The third night of the Democratic National Convention was headlined by Barack Obama, the man Hillary Clinton is running to replace, with both of them briefly sharing the stage. Courtney Gross filed the following report.
The baton was all but handed off at the Democratic National Convention on Philadelphia on Wednesday, with Hillary Clinton embracing President Barack Obama after he praised her in a 45-minute speech.
It's a night typically headlined by the vice presidential candidate, but it was Obama who took the stage last, ticking off the accomplishments of his legacy and presidency.
"I stand before you again tonight, after two terms as your president, to tell you, tell you I am more optimistic about the future of America than ever before," he said.
Perhaps, he said, because has a worthy successor waiting in the wings.
"I can say with confidence there has never been a man or a woman, not me, not Bill, nobody, more qualified to serve as president of the United States of America," Obama said.
The president proved to be a forceful and loyal surrogate for his former secretary of state, painting a gloomy picture of what Republicans and Donald Trump have to offer.
"Does anyone really believe that a guy who spent 70 years on this earth showing no regard for working people is suddenly going to be your champion, your voice?" Obama said.
That feeling was repeated by others on the stage. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an independent who contemplated running for president earlier this year, cast November's contest as only he knew how.
"Trump says he wants to run the nation, like he's running his business? God help us," Bloomberg said.
"I am a New Yorker, and I know a con when I see one," he added.
The events overshadowed Clinton's vice presidential pick, Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia. His remarks made an appeal to key voters like Latinos.
"Hillary Clinton and I are compañeros de alma," Kaine said.
And he played the typical running mate attack dog, summing up his remarks by saying, "You cannot believe one word that comes out of Donald Trump's mouth."