Democratic Convention HIGHLIGHTS: Obama warns about danger of polarisation if Trump wins | WATCH

As he wrapped up his speech, Obama said, “Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican or something in between,” all Americans yearned for a country that was more united and generous. He called Democrats to help the party and the country “return to an America where we work together and look out for each other.” “That’s what this election is about,” Obama said. “And I believe that’s why, if we each do our part over the next 77 days — if we knock on doors and make phone calls and talk to our friends and listen to our neighbors — if we work like we’ve never worked before, we will elect Kamala Harris as the next president of the United States and Tim Walz as the next vice president of the United States.”

“So let’s get to work,” he declared.

“It’s easier to play on people’s fears and cynicism,” Obama said. “That’s the easy path. We have a different task. Our job is to convince people that democracy can actually deliver.” Throughout the Democratic convention, Democrats have sought to balance a message of unity with an embrace of diversity. President Barack Obama’s speech Tuesday night made the most forceful case yet for that fusion as a model of American values and the logical step forward for a bitterly divided nation.

In contrast to the party’s rhetoric in the recent past around race, Obama framed the Democrats’ approach as “a new way forward” for a modern society in contrast to a “divisive,” “old” and “tired” strategy of vision offered by the party’s chief opponent, Donald Trump.

While praising Harris repeatedly and even leading a chant of “Yes she can!” Obama also talked almost wistfully about the progress made under his administration’s signature health care law, the Affordable Care Act. He used the law’s formal title, but then joked of Republicans, “Since it’s become popular, they don’t call it Obamacare no more.”

Obama encouraged Democrats to listen to those who disagree with them and fight for the votes of those who have differences with them. “We start thinking that the only way to win is to scold and shame and out yell the other side,” Obama said. “That approach may work for the politicians who just want attention and thrive on division. But it won’t work for us.”

Obama pleads for civility and community in the nation’s coarse public and online discourse, warning, “We chase the approval of strangers on our phones; we build all manner of walls and fences around ourselves and then wonder why we feel so alone.”

Appealing to Americans to make meaningful connections, he said, “We don’t trust each other as much because we don’t take the time to know each other — and in that space between us, politicians and algorithms teach us to caricature each other and troll each other and fear each other.”

The former president is bringing back some of his signature campaign lines, including a “Fired up, Ready to go” call, talk of “hope” and an instruction to voters — “Do not boo, vote” — when the crowd jeered a reference to Trump.

The former president warned the crowd at the DNC that even though “the torch has been passed” to Harris, the work for Democrats is not yet done. “For all the incredible energy we’ve been able to generate over the last few weeks, this will still be a tight race in a closely divided country — a country where too many Americans are still struggling and don’t believe government can help,” he said. “Make no mistake, it will be a fight,” Obama said. For all the energy and memes and rallies, he said, “this will still be a tight race in a closely divided country.”

The last election was decided by 40,000 votes across three states.

Former President Obama began his speech with self-deprecation but also used one of his favorite lines about being an up-and-coming politician with a funny name. “I am the only person stupid enough to speak after Michelle Obama,” he joked. Obama then added, “I’m feeling hopeful because this convention has always been pretty good to kids with funny names who believe in a country where anything is possible.”

That was a reference to the difficulty some have had in pronouncing his and Kamala Harris’ name — a problem some had with Obama’s when he was just emerging on the national stage.

Obama is highlighting Biden’s record in one of the only significant discussions of his accomplishments since he turned over the convention to Harris on Monday night. He praised Biden for being “selfless enough to do the rarest thing there is in politics: putting his own ambition aside for the sake of the country.” “History will remember Joe Biden as an outstanding president who defended democracy at a moment of great danger,” Obama said. “I am proud to call him my president, but even prouder to call him my friend.”

Former President Barack Obama sought to recapture the energy of his 2008 run for office and lend it to Harris’ campaign effort this time around. “I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling fired up! I’m feeling ready to go,” Obama said. “I’m feeling hopeful because this convention has always been pretty good to kids with funny names who believe in a country where anything is possible.”

“Before I go, I have one more job tonight,” Michelle Obama said after concluding her speech before introducing “somebody who knows a whole lot about hope.” She introduced Barak Obama who she said still wakes up every day thinking about what he can do for the country. The couple hugged warmly, kissed and then held their clasped hands skyward as the former president took the stage.

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WATCH: Former President Barack Obama takes the stage for closing remarks

WATCH LIVE: Michelle Obama from Democratic National Convention in Chicago

Michelle Obama tied the energy in the Democratic party to her husband’s campaign 16 years ago. “Something wonderfully magical is in the air, isn’t it,” she said. “It’s the contagious power of hope.” “American, hope is making a comeback.”

Multiple people have been taken into custody following an intense demonstration and march by pro-Palestinian protesters outside the Israeli consulate in Chicago. Some demonstrators set an American flag on fire in the street as the celebratory roll call for Harris took place inside the United Center about 2 miles away. 

Obama, a Chicago native from the city’s South Side, took the stage in a sleeveless Navy dress to wild and raucous applause. “Hope is making a comeback,” she said.

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