just beginning to size her up.

This represents an opportunity for her – and a risk if Trump and his allies succeed in defining her first. On the stage of the party convention, Harris told her origin story with warmth, humor and intensity.

She described her parents’ unusual pairing: two college students, one from India, the other from Jamaica; her family’s many moves around the United States; and her own desire to become a lawyer after discovering that a high school friend had been sexually abused.

And she placed particular emphasis on the work ethic that her mother instilled in her.

“Never do anything half-heartedly,” Harris said her mother always told her.

A new generation is in the spotlight

The convention not only formally marked 81-year-old Biden’s exit from the election campaign, it also served as a showcase for the younger Democrats in the pool of political talent.

Speakers included rising politicians from swing states such as Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who portrayed Trump as unworldly and told delegates, “Kamala Harris understands us. She sees us. She is us.” Other speakers during the week included Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, both of whom were on the shortlist when Harris was looking for a running mate.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel caused a stir with her speech earlier this week when she warned Republicans and the U.S. Supreme Court: “You can rip this wedding ring out of my cold, dead, gay hand!”

Also in attendance were rising celebrities from Democratic states, such as California Governor Gavin Newsom, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Angela Alsobrooks, Maryland’s Democratic candidate for a vacant Senate seat, and 34-year-old New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – all of whom are seen as representatives of a new generation of Democrats.

Just a few years ago, Democrats feared they were short of talent in the pipeline after President Barack Obama’s midterm elections saw dozens of officeholders voted out of office, but they have made a comeback in the Trump era.

Palestinian supporters never had a say

Pro-Palestinian delegates never had the opportunity to take the stage and speak at the convention, reflecting how the party has sought to avoid one of the most contentious issues this election season as the U.S. alliance with Israel has become a political flashpoint.

Israel’s response to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack sparked outrage over mass casualties and human rights violations in the Gaza Strip. Pro-Palestinian protesters marched outside the arena every day.

“Undecided” delegate Abbas Alawieh had negotiated with DNC officials to speak outside the hall. After being rejected, he and other delegates decided to spend Wednesday evening on the sidewalk outside the convention hall in protest.

“When we ran out of options as unaffiliated delegates, we simply sat down together,” Alawieh said on Thursday.

Harris and Biden both called for a ceasefire and the release of hostages kidnapped in the October raid. On Wednesday, the parents of one of the young men held hostage in Gaza addressed the gathering.

Party convention reflects emotional whiplash of the party since Biden’s departure

Harris’s nominating convention was a four-day celebration of party spirit and optimism. It’s safe to say it would have been a very different event had Biden been the party’s nominee.

Democrats have endured emotional whiplash since Biden dropped out of the race last month, clearing the way for Harris.

For months, Democrats were despairing over Biden’s poll numbers and his disappointing speeches. And many Democrats were convinced that Trump could win the election.

Compare that to the Harris nomination convention in Chicago: There was laughter in the air, the atmosphere was electric, and caustic jokes were made at Trump’s expense. The event also attracted a number of high-profile talent, from John Legend to Pink.

Not to forget: There were also words of warning about the hard work ahead.

Implementing social issues in economic policy

Opinion polls show that voters consistently believe Republicans are better positioned on economic issues – a perception that Democrats are trying to change.

High inflation has damaged Biden’s popularity. Now Trump is trying to pin the blame on Harris, too, going so far as to call her a communist, nickname her “Comrade Kamala,” and falsely claiming that a relatively healthy economy is actually in shambles.

It is unclear how well Trump’s criticism will be received by Harris, but Democrats sought to demonstrate their economic policy skills on Thursday.

Democrats argue that Harris could do more for the middle class and entrepreneurs as the party tries to reframe social issues as economic issues.

Harris wants to give first-time home buyers a $25,000 down payment. “She knows that housing is a human right and a path to the middle class,” said Marcia Fudge, the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, at the party convention.

Harris also wants a $6,000 tax break for young parents and an expanded child tax credit. “Child care keeps our economy running,” Democratic Representative Katherine Clark of Massachusetts told delegates.

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Riccardi reported from Denver.