Captioning sponsored by NEWSHOUR PRODUCTIONS, LLC >> Woodruff: FROM A CROWDED FIELD OF CANDIDATES TO ONE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE.

>> THIS IS A BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

>> Woodruff: AND THE WORLD FACING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

>> THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS RAGES ON.

>> Woodruff: 170,000 AMERICANS DEAD, MILLIONS MORE INFECTED.

> WE ARE SADLY, THE EPICENTER OF THE EPIDEMIC.

>> Woodruff: SHUTTERED SCHOOLS, BOARDED UP BUSINESSES, UNPRECEDENTED UNEMPLOYMENT.

>> THIS WAY I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO SURVIVE.

>> Woodruff: AND A REC RECKONING OVER RACIAL INJUSTICE.

AT THIS CRITICAL MOMENT, THE DEMOCRATS MAKE THEIR PITCH TO TAKE BACK THE WHITE HOUSE.

OPENING NIGHT OF THE 2020 DEMONCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

♪♪ >> Woodruff: GOOD EVENING, I'M JUDY WOODRUFF.

WELCOME TO OUR SPECIAL PBS NEWSHOUR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

THIS YEAR'S POLITICAL CONVENTIONS WILL BE LIKE NO OTHER ANY OF US CAN REMEMBER.

WE, ALONG WITH THOUSANDS OF OTHERS, HAD PLANNED TO BE IN MILWAUKEE THIS WEEK, BUT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, THE GATHERING WILL BE ALMOST ENTIRELY VIRTUAL.

BOTH OUR AMOUNTS ANALYSTS AND THE SPEAKERS FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

I'M HERE IN THE STUDIO WITH AIM AMY WALKER AND YAMICHE.

WE HAVE PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN, ARIZONA, OHIO, AND PENNSYLVANIA.

WE PLAN TO BRING YOU THE SAME DEPTH OF COVERAGE AND ANALYSIS IN AN HISTORIC ELECTION YEAR.

LET'S TURN FIRST TO OUR "NEWSHOUR" REPORTERS.

AMNA IS IN THE STUDIO RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER TO HELP GUIDE US ON WHAT TO EXPECT, AND SOME KEY MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR.

AMNA?

>> HI, JUDY.

ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED SPEAKERS OF TONIGHT IS VERMONT SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEEDS THAT PART OF THE PROGRESSIVE WING TO BE ABLE TO THROW HIS FULL WEIGHT BEHIND HIS SUPPORTERS, AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE TURNING OUT IN NOVEMBER FOR THIS TICKET.

ALSO TONIGHT, A NAME YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT TO SEE AT A DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION, REPUBLICAN JOHN KASICH.

HE IS GOING TO BE MAKING THE CASE THAT THE COUNTRY WILL MOVE FORWARD BETTER UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS AND MAKE THE CASE AGAINST DONALD TRUMP.

ANOTHER KEY VOICE, GOVERNOR GRETCHEN WHITMER, FROM THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, AND SHE HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST VOCAL AND FIERCEST CRITICS OF THE PRESIDENT, AND A SENIOR CONVENTION OFFICIAL SAYS WE'LL BE HEARING MORE FROM HER.

AND THE HEADR FOR TONIGHT WILL BE FORMER FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA.

SHE FAMOUSLY DELIVERED THAT LINE: "WHEN THEY GO LOW, WE GO HIGH."

SHE IS EXPECTED TO BE SPEAKING TO THE CHARACTER AND THE LEADERSHIP OF JOE BIDEN.

JUDY?

>> Woodruff: SO MUCH BUILD-UP AROUND MICHELLE OBAMA AND BERNIE SANDERS.

WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT ALL OF THAT, AND COMING BACK TO YOU A LOT THIS EVENING.

MEANTIME, OUR LISA DESJARDINS IS IN WILLIAM TON,WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, WHERE JOE BIDEN WILL DELIVER HIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH.

WHAT IS GOING ON THERE?

>> Reporter: SOME OF THE SET-UP IS STILL UNDER WAY, TRUCKS BRINGING IN EQUIPMENT BEHIND ME.

BEHIND ME IS THE JAY CENTER, WHERE KAMALA HARRIS AND JOE BIDEN WILL MAKE THEIR ACCEPTANCE SPEECHES WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT.

IT IS JUST A 200-SEAT AUDITORIUM, AND REALLY A NICE PLACE, BUT IT IS NOT A 20,000 PERSON ARENA, WHICH IS WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ORIGINALLY HAD PLANNED.

TALKING TO DEMOCRATS ABOUT THAT CHANGE IN VENUE, THEY PRESENTED IT THIS WAY, AS THE CAMPAIGN OFFICIAL IS SAYING, LISTEN, NO ONE HAS EVER ATTEMPTED WHAT WE ARE ABOUT TO ATTEMPT TONIGHT, WHICH IS PROGRAMMING THAT IS MIXED LIVE AND TAPED FOR A POLITICAL CONVENTION.

TEY ARE TRYING TO SELL THAT AS A STRONG POINT.

THEY'RE HOPING THAT THAT IS WHY VIEWERS TUNE IN.

THEIR MESSAGE TONIGHT, JUDY, WHAT THEY WANT TO TELL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, SEE JOE BIDEN AS A UNITER, AND THEY'LL STRESS THE THREE GREAT CRISES THEY SEE FOR AMERICA RIGHT NOW: THE ECONOMIC CRISIS, THE HEALTH CRISIS, THE PANDEMIC, AND THE RACIAL INJUSTICE CRISIS.

THOSE THREE CRISES, THEY WILL SAY, JOE BIDEN CAN MAKE THEM BETTER.

>> Woodruff: AND TRYING TO MAKE THAT POINT FROM WILMINGTON, AND WE'LL BE TURNING TO YOU THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, LISA DESJARDINS.

WE THANK YOU.

AND TO HELP MAKE SENSE OF THIS MOMENT, WE'LL BE TURNING THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT, AND ALL THIS WEEK, TO A WIDE RANGE OF ANALYSTS AND SPECIAL GUESTS.

BUT LET'S START WITH OUR CORE GROUP, SYNDICATED COLUMNIST MARK SHIELDS, DAVID BROOKS, MICHAEL NUTTER, THE FORMER MAYOR OF PHILADELPHIA.

CHRIS BUSKIRK, THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNEY AMERICAN GREATNESS, AND AGAIN HERE AT THE DESK WITH ME, AMY WALTER OF THE COOK POLITICAL REPORT.

AMY, YOU COVERED A LOT OF CONVENTIONS.

THIS ONE, AS WE'RE SAYING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, DIFFERENT FROM EVER OTHER.

HOW DOES THAT CHANGE THE JOB THAT JOE BIDEN AND THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TO DO THIS WEEK?

>> IT IS CERTAINLY NOT COMING WITH ALL OF THE ENERGY AND THE EXCITEMENT AND THE BALLOONS THAT WE'RE USED TO THAT CAN CONVEY A SENSE OF EN ENTHUSIASM FOR THE CANDIDATE.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE TELEVISION SCREEN OR THE COMPUTER SCREEN, WHEREVER YOUR WATCHING IT.

BUT WHAT IS REALLY INTERESTING TO ME ABOUT THIS MOMENT IS WE HAVE IN JOE BIDEN A CHALLENGER, WHO IS COMING INTO HIS CONVENTION BASICALLY AS THE FRONT-RUNNER.

WE'VE NEVER SEEN A CHALLENGER THIS FAR AHEAD OF A INCUMBENT PRESIDENT GOING INTO THIS CONVENTION, REALLY GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF MODERN POLLING.

SO JOE BIDEN HAS AHEAD OF HIM A REALLY DIFFERENT CHALLENGE.

HE IS NOT TRYING TO GET A CONVENTION PULLING BOUNCE, BUT TO KEEP THE LEAD HE HAS, SHOW UNITY, AND SHOW WHO JOE BIDEN IS AS A PERSON AND ALSO WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO WHEN HE IS PRESIDENT.

>> Woodruff: MARK SHIELDS, IT IS NOT AS IF WE HADN'T HEARD OF JOE BIDEN, HE HAS BEEN IN AMERICAN PUBLIC LIFE FOR ALMOST HALF A CENTURY.

HOW IS THAT GOING TO AFFECT WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO THIS WEEK?

>> WELL, I THINK, JUDY, PETER HART, THE DEMOCRATIC POLLSTER PUT IT PRETTY WELL, AND HE SAID JOE BIDEN IS WELL-KNOWN, BUT HE IS JUST NOT KNOWN WELL.

I THINK THAT IS THE JOB OF THE DEMOCRATS THIS WEEK.

TO NOT ONLY TELL YOU WHO JOE BIDEN IS AND WHAT HE INTENDS TO DO.

THE COURSE OF LEAST RESISTANCE WOULD BE A RUN AGAINST DONALD TRUMP, A VERY POLAR RISINGIZING AND UNPOPULAR FIGURE.

HE NEVER REACHED A MAJORITY OF FAVORABLE RATING EVEN PERSONALLY OR BY HIS JOB PERFORMANCE BY HIS FELLOW CITIZENS.

HE IS REPLEAT WITH ALL SORTS OF CHARGES THEY CAN MAKE.

BUT I THINK THE JOB OF THE DEMOCRATS IS NOT OM TO ONLY TO MAKE THE CASE FOR JOE BIDEN, BUT FOR HOW A DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION -- HOW IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT AND WHERE HE WOULD WANT TO TAKE THE COUNTRY.

>> Woodruff: DAVID BURKE, HOW DOES ALL THIS ADD UP IN TERMS OF WHAT THE DEMOCRATS NEED TO DO, ESPECIALLY TONIGHT, AS PEOPLE TUNE INTO THIS VERY UNUSUAL CONVENTION.

>> FIRST, THEY NEED TO GET PEOPLE TO TUNE IN.

I'M SAD BECAUSE I ONLY GO TO THESE THINGS FOR THE BALLOON DROPS, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MISS THOSE.

I THINK THEY HAVE TO UNIFY THE PARTY AND WIN OVER THE SWING VOTERS.

AND TONIGHT IT IS ABOUT BOTH THOSE THINGS.

I HAVE TO SAY, THEY'VE DONE A REASONABLY GOOD JOB OF UNIFYING THE PARTY.

I REMEMBER A SCENE IN 2016, AND THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION, IN THE GREAT CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, AND I WAS SORT OF SWEPT UP IN A WALKOUT BY THE SANDERS' PEOPLE AGAINST HILLARY CLINTON, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF ANGRY PEOPLE WALKING OUT, AND THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THAT, IN PART BECAUSE OF DONALD TRUMP HAS UNIFIED THE PARTY, AND JOE BIDEN HAS DONE A BETTER JOB, AND THE SANDERS PEOPLE FEEL THEY HAVE SOME POLICY JUICE IN THE PARTY, AND SECONDLY BY BEING NICE TO BERNIE SANDERS.

AND THE FOCUS HAS TO BE ON JOHN KASICH AND WINNING STATES LIKE OHIO.

>> Woodruff: MICHAEL NUTTER, HOW MUCH DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE THAT JOE BIDEN HAS A PRETTY UNIFIED PARTY BEHIND HIM RIGHT NOW?

>> CERTAINLY, JUDY, IT MAKES ALL OF THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.

WHETHER YOU'RE RUNNING LOCALLY, STATEWIDE, OR NATIONALLY, HAVING THE PARTY BEHIND YOU AND A UNIFIED PARTY, AND THAT PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT JOE BIDEN, HIS LEADERSHIP OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, HIS WORK AS A PARTNER WITH PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, AND THEN WHAT HE HAS DONE AS A CANDIDATE.

I THINK THE INTRO MENTIONED THERE WERE A LOT OF CANDIDATES ON THAT STAGE THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE PRIMARY SEASON.

AND JOE BIDEN SURVIVED A PRETTY TOUGH PRIMARY SEASON.

AND THEN, MORE IMPORTANTLY, AS DAVID SAID, THEN UNIFIED THE PARTY.

PEOPLE COAL COLECSED ABOUT JOE BIDEN, HE STEPPED OUT AND UNIFIED ALL OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES THAT RAN, AND HAS MADE A HUGE MARK IN TERMS OF THESE CONVENTION.

CONVENTIONS ARE USUALLY ABOUT THE MESSAGE AND THE MESSAGE JER, ANDR, AND THIS IS JOE BIDEN'S MOMENT.

>> Woodruff: EVEN WITH THAT UNANIMITY, UNITY OUT THERE, THERE ARE SKEPTICS.

THOSE WHO MAY BE TAKING A LOOK AT HIM, WHETHER THEY VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP LAST TIME OR NOT, BUT THEY'RE JUST NOT SURE, WHAT COULD HE AND HIS PARTY DO THIS WEEK TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

>> YEAH, THAT'S REALLY THE BIG QUESTION FOR VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN AND FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM: HOW DO YOU MAKE THE AFFIRMATIVE CASE FOR VOTING FOR HIM AS OPPOSED TO JUST MAKING THE NEGLECT CASE AGAINST DONALD TRUMP.

ONE OF MY FRAMES FOR THIS ELECTION IS IT IS VERY MUCH LIKE 2012, THE SHOE IS ON THE OTHER FOOT FOR DEMOCRATS HERE.

IN 2012, REPUBLICANS WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT VOTING AGAINST BARACK OBAMA.

THEY WERE LESS EXCITED ABOUT VOTING IN FAVOR OF MITT ROMNEY, AND WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THERE.

I THINK THE CHALLENGE FOR DEMOCRATS THERE IN GENERAL ISN'T JUST TO BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER, BUT TO GET ENOUGH ENERGY BEHIND JOE BIDEN, WHAT HE STANDS FOR, AND WHAT A BIDEN ADMINISTRATION MIGHT LOOK LIKE TO GET WINS IN KEY STATES, ESPECIALLY THE GREAT LAKES STATES, WHICH WILL BE KEY TO WINNING THIS ELECTION.

>> Woodruff: AMY WALTER, PICK UP ON THAT.

THERE ARE SOME SPECIFIC TASKS THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE IN FRONT OF THEM.

THERE ARE STATES THEY'RE LOOKING AT, THE BATTLEGROUND STATES, A NUMBER OF THEM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY.

AND THEY NEED TO BE SENDING THE SIGNALS TO THOSE VOTERS THIS WEEK.

>> THERE IS A REASON THEY HELD THIS CONVENTION IN MILWAUKEE.

THIS IS A STATE THAT IS DEFINITELY THE STATE THAT COULD BE THE TIPPING-POINT STATE IN TERMS OF WHO WINS THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.

YOU CAN SEE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP RIGHT NOW, HOW CRITICAL THAT IS.

AND THE PRESIDENT IS GOING AROUND NOW, GOING AROUND THE COUNTRY IN THE UPPER MIDWEST, IN MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN, MAKING THAT CASE THAT DEMOCRATS FORGOT ABOUT YOU IN 2016, HILLARY CLINTON NEVER VISITED YOU HERE, AND I'M GETTING ON A PLANE AND SHOW UP, MEETING YOU FACE TO FACE, AND JOE BIDEN STILL WANTS TO STAY IN HIS BASEMENT, AND WON'T GET OUT OF THE BASEMENT, BECAUSE HE IS AFRAID TO TAKE THE TOUGH QUESTIONS.

WHAT JOE BIDEN HAS TO DO IS TO SHOW THAT THE TWO THINGS THAT ARE THE MOST CHALLENGING FOR HIM IS THAT HE HAS THE STAMINA.

HE GETS ATTACKED BY THE PRESIDENT THAT HE IS NOT GOING TO BE STRONG ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS, AND THAT HE HAS THE VISION.

SOMETHING THAT THE PRESIDENT STILL HAS YET TO MAKE THIS SORT OF FORCEFUL CASE FOR HIMSELF FOR A SECOND TERM.

JOE BIDEN HAS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN TERMS OF SAYING WHAT JOE BIDEN'S FIRST TERM WOULD LOOK LIKE.

>> Woodruff: BUT THE POINT UNDERLYING ALL OF THAT, AMY, IS THAT HE HASN'T DONE THAT YET.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF HIM.

THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN OUT THERE EVERY DAY, MAKING NEWS EITHER ON TELEVISION OR BY TWITTER OR SOME OTHER DEVICE, AND JOE BIDEN HAS BEEN -- HE HAS BEEN AROUND, BUT HE HAS BEEN IN HIS HOUSE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

BUT EVERY TIME THE FOCUS IS ON DONALD TRUMP, AND AS MARK POINTED OUT, HE IS VERY UNPOPULAR, HAS AN APPROVAL RATING SOMEWHERE AROUND 42%, WHEN THE SPOTLIGHT IS ON HIM, THAT ONLY HELPS JOE BIDEN.

>> Woodruff: BUT THAT ISN'T GOING TO STOP PRESIDENT TRUMP -- >> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

AND THAT'S WHAT -- YEAH, FROM BEING PART OF THIS, FROM BEING PART OF THIS.

>> Woodruff: AND FROM HITTING THE TRAILS THIS WEEK, FROM CONTINUING TO TALK ABOUT THESE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES LIKE THE POST OFFICE,Ñi WHICH HAS DEMOCRATS ALL RILED UP, AND RIGHTFULLY SO, BECAUSE THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THAT, WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS DOING TO UNDERMINE THE POST OFFICE, AND SAYING -- HE IS FLATOUT SAYING WE DON'T WANT UNIVERSAL VOTING, IS SOMETHING THAT THE DEMOCRATS JUST CAN'T LET STAND.

>> HERE IS A CHANCE FOR THE PRESIDENT TO PUT JOE BIDEN BACK ON HIS HEELS, FORCE HIM TO ANSWER SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS ECONOMY?

WHAT ARE YOU GOI6Gb TO BE ABLE TO DO TO BRING US BACK, GIVEN YOUR TRACK RECORD ON "X," "Y," AND "Z."

THEY CAN GO THROUGH JOE BIDEN'S ENTIRE 45 PLUS YEAR RECORD IN OFFICE.

INSTEAD, THE PRESIDENT SPENT TODAY GOING AFTER JOE BIDEN VERY PERSONALLY, AGAIN, TRYING TO UNDERMINE HIM ON HIS AGE AND HIS STAMINA.

AND THEN TRYING TO TIE HIM TO THESE RADICAL ELEMENTS, SAYING HE IS GOING TO BE A PUPPET FOR THE LEFT WING OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

SO ANOTHER KEY FOR JOE BIDEN HERE THIS WEEK IS TO SAY, HERE IS WHO I REALLY AM.

THIS PRESIDENT SAYS I AM PART OF SOME LEFT-WING PARTY THAT IS GOING TO OWN ME; THAT'S NOT TRUE.

>> Woodruff: AND WE'LL SEE HOW THEY DO THAT, HOW THEY GET THAT MESSAGE ACROSS.

THIS IS A CONVENTION LIKE NO OTHER IN HISTORY.

AMNA NAWAZ IS BACK WITH THIS LOOK AT THIS UNIQUE MOMENT AND HOW WE ENDED UP HERE.

>> Nawaz: HISTORICALLY, IT IS FANFARE AND SPECTACLE.

>> JOE, JOE!

>> Nawaz: CELEBRATION AND PERFORMANCE.

>> I GOT THE EYE OF THE TIGER!

>> Nawaz: THE DEMONCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION WOULD TYPICALLY BRING TOGETHER THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, ALL UNDER ONE ROOF AND FOR A FOUR-DAY AFFAIR.

BUT TODAY IN MILWAUKEE, HOME BASE FOR THIS YEAR'S CONVENTION, IT IS A MUCH DIFFERENT SCENE.

AS ORGANIZERS HAVE BEEN FORCED BY THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC TO DRAMATICALLY SCALE BACK PLANS TO AN ALMOST ENTIRELY VIRTUAL CONVENTION.

>> IF COVID HAD BEEN MORE APPROPRIATELY MANAGED IN THIS COUNTRY, YOU'D SEE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE STREETS OF THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE.

>> Nawaz: WISCONSIN LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR MANDELA BARNES IS VICE-CHAIR OF THE CONVENTION AND FOUGHT FOR MONTHS TO BRING THIS HISTORIC EVENT TO HIS HOME CITY.

>> THE WRITING WAS ON THE WALL EARLIER THIS YEAR AS COVID NUMBERS CONTINUE TO RISE, AND WITH THAT IN MIND, I KNEW THAT IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT, NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE, TO PULL OFF THE LARGE SCALE CONVENTION THAT WE THOUGHT WE'D BE ABLE TO.

AND WHEN I SAW THE NEWS, YOU KNOW, I HAD ALREADY FELT LIKE I WAS PLAYING THE VIOLIN ON THE TITANIC AT THAT POINT.

>> Nawaz: ORGANIZERS HAVE BEEN WORKING AND REWORKING PLANS FOR MONTHS, MAKING CLEAR PUBLIC HEALTH WAS A PRIORITY.

DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION SHARE, TOM PEREZ.

>> OUR NORTH STAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.

IT WAS CLEAR FROM THE OUTSET, WE HAVE ALWAYS MADE SURE WE LISTEN TO THE EXPERTS.

>> Nawaz: ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR JULY, THE CONVENTION WAS DELAYED TO AUGUST.

THE VENUE, ORIGINALLY THE FISERV FORUM, HOME TO THE MILWAUKEE NBA TEAM, WITH CAPACITY FOR 18,000 PEOPLE, WAS CHANGED TO THE SMALLER WISCONSIN CENTER, THAT CAN HOUSE UP TO 4,000 PEOPLE.

INSTEAD OF ONE CITY HOSTING THE ENTIRE EVENT, THE CONVENTION WILL NOW BE ANCHORED FROM MILWAUKEE, WITH CURATED CONTENT FROM OTHER CITIES.

AS FOR THE HEADLINERS, THEY'LL BE VIRTUAL, TOO.

IN YEARS PAST, THE PARTY'S PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE DELIVERING AN ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BEFORE ROARING CROWDS HAS BEEN A SIGNATURE CONVENTION MOMENT.

>>> HILLARY!

HILLARY!

HILLARY!

>> Nawaz: THIS YEAR, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WILL DELIVER HIS REMARKS FROM HIS HOME STATE OF DELAWARE ON THE FINAL NIGHT OF THE CONVENTION.

IN FACT, ALL SPEAKERS, INCLUDING HIS RUNNING MATE, CALIFORNIA SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS, AND OTHER KEY FIGURES IN IT'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY, WILL BE DELIVERING SPEECHES REMOTELY.

EVEN THE ROLL CALL VOTE... >> WE CAST 47 VOTES FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> Nawaz: A HALLMARK MOMENT FEATURING EACH STATE DECLARING ITS DELEGATE COUNT WILL BE DONE VIRTUALLY, WITH INPUT FROM EACH OF THE 57 STATES AND TERRITORIES.

THE EVENT MEANT TO CAP OFF THE PRIMARY SEASON AND KICK OFF THE GENERAL ELECTION, WON'T BE WHAT IT ONCE WAS.

BUT BARNES SAYS HE ISN'T WORRIED IT WILL FAIL TO INSPIRE THE DEMOCRATIC BASE.

>> THIS IS A VIRTUAL PEP RALLY.

AND I THINK THAT FOLKS WILL STILL LEAVE EXCITED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE NOW HAVE A VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE.

THE TICKET IS FINALLY SET AND THERE'S A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM THERE.

>> Nawaz: AS AROUND THE NATION, COVID CASES CONTINUE TO CLIMB.

MILLIONS REMAIN UNEMPLOYED.

AND A NATIONAL RACIAL RECKONING UNFOLDS, THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION COMMITTEE SAYS ALL THESE ISSUES WILL MAKE THEIR WAY INTO CONVENTION PROGRAMMING.

WITH AMERICANS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY SHARING THEIR STORIES.

NEXT WEEK, PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WILL HOST THEIR OWN CONVENTION, SIMILARLY UP-ENDED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

BUT BEFORE THEN, DEMOCRATS HAVE FOUR DAYS TO GET VOTERS EXCITED FOR THEIR PARTY'S 2020 TICKET, ALL FROM SAFE DISTANCE.

FOR THE PBS "NEWSHOUR," I'M AMNA NAWAZ.

>> Woodruff: THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING TO SOME PROMINENT DEMOCRATS, INCLUDING PETE BUTTIGIEG, FORMER MAYOR OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AND HE JOINS ME NOW.

MAYOR BUTTIGIEG, WELCOME BACK TO THE "NEWS HOUR."

IT WASN'T SO LONG AGO YOU WERE OUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, PORTRAYING JOE BIDEN AS SPOUTING THE SAME OLD WASHINGTON PLAYBOOK, RECYCLING THE OLD DEMOCRATIC ARGUMENTS, AND REDUCING AMERICANS IN SMALL TOWNS TO A PUNCHLINE.

SO WHAT'S CHANGED?

>> WELL, WE HAD AN ENERGETIC, VIGOROUS CAMPAIGN AMONG A LOT OF DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES AND JOE BIDEN WON, HE WON DECISIVELY.

I'M NOT JUST BACKING HIM BECAUSE OF HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO PUT AN END TO THE TRUMP ERA AND OF THE CRUELTY AND THE DIVISION AND THE INCOMPETENCE.

BUT, ALSO, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT IT IS GOING TO BE LIKE IN THIS COUNTRY UNDER A BIDEN/HARRIS ADMINISTRATION.

YOU HAVE IN JOE BIDEN SOMEBODY WHO BELIEVES IN BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, SOMEONE WHO'S FIRST INSTINCT IS TO HEAL, RATHER THAN TO DIVIDE.

AND THAT'S ONLY BECOME MORE RELEVANT.

AND THE STAKES OF THIS ELECTION HAVE ONLY BECOME HIGHER SINCE I LEFT THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL SOME SIX MONTHS AGO.

>> Woodruff: SO BEFORE THEY GET TO OFFICE, HE HAS TO BE ELECTED.

AND WE'VE JUST BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE HEARTLAND OF THIS COUNTRY.

WHAT DOES JOE BIDEN NEED TO DO, PETE BUTTIGIEG, TO WIN OVER THOSE FRANKLY WHITE MID-WESTERN VOTERS, LIKE THOSE IN YOUR HOME TATE OF INDIANA, WHO USED TO HAVE INDUSTRIAL JOBS, A LOT OF THEM HAVE GONE, AND WENT FOR DONALD TRUMP THE LAST TIME?

>> WELL, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO COMMUNICATE WITH EVERY PART OF THE COUNTRY.

IT IS PART OF WHY MILWAUKEE WAS CHOSEN AS THE SITE FOR THIS CONVENTION.

WHILE WE'RE NOT GATHERING PHYSICALLY, IT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO SPEAK TO PEOPLE IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY, WHICH, BY THE WAY, IS ALSO A VERY DIVERSE PART OF THE COUNTRY, MORE THAN IT GETS CREDIT FOR.

THE MESSAGE IS SIMPLE, WHICH IS: WE ARE NOT BETTER OFF THAN WE WERE FOUR YEARS AGO, NOT BY A LONG SHOT.

MANUFACTURING WAS ALREADY IN A RECESSION, EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT.

YOU LOOK AROUND A PLACE LIKE WISCONSIN OR OTHER PARTS OF THE MIDWEST, AND FARMERS HAVE BEEN GETTING KILLED, DAIRY FARMS ARE CLOSING AND GOING INTO BANKRUPTCY DAY AFTER DAY BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DOESN'T CARE.

HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT ANY OF US.

IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE POLICIES THAT NEED TO CHANGE, JUST THE SIMPLE FACT OF NEEDING A MORE COMPETENT MANAGEMENT IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

THE SIMPLE FACT OF HAVING A PRESIDENT WHO ACTUALLY CARES ABOUT US I THINK IS THE BIGGEST CHANGE WE CAN MAKE.

WE HAVE AN HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY TO CUT ACROSS SOME OF THOSE OLD PARTY LINES, TO REACH PEOPLE WHO MAYBE HAVE BEEN IN THE HABIT OF VOTING REPUBLICAN, ALMOST JUST BECAUSE -- MAYBE FOR A GENERATION.

BUT IF YOU'RE A CONSERVATIVE BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE INDECENCY AND YOU BELIEVE IN FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, IF YOU'RE A CONSERVATIVE BECAUSE YOU'RE A PERSON FOR FAITH, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE A CONSERVATIVE BECAUSE YOU CARE ABOUT NATIONAL SECURITY, DONALD TRUMP HAS NOTHING FOR YOU.

AND SO THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BRING TOGETHER PROGRESSIVES, MODERATES, AND AN AWFUL LOT OF WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO CALL FUTURE FORMER REPUBLICANS TO TURN THE PAGE IN THIS COUNTRY BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

>> Woodruff: I'M ASKING THIS QUESTION BECAUSE EVEN IN THE POLLS THAT ARE SHOWING JOE BIDEN WITH A SUBSTANTIAL LEAD NATIONALLY, THERE ARE MORE VOTERS RIGHT NOW WHO ARE SAYING DONALD TRUMP IS BETTER AT HANDLING THE ECONOMY.

THERE WAS A "WALL STREET JOURNAL" NBC POLL THAT HAS PRESIDENT TRUMP 10 POINTS AHEAD OF JOE BIDEN WHEN PEOPLE WERE ASKED, WHO IS BETTER AT HANDLING THIS ECONOMY?

>> DONALD TRUMP ISN'T GOOD AT MUCH, BUT ONE THING HE HAS BEEN VERY GOOD AT IS CLAIMING CREDIT FOR THE OBAMA-BIDEN ECONOMY THAT HE CAUGHT THE TAIL END OF.

NOW WE ARE WHERE WE ARE.

THE ECONOMIC NUMBERS, BY SOME MEASURES, ARE THE WORST THEY'VE BEEN SINCE 1876, AND THERE IS NO SUGAR-COATING THAT.

THIS IS ABOUT WHERE WE'RE HEADED AS A COUNTRY, HOW WE'RE GOING TO NOT JUST DIG OUT OF THIS HOLE, BUT AS THE VICE PRESIDENT SAID, BUILD BACK BETTER.

AND WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JOBS MERE IN HERE IN THE INDUSTRIAL MIDWEST OR ISSUES AFFECTING RURAL AMERICANS -- NOT JUST FARMERS, BUT THINGS LIKE THE POSTAL SERVICE, WHICH IS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPORTANT TO RURAL AMERICA AND UNDER ATTACK BY THIS PRESIDENT.

WE HAVE THE BETTER MESSAGE, AND NOW IT IS OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE THROUGH THE NEXT 80 OR SO DAYS THAT NO ONE CAN MISS THAT MESSAGE.

THAT WE DO OUR JOB, EVEN THOUGH WE CAN'T CAMPAIGN THE WAY WE'RE USED TO CAMPAIGNING.

WE HAVE TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT, AND WHEN WE DO, WE'LL WIN.

LET'S REMEMBER, WE'RE WINNING.

DONALD TRUMP IS LOSING THIS ELECTION.

IT DOESN'T MEAN IT IS GUARANTEED, BUT RIGHT NOW JOE BIDEN IS BEATING DONALD TRUMP AND WITH GOOD REASON.

>> Woodruff: YOU ONCE SAID THAT YOU HAVE TO TREAT -- I THINK WORDS TO THIS AFFECT, HAVE YOU HAVE TO TREAT PRESIDENT TRUMP ALMOST LIKE THE CRAZY UNCLE IN THE CLOSET.

YOU CAN'T PLAY HIS GAME.

WE KNOW THAT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE JOE BIDEN RESPOND TO THE KINDS OF THINGS PRESIDENT TRUMP IS OUT THERE SAYING EVEN TODAY.

>> WHEN HE DOES SOMETHING CRAZY OR DESIGNED TO GET OUR ATTENTION, YOU DEAL WIT IT AND PUT IT IN ITS PLACE AND GO RIGHT BACK TO MESSAGE.

FOR EXAMPLE, DONALD TRUMP TRIED TO REVIVE BIRTHERISM IN ORDER TO DISTRACT US.

IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ESTABLISH THAT WAS A LIE, A RACIST LIE, AND THEN GET RIGHT BACK TO WHAT HE DOESN'T WANT US TO TALK ABOUT, WHICH IS THE ECONOMIC DISASTER UNFOLDING IN THIS COUNTRY.

I HEAR A LOT OF HAND WRINGING ABOUT WHETHER VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN IS OUT THERE.

AGAIN, HE IS WINNING, NOT BECAUSE HE IS CREATING THE SAME KIND OF ARM-WAVING, DAZZLING NOISE THAT COMES OUT OF THIS PRESIDENT, BUT BECAUSE HE HAS A BETTER MESSAGE.

HE IS STEADY, HE IS CONSISTENT.

AND I THINK STEADY AND CONSISTENT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT AND NEED AT A TIME LIKE THIS.

>> Woodruff: AND LAST QUICK QUESTION: DOES THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN NEED TO WORRY THIS WEEK ABOUT COMING ACROSS AS TOO LEFT?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ARE MORE IN LINE WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

WE'VE GOT A BIG TENT AND WE'RE PROUD OF THAT.

THE FACT YOU'VE GOT FOLKS FROM BERNIE SANDERS AND REPUBLICANS LIKE JOHN KASICH, ALL UNIFIED.

NOT JUST WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST, WHICH IS MOTIVATION ENOUGH, BUT WHAT WE HAVE A CHANCE TO BE FOR, A GOOD LEADER WHO'S FIRST INSTINCT IS TO HEAL AND NOT TO DIVIDE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THAT IS WHERE MOST AMERICANS ALREADY ARE.

>> Woodruff: FORMER SOUTH BEND INDIANA MAYOR, PETE BUTTIGIEG.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HE WILL BE SPEAKING THIS WEEK AT THE DEMONCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

>> Woodruff: AND NOW WE WANT TO BRING IN SOME OTHER VOICES WHO WILL BE WITH US THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK.

GARY ABERNATHY IS A COLUMNIST FOR THE "WASHINGTON POST."

AND HE IS BASED IN OHIO.

CYNTHIA TUCKER IS A PULITZER PRIZE WINNER BASED IN ALABAMA.

JONATHAN CAPEHART WITH THE "WASHINGTON POST."

AND FINALLY WE'RE JOINED BY PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN AND "NEWSHOUR" REGULAR, MIKE MICHAEL BESHLOF.

GARY, YOU JUST LISTENED TO PETE BUTTIGIEG TALKING ABOUT HOW JOE BIDEN WILL CONNECT WITH PEOPLE IN THE HEART OF THE COUNTRY.

HOW DO YOU SEE THAT?

>> WELL, TO DO SO, JUDY,, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME -- TO DO THAT, HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT ISSUES THAT ARE OF SOCIAL ISSUES THAT ARE OF CONCERN.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT ABORTION?

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT THE SECOND AMENDMENT?

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT RELIGION?

YOU'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO ADDRESS THEM IN WAYS THAT ARE KEEPING IN LINE WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY PLATFORM, AND YET MAKE THOSE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY'RE WELCOME.

HOW DO YOU MAKE THOSE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY'RE WELCOME AND THERE IS A REASON FOR THEM TO COME AND PARTNER WITH YOU IN THIS ELECTION?

THAT'S WHAT I'M INTERESTED TO SEE TONIGHT, AS WELL AS, OF COURSE, HEARING FROM, AS AN OHIOIAN, FROM JOHN KASICH, WHO IS NOW ADDRESSING THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION ON NIGHT ONE.

>> Woodruff: IT WILL BE FASCINATING TO HEAR WHAT FORMER GOVERNOR KASICH HAS TO SAY.

AS YOU LISTEN TO GARY ABERNATHY TALK ABOUT THE CONVENTION, WHAT JOE BIDEN NEEDS TO CONVEY TO PEOPLE IN THE HEARTLAND, WHAT ABOUT OTHER OF THE DEMOCRATS WHO ARE LOOKING TO JOE BIDEN AND SAYING, WHAT ABOUT US?

WHAT ABOUT THE BASE OF THE PARTY?

WE'RE THE ONES WHO HELPED GET DEMOCRATS ELECTED TIME AFTER TIME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK THAT ANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO APPEAR THIS EVENING ARE GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO APPEAL TO FAR RIGHT REPUBLICAN VOTERS.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LEAVE TRUMP TO VOTE FOR THE JOE BIDEN/KAMALA HARRIS TICKET.

BUT I DO THINK THAT THE SPEAKERS WILL HAVE A LOT TO OFFER TO THE BASE.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS IMPORTANT, THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN COVERING POLITICS A LONG TIME FORGET, A LOT OF PEOPLE UNDER 40 DON'T KNOW JOE BIDEN WELL.

THEY DON'T KNOW HIS STORY.

THEY KNOW, YES, HE WAS VICE PRESIDENT UNDER BARACK OBAMA, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HIM WELL.

SO IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO TELL HIS STORY.

IT WILL BE IMPORTANT, THOUGH, TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS IS A BIG TENT, THAT EVERYBODY IS WELCOME.

THAT IS WHAT JOHN KASICH CAN DO, WHEN HE SPEAKS THIS EVENING, TO SAY THAT ALL ARE WELCOME.

IF YOU DON'T WANT ANYMORE OF WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, YOU NEED TO BE HERE.

BUT FOR THE BASE OF THE PARTY, AND FOR LOTS OF OTHER VOTERS, INDEPENDENTS, TALK ABOUT HEALTH CARE, TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC RECOVERY, TALK ABOUT RESPECTING SCIENCE.

AND, YES, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF TALK ABOUT RACIAL JUSTICE AS WELL, I BELIEVE.

THAT IS GOING TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT NOTE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO HIT.

AND I THINK YOU'LL HEAR THAT FROM SEVERAL OF THE SPEAKERS.

>> Woodruff: JONATHAN CAPEHART, SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AS WELL.

SO HOW FINE A LINE DOES JOE BIDEN AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEED TO WALK THIS WEEK IN TERMS OF THE MESSAGE THAT IT IS PUTTING OUT?

>> I'M NOT SURE THAT THE LINE IS AS FINE AS YOU'RE QUESTION SUGGESTS.

GOING BACK TO THE FIRST QUESTION THAT YOU ASKED GARY, THE FOLKS IN THE HEARTLAND, WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE HEARTLAND.

DETROIT IS IN MICHIGAN, MILWAUKEE IS IN WISCONSIN, PITTSBURGH AND PHILADELPHIA ARE IN PENNSYLVANIA.

THERE ARE AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THOSE CITIES WHO FOUR YEARS AGO, PARTICULARLY IN MICHIGAN, DIDN'T COME OUT IN THE NUMBERS THAT THEY DID IN 2012.

AND SO I THINK THAT WHAT VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS TO DO IS SHOW THAT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH AND TALKING ABOUT, PARTICULARLY SINCE MARCH, WHEN IT COMES TO RACIAL STRIFE, RACIAL JUSTICE, EQUALITY, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, UNEMPLOYMENT, THAT WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, AND THAT HE IS THE PERSON WHO IS THE ONE TO KNIT ALL OF US TOGETHER TO MEET THE CHALLENGES THAT THIS COUNTRY UNDENIABLY FACES.

I THINK IF HE STICKS TRUE TO HIMSELF AND TO HIS CORE, THAT THIN LINE, FINE LINE, ISN'T ALL THAT FINE.

AND IT WON'T BE AS DIFFICULT AS IT MAY SEEN.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS LIKE HERDING CALVES.

BUT BETWEEN THE HUNGER TO DEFEAT THIS PRESIDENT AND ALSO THE EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE BIDEN/HARRIS TICKET, I THINK THAT JOE BIDEN -- THE TEST FOR HIM IS NOT AS DIFFICULT AS IT MIGHT SEEM.

>> Woodruff: SO, MICHAEL, VERY GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO.

HELP US PUT THIS IN SOME HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TASK THAT JOE BIDEN HAS, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THAT ALL NIGHT, ALL WEEK, HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO THE HURTLE FACING PREVIOUS CHALLENGERS, WHO WERE GOING FOR THE WHITE HOUSE OVER AMERICA'S HISTORY?

>> WELL, JUDY, IT IS AN OVERWHELMING CRISIS, AS GREAT OR GREATER THAN 1932, WITH THE GREAT DEPRESSION, OR 1940, WHEN AMERICANS WERE FACING HITLER AND THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE.

JAW I WAS -- I WAS THINKING, WHAT IS MAKING THIS CONVENTION UNLIKE ANY OTHER WE'VE SEEN IN HISTORY, OBVIOUSLY AN ECONOMIC CATACLYSM, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING.

THE WORST PANDEMIC IN 100 YEARS.

AS YOU WERE SAYING, IT IS GOING TO BE A VIRTUAL CONVENTION BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE TO HAVE IT IN PERSON.

OVERWHELMINGLY ONE THING YOU WILL SEE IN DEMOCRATS, AND I CAN'T THINK OF A CONVENTION WHERE THIS HAS BEEN SO TRUE, IS A FEAR AND HOSTILITY OF AN OPPONENT, THAT IS BASED LARGELY ON THE FACT THAT MANY DEMOCRATS, RIGHT OR WRONG, FEEL THAT DONALD TRUMP IS A WOULD-BE AUTHORITARIAN, AND THAT DURING THE NEXT 11 WEEKS HE MIGHT USE THE POWERS OF THE PRESIDENCY TO TRY TO WIN THIS ELECTION IN A WAY WE HAVE SEEN NO PRESIDENT DO BEFORE.

THEY MAY THINK IF HE IS RE-ELECTED, A YEAR FROM NOW WE MAY HAVE A SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T RESEMBLE A DEMOCRACY AS MUCH AS WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN TWO CENTURIES OF AMERICAN HISTORY.

A BIG TEMPTATION FOR DEMOCRATS TO SAY FEAR AND HOSTILITY FOR DONALD TRUMP WILL UNITE US AND HELP US TO WIN.

THAT HAS NEVER BEEN TRUE.

>> Woodruff: GARY ABERNATHY, WHEN YOU THINK NOT JUST ABOUT THE DEMOCRATS OUT THERE ANXIOUS TO MAKE SURE DONALD TRUMP DOESN'T HAVE A SECOND TERM, BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE DEMOCRATS THAT DID PULL THE LEVER FOR DONALD TRUMP FOUR YEARS AGO, WHO ARE TAKING A LOOK, MAYBE, AT JOE BIDEN THIS WEEK.

WHAT DO THEY NEED TO HEAR?

WHAT DO THEY -- WHAT IS THE MESSAGE THAT SHOULD COME ACROSS TO THEM?

>> YEAH.

I THINK THAT, AGAIN, IT HAS GOT TO GO BACK TO WE UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE AT, WHERE YOU'RE AT SOCIALLY.

AND I KNOW DEMOCRATS LIKE THAT WHO VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP AND NOW ARE LOOKING AT JOE BIDEN.

I THINK THEY ARE KIND OF ON THE FENCES.

THESE CONVENTIONS, THIS ONE THIS WEEK AND THE ONE NEXT WEEK ARE PIVOTAL.

WHEN I TALK ABOUT TRYING TO APPEAL TO PEOPLE -- THE DEMOCRATS AREN'T GOING TO BECOME THE PRO-LIFE PARTY.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE A PARTY THAT IS A BIG DEFENDER OF SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF DEMOCRATS IN OUR AREA WHO ARE SOCIALLY CONSERVATIVE.

SO YOU'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO APPEAL TO THEM, JUDY, IN A WAY THAT SAYS WE RESPECT WHERE YOU'RE AT.

WE MAY NOT AGREE WITH IT.

WE MAY NOT BECOME WHAT YOU LIKE US TO BE, BUT WE'LL RESPECT YOU AND WELCOME YOU INTO OUR BIG TENT WITHOUT DENIGRATING THOSE THINGS YOU BELIEVE IN.

>> Woodruff: ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT THERE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE COMING BACK TO EACH ONE OF YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, GARY ABERNATHY, CYNTHIA TUCKER, JONATHAN CAPEHART, AND MICHAEL BESHLOFF.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES IN THIS ELECTION IS, OF COURSE, AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, THE CORONAVIRUS.

BOTH CANDIDATES ARE MAKING THE CASE TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC THEY ARE BEST TO LEAD THROUGH THIS CRISIS.

HERE IS LISA DESJARDINS AND YAMICHE, EXPLAINING JOE BIDEN'S AND PRESIDENT TRUMP'S POSITIONS ON RESPONDING TO THE PANDEMIC.

>> IN THE MONTHS SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, JOE BIDEN HAS CAMPAIGNED MOSTLY VIRTUALLY FROM HIS HOME IN DELAWARE.

BIDEN WOULD MAKE TESTING WIDELY AVAILABLE AND FREE.

HE STRESSES RELIANCE ON SCIENCE, SOMETHING HE SAYS TRUMP HASN'T DONE.

AND HE WOULD FULLY REESTABLISH A PANDEMIC RESPONSE TEAM WITHIN THE WHITE HOUSE, WHICH PRESIDENT TRUMP DISBANDED.

BIDEN POINTS TO HIS EXPERIENCE LEADING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSE TO THE EBOLA EPIDEMIC, AND H.1 AND H1N1 SWINE FLU.

PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS THEY FAILED TO PREPARE FOR A FUTURE PANDEMIC.

PRESIDENT TRUMP DECLARED EARLY, WAY BACK IN JANUARY, THAT THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK WOULD BE, QUOTE, "JUST FINE."

THAT MONTH HE CLOSED OFF TRAVEL FROM CHINA, SOMETHING HE SAYS PREVENTED EARLIER VIRUS SPREAD.

BUT IN THE MONTHS SINCE, HIS ADMINISTRATION FACED FIERCE CRITICISM FOR SHORTAGE OF TESTING SUPPLIES AND A NEW SURGE IN CASES, EVEN AS MANY BUSINESSES AND SOME SCHOOLS BEGAN TO REOPEN.

THE PRESIDENT'S REGULAR BRIEFINGS HAVE INCLUDED THE PROMOTION OF UNPROVEN TREATMENTS, WHICH SOME HEALTH EXPERTS SAY COULD BE DANGEROUS.

IN MID-MARCH, WITH HOSPITALS IN NEW YORK OVER RUN WITH CASES, PRESIDENT TRUMP INVOKED THE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT, TRIGGERING THE PRODUCTION OF THOUSANDS OF VENTILATORS.

HE SOMETIMES BLAMED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR THE RISE IN CASES AND DEATHS.

>> Woodruff: AND WE THAT, WE TURN BACK TO OUR MAIN PANEL, MARK SHIELDS, DAVID BROOKS, MICHAEL NUTTER, CHRIS BUSKIRK, AND AIMAMY WALKER.

AMY, THE PANDEMIC IS THE CLOUD HANGING OVER THE COUNTRY.

IT IS HANGING OVER EVERYTHING, INCLUDING THIS ELECTION.

HOW DOES IT AFFECT WHAT JOE BIDEN CAN DO, NEEDS TO DO, THIS WEEK AND THROUGH THE ELECTION?

>> IT CERTAINLY CHANGED THE ENTIRE TRAJECTORY OF THIS ELECTION.

IT MEANT HIS PRIMARY WAS SHORTENED, AND BASICALLY WAS OVER IN MARCH.

CAMPAIGNING WAS DONE.

IT ALSO MEANS THAT THE ONE ISSUE THAT WE KNEW WAS GOING TO BE THE CENTER PIECE FOR DONALD TRUMP, WHICH WAS THE ECONOMY, THE THING THAT HE WANTED TO TALK UP THE MOST, IS NO LONGER AS ROBUST AS IT ONCE WAS.

AND FOR BIDEN, THE CASE TO BE MADE IS PRETTY SIMPLE.

IT IS THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO GET THE ECONOMY BACK UNTIL WE GET THE PANDEMIC UNDER CONTROL.

AND THE WAY TO GET THE PANDEMIC UNDER CONTROL IS TO DO THE FOLLOWING THINGS, THINGS THAT -- AND YOU'D HEAR JOE BIDEN AND DEMOCRATS SAYING THIS, THINGS THAT THE PRESIDENT DIDN'T DO.

HE WAS TOO LATE TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.

HE DOWNPLAYED THE SERIOUSNESS.

HE UNDERMINED THE EXPERTS TO ARE OUT THERE GIVING HIM ADVICE.

AND TIME AFTER TIME, WHEN THERE WAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET AHEAD OF THIS, WE FELL BEHIND.

YOU CAN'T HAVE AN ECONOMY, YOU CAN'T HAVE AN ECONOMIC RECOVERY UNTIL PEOPLE FEEL SAFE GOING INTO THE ECONOMY.

>> Woodruff: AND, MARK, THAT MEANS THAT THE -- MARK SHIELDS -- YES, IT IS THE PANDEMIC, BUT IT IS THE PANDEMIC AND THE ECONOMY WRAPPED TOGETHER VERY TIGHTLY AS ONE CRUCIAL ELEMENT IN THIS ELECTION.

>> YEAH, JUDY.

THEY ARE WRAPPED TOGETHER.

BUT IT IS A CORONAVIRUS ELECTION, MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

AND THAT'S WHY DONALD TRUMP IS RUNNING BEHIND JOE BIDEN IN EVERY NATIONAL POLL.

HIS HANDLING OF THE CORONAVIRUS, THE PANDEMIC, HAS GONE LOWER AND LOWER AND LOWER EACH MONTH.

AND THERE WAS JUST ONE STARTING STATISTIC, AND I THINK IT IS THE KIND OF THING THAT AMERICANS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH IN THE NEXT 11 WEEKS, AND THAT IS IN APRIL, 95 AMERICANS HAD DIED FROM THE VIRUS.

AND 95 SOUTH KOREANS HAD.

AS OF THIS WEEK, 170,000 AMERICANS HAVE DIED, AND 305 SOUTH KOREANS HAVE DIED.

LEADERSHIP, DECISIONS, POLICIES, AND THE FACT THAT THE UNITED STATES IS 4% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION AND HAS CLOSE TO ONE QUARTER OF ALL OF THE FATALITIES IS A BLIGHT ON THE COUNTRY THAT HAS LED IN SCIENCE, LED IN RESEARCH, AND LED IN TECHNOLOGY.

AND IT IS ON DONALD TRUMP'S WATCH.

THAT'S THE WAY WE MAKE JUDGMENTS IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> Woodruff: AND, DAVID BROOKS, THE PRESIDENT HAS TRIED TO SHIFT THE BLAME TO CHINA.

HE CALLS IT THE CHINA VIRUS.

HE TALKS ABOUT IT WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATES TO HANDLE TESTING.

HOW MUCH HARDER, I GUESS IS WHAT I'M ASKING, DOES THAT MAKE JOE BIDEN'S TASK IN SAYING THIS PRESIDENT FAILED?

>> WELL, THE COUNTRY SORT OF MADE UP THEIR MIND ON THIS.

58% DISAPPROVAL OF DONALD TRUMP'S HANDLING OF THE VIRUS, AND ONLY 38% APPROVE.

EVEN AMONG REPUBLICANS, ONLY ABOUT 78% APPROVE OF HIS HANDLING OF THE CRISIS.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR DONALD TRUMP, BUT THEY KNOW HE MESSED THIS ONE UP.

THAT IS HIS WEAK ISSUE.

I THINK THIS ELECTION IS BROADER THAN JUST THE VIRUS.

I THINK THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT SAFETY AND SECURITY.

IT REMINDS ME A LITTLE OF THE 2008 ELECTION, WHEN THE FINANCIAL CRISIS WAS HAPPENING, AND THE WORLD SEEMED TO BE FALLING ABOUT.

THERE WAS AN EARLIER POLL THAT FOUND 80% OF THE AMERICANS THINK THE COUNTRY IS SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL.

THAT IS PARTLY HEALTH, PARTLY ECONOMIC, PARTLY RISING CRIME RATES.

SO THERE IS A GENERAL SENSE OF INSECURITY AND UNSAFETY.

SO FOR ME BIDEN HAS TO DO WHY OBAMA DID IN 2008, PROVE TO BE THE MORE ORDERLY CANDIDATE, MORE SAFE FAIR OF HANDS.

WHERE HIS AGE GIVES HIM A BIT OF AN ADVANTAGE.

IT IS HARD TO PROVE YOURSELF LESS STABLE THAN DONALD TRUMP.

SO HE JUST NEEDS TO PROJECT THAT MASTERY OF CONFIDENCE AND STABILITY.

>> Woodruff: WHAT ABOUT THAT, MICHAEL NUTTER.

GIVEN WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT WHAT JOE BIDEN NEEDS TO DO?

>> I THINK AS DAVID SAID, IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO SEEM MORE STABLE THAN DONALD TRUMP.

YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT JOE BIDEN HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO CAMPAIGN, AND THAT DONALD TRUMP IS OUT THERE EVERY DAY.

I MEAN, THERE IS BEING IN THE NEWS AND THERE IS BEING THE NEWS.

AND DONALD TRUMP TRIES TO BE THE NEWS, ALTHOUGH MUCH OF IT IS BAD NEWS.

SO HIS HANDLING OF CORONAVIRUS, COVID-19, IS A COLOSSAL FAILURE.

HIS HANDLING OF THE ECONOMY, AT LEAST AS IT RELATES TO CITIES AND STATES, THAT ALSO HAS BEEN A FAILURE.

AND I DON'T KNOW ANYONE WHO CAN AGREE THAT HE HAS HANDLED THE RACIAL UNREST AND THE CIVIL STRIFE, OTHER THAN EXACERBATING IT AND AGITATING PEOPLE FOR HIS OWN PURPOSES.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN, JOE BIDEN, I'M SURE, AND OTHERS, WILL TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS.

I'M OF THE BELIEF YOU HAVE TO GIVE PEOPLE SOMETHING TO BE FOR.

AND VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN AND SENATOR HARRIS WILL TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE FOR.

AND ENERGIZE PEOPLE AROUND THAT, WHETHER VIRTUALLY OR OUT IN THE STREETS OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAYBE.

I THINK THERE IS A WAY TO COMMUNICATE.

YOU KNOW THE FIRST RULE OF POLITICS, DEFINE YOURSELF BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE DOES IT FOR YOU.

AS WAS SAID EARLIER, PEOPLE MAY KNOW OF JOE BIDEN; THEY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT JOE BIDEN AND WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE HAS BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST 40 PLUS YEARS ON BEHALF OF AMERICA.

>> Woodruff: CHRIS BUSKIRK, THE TEMPTATION HERE IS TO SAY THE FAILURE IS ALL LAID AT THE PRESIDENT'S FEET.

HE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT THAT IS NOT SO.

HOW DOES JOE BIDEN CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THE PANDEMIC IN A WAY THAT HE CAN PREVAIL OVER ANYTHING THE PRESIDENT SAYS ABOUT IT?

>> YEAH.

I THINK THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT HOW EITHER CANDIDATE TALKS ABOUT COVID IS THAT WHAT COVID HAS REALLY DONE IS HAS ACCELERATED TRENDS, AND IT HAS SORT OF UNDERSCORED ISSUES THAT ALREADY EXISTED.

WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS, WHAT COVID DOES IS IT MAKES MORE URGENT THE ISSUE OF, FOR INSTANCE, JOBS, HIGH-PAYING JOBS, MANUFACTURING JOBS, THINGS THAT HAVE GONE AWAY.

THERE IS A LONG-TERM TREND IN THIS COUNTRY, SOMETHING THAT TRUMP TALKED ABOUT IN 2016, AND NOW THERE IS A WHOLE LOT MORE PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED, AND A WHOLE LOT MORE PEOPLE FEELING ECONOMIC INSECURITY, HOW THEY GET THEIR KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL, ETC.

I DON'T THINK IT IS COVID PER SE THAT IS THE ISSUE, BUT BOTH CANDIDATES NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF COVID ON PEOPLE'S LIVES.

THAT'S THE THING THAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT.

MOST PEOPLE REALIZE, LOOK, PANDEMICS HAPPEN.

IT IS HOW DOES THE GOVERNMENT RESPOND SO THEY CAN GO BACK TO LIVING THEIR LIVES.

>> Woodruff: JUST QUICKLY, CHRIS BUSKIRK, AT THIS POINT, HOW ARE PEOPLE THAT YOU TALK TO SENSING HOW THE PRESIDENT HAS HANDLED IT?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS A MIXED BAG.

I THINK THAT MOST PEOPLE, AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT EARLY ON THERE WAS A LOT -- I THINK ABOUT SORT OF MARCH, APRIL, EVEN INTO MAY, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONFUSION AS TO WHAT WAS THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO HANDLE THIS CRISIS, WHAT THE CRISIS MEANT, SORT OF WHAT THE CONTOURS OF IT WERE.

BUT AS THINGS HAVE GONE BY, I THINK THE HANDLING HAS GOTTEN BETTER AT THE FEDERAL AND THE STATE LEVELS, AS THE STATES HAVE FIGURED OUT WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AND WHERE THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITY LIE.

AND SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PLACES WHERE I REALLY THINK VOTERS ARE INCLINED TO GIVE THE PRESIDENT AND THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM AND THEIR GOVERNORS A PASS, WHETHER THEY BE REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS, AND THAT'S WITH ONE CAVEAT: AS LONG AS THEY HAVE A PLAN THAT SEEMS CREDIBLE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO NEXT AND ABOUT WHAT COMES NEXT.

>> Woodruff: I KNOW WE CAN DISCUSS AND DEBATE THAT AS THE EVENING GOES ON.

BUT FOR NOW, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT.

AND WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU, TO CHRIS, TO MICHAEL, TO DAVID, AND TO MARK, IN JUST A MINUTE.

>>> AND AS WE GET PREPARED RIGHT NOW TO LAUNCH THIS VIRTUAL CONVENTION, LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO REMIND YOU WHAT THIS EVENT LOOKED LIKE IN THE PAST.

WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE ANALYSIS AFTER THIS BRIEF CONVENTION MOMENT.

>> I'M MICHAEL, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY KOREANHISTORIAN AND"NEWSHOUR" CONTRIBUTOR.

DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION 2016, PHILADELPHIA.

HILLARY CLINTON AND BERNIE SANDERS HAD DUKED IT OUT THROUGHOUT A VERY LONG AND OFTENTIMES BITTER CAMPAIGN.

FINALLY BERNIE SANDERS WAS WILLING TO SUPPORT HILLARY CLINTON.

HE FINALLY SPOKE TO HER VERY BRIEFLY AT THE END OF THAT ROLL CALL.

>> AND I MOVE THAT HILLARY CLINTON BE SELECTED AS THE NOMINEE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!

[CHEERING] >> BUT THE BIG QUESTION WAS: HOW ENTHUSIASTIC WOULD HIS SUPPORTERS BE?

[CHEERING] >> THROUGH THE CONVENTION, WE SAW LITTLE MOMENTS THAT SUGGESTED THAT THERE WERE AN AWFUL LOT OF SANDERS' PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT BE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT VOTING FOR HILLARY CLINTON THAT FALL.

>> Woodruff: AND THAT BRINGS BACK MEMORIES.

IT ALSO MAKES ME NOSTALGIC FOR THOSE HUGE CROWDS THAT ONLY CONVENTIONS CAN BRING.

LET'S GO BACK TO LISA DESJARDINS IN WHIM WILMINGTON, AND YAMICHE ALCINDOR.

LISA, WHEN WERE WE LOOK AT THAT CONVENTION, IT MAKES US NOSTALGIC.

BOTH COMPAIGNS HAVE HAD TO MAKE SOME BIG ADJUSTMENTS BECAUSE THERE IS NO BIG GATHERING IN THE MONTHS OF JULY OR AUGUST.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT IS GOING TO BE FASCINATING TO SEE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS HOW THE BIDEN AND TRUMP COMPAIGNS NAVIGATE THIS.

THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN, IN ADDITION TO JUST HAVING THE TWO SPEECHES HERE WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT, HARRIS AND BIDEN'S ACCEPTANCE SPEECHES, THEY ARE HAVING WHAT THEY CALL VIRTUAL WATCH PARTIES IN ALL 50 STATES.

SO THEY'RE ENCOURAGING VOTERS FROM EACH STATE TO SORT OF LOG ON AND MAYBE JOIN A GROUP OF PEOPLE WATCHING TOGETHER.

THEY'RE ALSO HAVING SIX DIFFERENT DRIVE-IN WATCH PARTIES IN SIX STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, TALK ABOUT NOSTALGIA, RIGHT?

IT IS UNCLEAR WHAT THOSE ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE, BUT THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH VOTERS IN A TIME WHEN WE'RE NOT ABLE TO ENGAGE IN PERSON.

IT IS HARDER TO ENGAGE AT ALL.

AND SPEAKING TO THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN TONIGHT, THEIR SPIN ON THIS, I THINK THEY BELIEVE IT, BUT WE'LL SEE IF IT IS SPIN OR IF IT IS REAL, BUT THEY THINK MORE PEOPLE MAY TUNE IN BECAUSE THIS IS SO DIFFERENT, BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING THESE DIFFERENT WAYS OF ENGAGING.

JUDY, I'M GOING TO BE FASCINATED TO SEE TONIGHT, HOW OBVIOUS IS IT WHEN A SPEAKER IS LIVE VERSUS ON TAPE?

BECAUSE MANY OF THE TOP SPEAKERS WE'RE WAITING FOR ARE TAPED, OTHERS ARE LIVE.

AND I THINK THAT DIFFERENCE COULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THAT AFFECTS VOTERS OR VIEWERS OR NOT.

>> Woodruff: YOU'RE RIGHT.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

THAT WILL BE ANOTHER ELEMENT THAT MAKES THIS A VERY, VERY DIFFERENT EVENT TONIGHT.

SO YAMICHE, THE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN PLANNING THIS VIRTUAL CONVENTION FOR A NUMBER OF WEEKS, AFTER THEY HAD TO MOVE IT FROM JULY TO AUGUST.

BUT FOR THE PRESIDENT AND HIS CAMPAIGN, THEY REALLY DID TRY, FOR A LONG TIME, TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT CONVENTION IN CHARLOTTE, AND THEN THEY MOVED IT TO JACKSONVILLE, AND THEN THEY SAID, NO, I GUESS WE CAN'T DO THAT.

AND NOW WE'RE AT SOME PLACE ELSE.

HOW MUCH HARDER HAS IT BEEN FOR THEM BECAUSE OF WHAT THE PRESIDENT WANTED SO BADLY TO DO?

>> IT'S BEEN REALLY A CONFUSING AND IN SOME WAYS TOUGH EXPERIENCE FOR THE REPUBLICANS BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT WAS, AS YOU SAID, SO SET, SO INSISTENT ON TRYING TO HAVE AN IN-PERSON CONVENTION.

BUT JUST TODAY HE CONFIRMED HE WILL BE ACCEPTING THE G.O.P.

NOMINATION FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

HE WANTED SO BADLY TO FIRST BE IN PERSON AND TO BE IN FLORIDA AT THE VERY END.

WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT THE PRESIDENT IS STILL MEETING IN PERSON WITH LARGE CROWDS.

JUST TODAY HE WAS VISITING TWO BIG BATTLEGROUND STATES, MINNESOTA, AND WHAT HE WAS SAYING -- AND WISCONSIN.

AND WHAT HE WAS SAYING WAS I'M A BETTER CANDIDATE THAN JOE BIDEN BECAUSE HE IS DANGEROUS.

HE WAS MAKING THE CASE THAT JOE BIDEN HAS THE SAME POLITICS AS THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST WHO IS SPEAKING, SAYING THAT AMERICA IS GOING TO BE VENEZUELA.

BUT BERNIE SANDERS AND THE PROGRESSIVES SAY THEY'RE VERY DIFFERENT FROM VENEZUELA.

BUT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS TRYING TO MARRY JOE BIDEN AND BERNIE SANDERS TOGETHER.

WHAT WE SEE FROM THE PRESIDENT IS SOMEONE WHO WILL BE HAVING EVENTS ALL WEEK LONG IN ARIZONA, AND HE WILL BE CRISS-CROSSING AMERICA.

SOME OF THE EVENTS ARE BILLED AS OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE EVENTS, BUT A LOT OF CAMPAIGN EVENTS, AND THEIR TITLES ARE JOE BIDEN'S FAILURE TO DO THE FOLLOWING, EITHER IMMIGRATION OR JOBS OR THE ECONOMY.

ON EVERY TOPIC, THE PRESIDENT WILL BE TRAVELING AROUND AND ATTACKING JOE BIDEN AS THE DEMOCRATS HOLD THIS, AS EVERYONE HAS SAID, VERY DIFFERENT CONVENTION.

>> Woodruff: LINES GET BLURRIER AND BLURRIER THAN WHAT IS AN OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN.

HOW MUCH OF A FACTOR IS THAT IN THEIR PLANNING?

>> THEY ARE CLEARLY PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO IT.

IN FACT, ON A CAMPAIGN CALL THAT THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN HAD WITH REPORTERS COVERING THE CONVENTION, THE FIRST THING THEY DID WAS TALK ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S REMARKS TODAY ABOUT THE PANDEMIC.

THEY WENT AFTER THEY ARE CRITICAL OF PRESIDENT TRUMP BEFORE THEY STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE CONVENTION.

IT IS DAY BY DAY, BUT CLEARLY THEY'RE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHAT TRUMP DOES AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO REACT EACH TIME.

>> Woodruff: YAMICHE, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, BUT TRADITIONALLY THE PARTY THAT IS NOT HAVING A CONVENTION IS QUIET DURING THE CONVENTION WEEK.

IT IS JUST TRADITION, IT IS RESPECT, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

BUT THAT IS NOT AT ALL GOING TO BE THE CASE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE PRESIDENT HAS BROKEN ALL SORTS OF NORMS.

HE IS NOT SOMEONE WHO HAS RUN HIS PRESIDENCY IN ANY SORT OF TRADITIONAL WAY.

AND TRUMP SUPPORTERS LIKE THAT.

THEY SAY HE IS SOMEONE WHO UP-ENDED WASHINGTON.

HE WAS AN OUTSIDER, SOMEONE WHO WOULD COME IN AND SHAKE THINGS UP, AND SHAKE THINGS UP, HE HAS.

THE PRESIDENT WILL BE TWEETING AND ATTACKING DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

THE PRESIDENT HAS GONE AFTER MEDIA PERSONALITIES IN THE LAST HOUR, TALKING WHICH REPUBLICANS ARE NOT SUPPORTING HIM ANYMORE BECAUSE WE DO, OF COURSE, HAVE SOME REPUBLICANS SPEAKING AT THE DEMONCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

SO THE PRESIDENT IS WATCHING VERY CLOSELY AND HE IS WILLING AND READY TO REACT IN REALTIME.

>> Woodruff: WE'RE GOING TO KEEP TALKING TO THE TWO OF YOU.

YAMICHE ALCINDOR, AND LISA DESJARDINS FOLLOWING THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN.

THANKS TO YOU BOTH.

I'M JOINED BY TWO MORE GREAT REPORTERS COVERING THIS ELECTION.

ERRIN HAINES IS WITH THE NEWLY LAUNCHED NEWS WEBSITE "THE 19th."

AND ROBERT COSTA, A VERY FAMILIAR FACE, WITH THE "WASHINGTON POST," AND HE IS THE HOST OF WASHINGTON WEEK HERE ON PBS.

IT IS SO GOOD TO SEE BOTH OF YOU.

I'M JUST GOING TO COME TO YOU WITH A VERY BASIC QUESTION, ERRIN, THAT I'VE BEEN ASKING A NUMBER OF OUR GUESTS TONIGHT, AND THAT IS: WHAT DOES JOE BIDEN AND HIS CAMPAIGN NEED TO DO THIS WEEK?

WHAT IS THE MESSAGE THEY NEED TO GET ACROSS?

>> WELL, I THINK A COUPLE OF MESSAGES, JUDY.

ONE, THIS IS NORMALLY THE TIME OF THE CONVENTION WHEN YOU HAVE KIND OF THE TEAM COMING TOGETHER, RIGHT?

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY COMING TOGETHER, RALLYING BEHIND THAT TICKET.

SO I SAW MICHAEL GOING BACK TO 2019, WITH BERNIE SANDERS TAKING THE PRIMARY ALL THE WAY TO THE CONVENTION STAGE BEFORE HE FINALLY GAVE A FULL-THROATED ENDORSEMENT OF HILLARY CLINTON.

THIS TIME AROUND YOU SEE THAT BERNIE SANDERS ENDORSED JOE BIDEN FAIRLY QUICKLY, HAS SAID HE IS GOING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO SUPPORT JOE BIDEN, AND TO HELP HIM DEFEAT DONALD TRUMP.

WE'LL SEE IF HIS SUPPORTERS ARE ABLE TO GET BEHIND HIM, IF, IN FACT, THAT IS WHAT HE ENDS UP DOING.

WITH THE LINEUP THAT YOU'RE SEEING THIS WEEK, MANY PEOPLE WHO WERE JOE BIDEN'S FORMER RIVALS IN THE PRIMARY ON THE STAGE THIS WEEK, ENDORSING THIS TICKET.

THAT COULD REALLY KIND OF SET THE STAGE FOR VOTERS TO REALLY KIND OF UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ELECTION IS COMING INTO FOCUS, THAT IT IS REAL, AND GETTING TO PEOPLE'S ATTENTION AMONG A MYRIAD OF CHALLENGES IN THIS PANDEMIC, WHICH IS CASTING A POLL OF UNCERTAINTY, BUT UNDERSCORING MAYBE THE URGENCY OF THE MOMENT AND, YOU KNOW, THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING.

EARLY VOTING WILL BE STARTING NOT LONG AFTER WE COME OUT OF THESE CONVENTIONS.

>> Woodruff: AND ROBERT COSTA, I'M THINKING ABOUT AMY SAID, THAT JOE BIDEN HAS THE TASK, UNLIKE WHAT MANY CHALLENGERS ARE TRYING TO CLIMB INTO FIRST PLACE.

HE IS RIGHT NOW IN FIRST PLACE IN MOST OF THE POLLS, PRACTICALLY ALL OF THE POLLS.

YOU TALK TO A LOT OF POLITICAL WATCHERS, POLITICAL EXPERTS.

WHAT DO THEY THINK HE NEEDS TO DO TO HOLD ON TO THAT LEAD?

>> WELL, IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE NATIONAL POLLING.

I SAT DOWN TODAY FOR 30 MINUTES WITH JEN O'MALLEY DYLAN, AND SHE RARELY DOES AN INTERVIEW, BUT SHE TALKED ABOUT HOW SHE SEES THE MATH.

BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT APPEAL TO CERTAIN STATES.

AS A REPORTER, I'M REALLY GOING TO BE LISTENING ALL WEEK, HOW IS THE BIDEN MAKING THEIR OVER OVERTURE TO ARIZONA.

SHE TOLD ME ARIZONA IS AT THE TOP OF HER LIST.

SO IS COLORADO, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA, VIRGINIA.

THESE ARE STATES DEMOCRATS WANT TO MAKE GAINS IN.

AND THE APPEAL TO THE SOUTH, THE DEEP SOUTH.

THE DEMOCRATS CAME CLOSE IN 2018 TO WINNING THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE IN GEORGIA.

THEY SEE VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN AS APPEAL WITH BLACK AMERICANS, AND CAN THEY MAKE SOME IN-ROADS THERE AND RETURN THE MAP TO BE A LITTLE MORE LIKE IT WAS FOR BILL CLINTON IN 1992.

>> Woodruff: TO QUICKLY FOLLOWUP, ROB AK, ROBE ROBERT COSTA, THAT THEY'RE TAKING FOR GRANTED THE MICHIGAN AND PENNSYLVANIA, FOR EXAMPLE?

>> THEY'RE NOT TAKING IT FOR GRANTED.

I TALKED TO ROB PERREZ, THE D.N.C.

CHAIR, BUT THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND NEW PATHWAYS.

THEY FEEL IF THEY PUT ALL OF THEIR CHESS PIECES ON WISCONSIN, PENNSYLVANIA, AND OHIO, AND MAYBE GO DOWN TO FLORIDA, IF PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS A LATE BOUNCE, THEY'LL HAVE A LIMITED PATH TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

THAT'S WHY THAT EXTENDED MAP, LOOKING AT THE SUNBELT, COLORADO, GEORGIA, IS A PATHWAY TO THE 270 ELECTORAL VOTES.

>> Woodruff: ERRIN HAINES, I CAN'T GET YOU GO AWAY WITHOUT ASKING YOU ABOUT THE WOMEN'S VOTE.

THE ORGANIZATION YOU'RE WITH, "THE 19th" -- BY THE WAY, TOMORROW WE'RE CELEBRATING THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF THE PASSAGE OF WHEN THAT AMENDMENT CAME INTO BEING.

THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THIS ELECTION, THERE IS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT SUSH ZAN SUBURBAN WOMEN AND OTHERS -- WE ONLY HAVE A FEW SECONDS TO GO -- BUT TELL ME WHY THAT MATTERS SO MUCH TO BIDEN?

>> BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC HAS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED THEM.

I HAVE A STORY ABOUT MICHELLE OBAMA, AND THE 11 MILLION WHO BOUGHT HER MEMOIR COULD TRANSLATE INTO VOTERS COME IN NOVEMBER.

>> Woodruff: THERE IS MUCH MORE TO TALK ABOUT WITH REGARD TO WOMEN, AND WE'LL GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO DO IT LATER ON THIS WEEK.

ERRIN HAINES, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND ROBERT COSTA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND AS WE GET READY FOR THE BEGINNING OF TONIGHT'S CONVENTION, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK FOR SOME OF OUR LOCAL PBS STATIONS.

OUR COVERAGE WILL CONTINUE IN JUST ONE MINUTE, SO STAY WITH US.

>> YOU CAN FEEL IT.

YOU KNEW IN YOUR HEART, IN YOUR GUT, THAT BARACK OBAMA WOULD BECOME THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

I CRIED.

TEARS OF JOY, TEARS OF HAPPINESS.

>> CHANGE HAPPENS BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DEMAND IT, BECAUSE THEY RISE UP AND INSIST ON NEW IDEAS AND NEW LEADERSHIP.

A NEW POLITICS FOR A NEW TIME.

AMERICA, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS.>> Woodruff: GOOD EVENING.

I BEEN AM JUDY WOODRUFF AND WELCOME BACK TO OUR PBS NEWSHOUR SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THIS YEAR'S DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC HAS DISRUPTED PLANS FOR THE TRADITIONAL IN-PERSON CONVENTION.

INSTEAD THIS YEAR THE DEMOCRATS HAVE PUT TOGETHER A VIDEO FEED THAT WILL INCLUDE REMOTE SPEECHES.

WE WILL BE BACK FOR MORE ANALYSIS OF THOSE EVENTS IN A MOMENT BUT NOW LET US LISTEN TO THE BEGINNING OF THE DEMOCRAT'S OFFICIAL CONVENTION PROGRAMMING.

>> IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US.

TOGETHER WE STAND UNITED BY THE VALUES WE CHERISH, DESENSEY, RESPECT, JUSTICE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO RISE UP.

WE ALWAYS HEAR THAT LINE ABOUT THIS BEING THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION OF OUR LIFETIME BUT THIS YEAR IT REALLY IS.

THE PAST FEW MONTHS HAVE TESTED US ALL.

WE'VE LOST MORE THAN 170,000 FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS TO COVID.

THIS TRAGEDY IS COMPOUNDED BY THE LOSS OF JOBS AND INCOME.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

THE PAST FOUR YEARS HAVE LEFT US AS A NATION DIMINISHED AND DIVIDED.

AND YET, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FEAR AND SORROW AND THE UNCERTAINTY, PEOPLE HAVE COME TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY KNOW WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS.

AMERICA IS BETTER THAN THIS.

AND SO WE CHOOSE TO ACT INSPIRED BY THE THREE SACRED WORDS THAT BREATHE LIFE INTO OUR NATION, WE THE PEOPLE.

>> OKAY, I'M READY.

>> OKAY, READY?

>> MIDDLE SCHOOL.

IT'S GREAT.

CAN I SAY THIS IN SPANISH?

>> SHOULD I READ THIS LINE OR THE WHOLE THING?

>> JUSTICE.

LIBERTY.

>> LIBERTY.

>> WE THE PEOPLE.

>> WE THE PEOPLE.

>> WE THE PEOPLE.

>> WE THE PEOPLE.

>> WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> IN ORDER IN FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION.

>> IN SUCH OF TRANQUILITY.

>> PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE.

>> PROMOTE THE YEN GENERAL WELFARE.

>> AND SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY.

>> FOR OUR PROSPERITY.

>> WE ESTABLISHED THIS CONSTITUTION FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

>> WE THE PEOPLE.

>> WE THE PEOPLE.

>> WE ... >> WE THE PEOPLE.

>> WE THE PEOPLE.

>> WE THE PEOPLE.

>> WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> WE THE PEOPLE CALLED THE 48 QUADRANGLE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION TO ORDER.

>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

♪ FOR AMBER WAVES OF GRAIN.

♪ >> OKAY, CAN YOU SEE, BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT.

WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAIL, AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING.

WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS, THROUGH THE PERILOUS FLIGHT.

O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED, WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING.

AND THE ROCKETS RED GLARE.

THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR.

GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT, THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE.

♪ ♪ THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE.

OER THE LAND OF THE FREE, AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE.

>> Woodruff: AND THEY DISSOLVE INTO A STAR.

THE STAR'S ON THE AMERICAN SIDE.

WE ARE NOW, THIS IS PART OF THE INVOCATION.

RENDER GABRIELLE OF THE EVANGELICAL COALITION.

>> WE PRAY FOR YOUR STRENGTH, GUIDANCE AND WISDOM.

WE RECOGNIZE WE ARE LIVING IN CHALLENGING TIMES.

THEY CALL US TO LIVE UP TO THE HIGHEST ANGELS OF OUR NATIONAL.

WEES AS WE TURN INTO THE PANDEMIC ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY AND CIVIL DISCOURSE MAY A GRACIOUS HAND LEAD US TO THE PEACEFUL SHORES OF LOVE, JUSTICE AND CIVILITY.

HELP US, OH LORD, TO BE EVER MINDFUL OF THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US.

FROM OUR GOLDEN GENERATION TO OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN.

FROM OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS TO OUR SCHOOL TEACHERS.

GIVE US A HEART OF COMPASSION AND GRACE.

THIS NATION, FROM MIAMI TO MINNEAPOLIS AND FROM PORTLAND TO EL PASO ASK YOU TO SHEPHERD US TO A HOPE-FILLED VISION TO JUSTICE.

AND WALK HUMBLY BEFORE YOU.

I PRAY THIS IN THE MATCHLESS NAME OF JESUS, AMEN.

>> Woodruff: AND AGAIN DELIVERING THE INVOCATION THAT WAS THE REVEREND GABRIELLE SALDERO OF THE NATIONAL EVANGELICAL COALITION.

WE RETURN NOW TO OUR CORE GROUP.

DAVID BROOKS, MICHAEL NUTTER, CHRIS BUSKIRK AND HERE AT THE TABLE AMY WALTER.

AMY, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AND WE WEREN'T GIVEN A PREVIEW OTHER THAN A FEW WORDS ON A PIECE OF PAPER.

I HAVE TO SAY THAT WAS A POWERFUL OPENING TO SEE THE FACES OF THOSE CHILDREN WEARING THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE T SHIRTS AND SINGING THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER.

PRETTY POWERFUL.

>> EVERY CONVENTION AND EVERY CANNED DEATH WHO RAN FOR -- CANDIDATE WHO RAN FOR PRESIDENT HAS A GOAL TO SAY THIS IS WHAT WE WANT FOR THE FUTURE.

NOT LOOKING AHEAD, NOT LOOKING BACKWARDS BUT TO FOCUS THEM ON THE FIVE MINUTES OF YOUNG PEOPLE I THINK SENDS CERTAINLY THAT MESSAGE.

AND AGAIN UNDERLYING THE ISSUE FOR JOE BIDEN BEING THE OLDEST PERSON WHO WOULD EVER BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT JOE BIDEN BUT THIS IS ABOUT THIS GENERATION THAT IS COMING IN BEHIND HIM.

GENERALGENERATIONS COMING IN BEHIND HIM.

>> Woodruff: THE DEMOCRATS CHOSE WE PETE PULL.

THE WOMAN WHO OPENED UP, WHO IS THE MC, THE MODERATOR THEY ARE CALLING IS THE ACTRESS EVA LONGORIA, MARK YOU WOULD KNOW THIS AS THE STAR OF DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES FOR MANY YEARS.

A VERY FAMILIAR FACE AND IN MANY AMERICAN HOMES.

MARK, WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE OPENING AND OF THE MESSAGE, WE SAW THE NAMES OF STATE AFTER STATE AFTER STATE TRYING TO BRING THE COUNTRY TOGETHER THERE.

>> YES.

WELL, IT'S HARD NOT TO LIKE KIDS AND IT'S HARD NOT TO LIKE KIDS WHO ARE SINGING AND SEEM HAPPY AND HAPPY TO BE THERE AND WHOLESOME.

I THOUGHT IT WAS CERTAINLY A POSITIVE INTRODUCTION OF THE DEMOCRATS.

THERE'S JUST ONE THING THAT DAVID ADD MENTIONED EARLIER JUDY, I JUST WANT TO PICK UP ON, AND THAT IS THE REPUBLICANS.

ONE OF THE KNOCKS OF JOE BIDEN HE WAS TOO CLOSE TO REPUBLICANS.

AND WORKED TOO MUCH AND GAVE THEM TOO MUCH THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.

WELL, I THINK YOU CAN SAY IT'S PAYING OFF TONIGHT BECAUSE THESE ARE REAL REPUBLICANS WHO ARE SHOWING UP.

I MEAN CHRISTY WHITMAN FORMER GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY WENT TO A FIRST REPUBLICAN CONVENTION AT THE AGE OF TEN IN 1956 WHEN DWIGHT EISENHOWER WAS RENOMINATED.

AND SUSAN FROM STATEN ISLAND REPUBLICANS THE KIND THAT DONALD TRUMP REALLY NEEDS AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS GAVE THE KEYNOTE OF THE 1996 REPUBLICAN CONVENTION IN SAN DIEGO.

WE HEARD HER THERE.

SO JOHN KASICH THESE ARE LONG REPUBLICANS IT'S AN INDICTMENT TO DONALD TRUMP BUT A TRIBUTE TO JOE BIDEN THAT THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH HIM.

>> Woodruff: DAVID BROOKS BEING UNITY WE TE PEOPLE AT THIS PROBABLY THE MOST, WEALTH CERTAINLY THE MOST POLITICALLY POLARIZED MOMENT IN AMERICAN LIFE AT LEAST THAT I CAN REMEMBER IN MY LIFETIME.

THE DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO SAY THIS IS A CANDIDATE, THIS IS A NOMINEE WHO CAN BRING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TOGETHER.

>> THE REASON JOE BIDEN WON THIS NOMINATION OUT OF THIS 793 CANDIDATES WHO ARE TRYING WAS BECAUSE HE HAD THE RIGHT THEORY OF THE CASE, THE RIGHT THEORY OF WHAT THIS YEAR'S ABOUT.

AND IT'S ABOUT THE SOUL OF THE COUNTRY.

THIS DEFINE OVER AND OVER AGAIN, IT'S ABOUT THE SOUL OF THE COUNTRY, IT'S ABOUT GETTING DONALD TRUMP OUT OF OFFICE AND IT'S ABOUT UNITY.

PEOPLE FEEL THERE'S SOMETHING JUST WRONG ABOUT US BEING JUST AS DIVIDED AS WE ARE.

EVEN IN THESE FIRST FEW MINUTES, WE THE PEOPLE, IT'S NOT POPULOUS BUT POPULAR.

ONE OF WHAT THE DEMOCRATS DO WORST WHEN THEY TURN PEOPLE OFF IS FRANKLY WHEN THEY SEEM LIKE A BUNCH OF IVY LEAGUE ELITISTS AND THAT'S WHY HILLARY CLINTON LOST BECAUSE PEOPLE FELT SHE CONDESCENDED TO THEM.

CALLEDKAWNLDZCALLEDTHAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT JOE BIDEN HAS.

HE HAS SELF EFFACEMENT THAT NOBODY'S BETTER THAN ME.

SO IN THE FIRST FEW MINUTES OF THIS THING, WE'RE GETTING THAT VIBE.

>> Woodruff: I SHOULD SAY WE'RE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO GO BACK TO THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION PROGRAMMING IN JUST A MOMENT.

MICHAEL NUTTER, I'M LOOKING AT THE LINE UP OF THE PEOPLE THEY HAVE TALKING RIGHT NOW.

A FARMER, A CAFE OWNER.

THEY ARE HAVING PEOPLE TALK WHO ARE FROM ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

TRYING TO SAY THERE'S GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY AS WELL AS EVERY OTHER KIND OF DIVERSITY.

>> WELL JUDY, I MEAN JOE BIDEN IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

KAMALA HARRIS FOR VICE PRESIDENT.

IT'S A BIG COUNTRY.

IT'S A QUITE DIVERSE COUNTRY AND JOE BIDEN HAS THE ABILITY TO TALK TO A BROAD ARRAY OF PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

AND THE CONVENTION IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE THAT BY HAVING REAL PEOPLE ON WE THE PEOPLE NIGHT AND EVERY OTHER NIGHT TALKING ABOUT WHAT AMERICA NEEDS FOR THEM AND WHAT THEY WANT FROM A PRESIDENT.

AND YOU KNOW, A PHILADELPHIAIAN IN A PLACE WHERE THOSE WORDS WERE FIRST SPOKEN IT RESONATES AND IT REALLY DOES BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

JOE BIDEN IS THE UNITER AND DONALD TRUMP IS THE DIVIDER.

I THINK MORE AND MORE AS I SAID EARLIER PEOPLE WANT TO BE UNITED EVEN IF WE CAN'T BE IN THE SAME SPACE.

I THINK CORONAVIRUS HAS DENIED ONCE AGAIN TO AMERICANS THAT ARE WE'RE -- HAS DENIED ONCE DEMONSTRATED TO AMERICANS THAT WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER IN THE CAMPAIGN.

>> Woodruff: WHAT WE ARE NOT SHOWING BUT DIPPING IN EVERY FEW MOMENTS OR SO IS THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IS HEARING FROM ORDINARY AMERICANS AS I MENTIONED.

THERE WAS A FARMER WHO VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP, A TRADE WAR HURT HIS BUSINESS, HE VOTED FOR BIDEN.

WE'RE NOW HEARING FROM A WOMAN NAMED MICHELLE BEBE.

WE OWNED FROM SOMEONE WHO OWNERRED A CATERING BUSINESS, A 15-YEAR-OLD AUTHOR AND ACTIVIST WHO LAUNCHED THE 1,000 BLACK GIRL BOOKS CAMPAIGN TO COLLECT AND GIVE AWAY BOOKS TO GIRLS WHO CAN'T AFFORD THEM.

SO AGAIN A LOT OF DIVERSITY THERE.

BUT I'M COMPELLED, CHRIS BUSKIRK, TO COME TO YOU ON SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ASK ME A LOT AND I HEAR CONVERSATION.

AND THAT IS WHY DOES DONALD TRUMP NOT TRY TO BROADEN HIS APPEAL.

I MEAN, IT SEEMS TO ME THERE'S SO MUCH OF THE TIME HE'S GONE BACK TO THE BASE AND GONE BACK TO THE BASE AND GONE BACK TO THE BASE.

WHAT'S THE THINKING BEHIND THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK, GOSH LIKE IT OR NOT, DONALD TRUMP IS WHO HE IS AND HE'S VERY COMFORTABLE BEING WHO HE IS AND HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO DO ANYTHING ELSE.

THERE'S AN ELEMENT OF THAT THAT IS REALLY A CORE ELEMENT OF HIS POLITICAL SAVVY AND HIS POLITICAL STRENGTH.

IT'S ALSO THE EL ELEMENT OF HIS PERSONALITY THAT PEOPLE WANT HIM TO REACH OUT AND EXPAND HIS MESSAGE OR HIS BASE.

BUT HE JUST IS WHO HE IS.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTORAL POLITICS I THINK HE HAS TO GO BACK TO WHAT HE'S GOOD AT AND THAT IS TALKING ABOUT CERTAIN ISSUES AND ADDRESSING A CERTAIN PART OF AMERICA IN THE UPPER MID WEST, PRIMARILY THE WORKING CLASS THAT HAS BEEN LEFT BEHIND OVER THE PAST 20 OR 30 YEARS.

THE WAGES DECLINE SEEING FAMILIES BREAK APART, SEEING THE OPIOID CRISES RIP APART THEIR COMMUNITIES AND TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS.

IF THAT EXPANELS OUT, I THINK -- EXPANELS OUT, IEXPANDS OUT AND YOU SEE DONALD TRUMP GETTING MORE OF THE POPULAR VOTE IN ABSOLUTE NUMBERS THAN HE DID LAST TIME.

HOW THAT, WHAT THAT MEANS FOR WHO WINS OR NOT I'M NOT SURE BUT I THINK HE MAY SEEM TO MORE PEOPLE AT THE END OF THE DAY LIKE A SAFER CHOICE THIS YEAR AS COUNTERINTUITIVE AS THAT MAY SEEM.

>> Woodruff: CHRIS BUSKIRK, I'M E GETS TO THE HEART OF WHY -- AMY GETS TO THE HEART OF WHY HILLARY CLINTON LOST BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP APPEALS TO THE HEARTLAND IN PLACES WHO FELT THEY WEREN'T BEING LISTENED TO.

HOW DOES JOE BIDEN AVOID HAVING THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO HIM THAT HAPPENED TO HER.

>> WELL JOE BIDEN HAS THE BENEFIT OF STARTING OFF WITH HIS CAMPAIGN BEING BETTER LIKED THAN HILLARY CLINTON WAS EVEN AT THIS POINT IN THE 2016 CAMPAIGN.

NOT AS POLARIZING NOT AS DIVISIVE AND DOESN'T HAVE THE BAGGAGE.

THE THING JOE BIDEN NEEDS TO DO IN THIS CONVENTION AS WELL, HE DOESN'T NEED TO PULL OFF MANY REPUBLICANS.

WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO IS APPEAL TO A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS WHO VOTED THIRD PARTY IN THE LAST ELECTION.

REMEMBER GARY JOHNSON AND THE JILL STEIN VOTERS WHO PULLED IN THOSE STATES LIKE MICHIGAN AND WISCONSIN AND PENNSYLVANIA SO WINNING OVER THOSE VOTERS AS WELL AS INNOVATORS WHO ARE NEW TO THE PROCESS, PEA -- VOTERS WHO ARE NEW TO THE PROCESS AND WE ARE SEEING A COALITION THAT LOOKED A LOT LIFE THAN BARACK OBAMA.

HE'S DOING BETTER WITH INDEPENDENTS THAN BARACK OBAMA DID HILLARY CLINTON DID.

HE'S DOING BETTER WITH SUBURBAN VOTERS THAN HILLARY CLINTON DID OR BARACK OBAMA DID.

I DON'T KNOW HAD A UNIQUE COALITION.

THIS COALITION THAT JOE BIDEN IS PUTTING TOGETHER, SOME IS DRIVEN BY JOE BIDEN AND WHO HE IS BUT ALSO BY WHO DONALD TRUMP IS.

>> Woodruff: ALL RIGHT AMY WALTER.

WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU CHRIS BUSKIRK, NICKEL NUTTER TO DAVID BROOKS -- MICHAEL FURTHER TO DAVID BROOKS AND MARK SHIELDS.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE WITNESSING A RECKONING OF RACE RELATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE RETURN NOW TO THE DEMOCRATS CONVENTION WHERE THEY WILL MARK THIS MOMENT AND REMEMBER THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> LET THEM KNOW WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE STAND FOR.

IT'S TIME FOR US TO LIFT OUR HEADS UP, OPEN OUR HEARTS AND REMEMBER WHO WE ARE.

WE ARE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THERE'S NOT A SINGLE THING WE CANNOT DO IF WE DO IT TOGETHER.

>> WE'RE CALLING OURSELVES THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FEELS LIKE IT'S PRETTY WRONG RIGHT NOW.

I'M ONE OF MANY WHO VOTED FOR THE CURRENT PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

I CHALLENGE YOU TO THINK BACK TO WHAT MADE YOU VOTE FOR DONALD TRUMP IN 2016.

RIGHT NOW I SURE HAVE.

I'VE REGISTERED AS A DEMOCRAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE.

I'M DOING THAT BECAUSE I THINK THIS ELECTION IS BIGGER THAN ANY POLITICAL PARTY.

WHAT I THINK, IN LIGHT OF CURRENT EVENTS, IF NOTHING ELSE WE NEED MORE THAN ANYTHING IS A PROVEN LEADER.

DONALD TRUMP'S RHETORIC IS DIVISIVE, IT'S DANGEROUS.

IT'S ALSO REALLY DIFFICULT TO VOTE FOR SOMEONE WHO ESSENTIALLY HAS ZERO PLATFORM RIGHT NOW.

JOE BIDEN ON THE OTHER HAND HAS A VERY DETAILED, THINGS LIKE UNITY, EDUCATION, CLIMB PRESERVATION, RACIAL INEQUALITY AND EVEN HEALTHCARE.

WE HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK OURSELVES IN THE MIRROR AND BUILD A PROVEN LEADER WITH A HISTORY OF CARING ABOUT OTHERS AND TRULY PUTTING ALL AMERICANS FIRST.

>> OUR NATION IS FACING A LOT RIGHT NOW AND OVER THE NEXT FOUR NIGHTS WE'RE GOING TO COVER IT ALL.

BUT TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THREE SPECIFIC CRISES WE FACE.

THE PANDEMIC, ECONOMIC DOWNTURN AND AN ONGOING SYSTEMIC RACIAL INJUSTICE.

BUT WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO FOCUS ON WHAT'S WRONG, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO MAKE IT RIGHT.

WHEN PEACEFUL PROTESTERS WERE TEAR GASSED ACROSS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, OUR NEXT SPEAKER STOOD UP, STOOD STRONG AND TURNED THAT PLACE INTO THE BLACK LIVES MATTER PLAZA IN THEIR HONOR.

PLEASE WELCOME MAYOR MUELLER BOWSER -- MURIEL BOWSER.

>> HELLO, I'M.

OUR STORY IS A STORY OF RECKONING.

IT IS HERE JOHN LEWIS SPOKE ON THE STEPS OF THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL.

IT IS HEAR THAT WOMEN AND MEN FLOODED THE STREETS FOR THE WOMEN'S HARD MUCH.

IT WAS HERE WEEKS AGO PEOPLE DAWNED FACE MASKS AND PEACEFULLY PROTESTED THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD.

WHILE WE'RE PEACEFULLY PROTESTING DONALD TRUMP WAS FIGHTING.

HE STOOD IN FRONT OF OUR MOST TREASURED HOUSES OF WORSHIP AND HELD A BIBLE FOR A PHOTO UP.

HE PUT CAMOUFLAGE INTO OUR STREETS, SENT TEAR GAS INTO THE AIR AND FEDERAL HELICOPTERS TOO.

I KNEW IF HE DID THIS TO DC HE WOULD DO IT TO YOUR CITY OR YOUR TOWN.

THAT'S WHEN I SAID ENOUGH FOR EVERY BLACK AND BROWN AMERICAN WHO HAS EXPERIENCED INJUSTICE.

ENOUGH FOR EVERY AMERICAN WHO BELIEVES INJUSTICE.

BUT I SAID ENOUGH FOR ANOTHER REASON TOO.

I HAVE A TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I WANT HER TO GROW UP IN AMERICA WHERE SHE'S NOT SCARED TO WALK TO THE STORE.

AN AMERICA WHERE SHE'S SAFE BEHIND THE DOORS OF HER OWN HOME.

AN AMERICA WHERE THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T FAN THE FLAMES OF RACISM AND LOOKS OUT FOR ALL OF US.

I CREATED BLACK LIVES MATTER PLAZA RIGHT BEHIND ME AS A PLACE WHERE WE COULD COME TOGETHER AND SAY ENOUGH.

BY COMING TOGETHER THIS NOVEMBER TO ELECT JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS WE WILL SY NEXT BECAUSE WE CAN'T JUST PAINT THOSE WORDS BEHIND ME.

WE CAN'T JUST SAY THOSE WORDS.

WE HAVE TO LIVE THOSE WORDS.

WE HAVE TO UNDO THE LAWS AND SYSTEMS THAT HAVE CAUSE FIDE RACISM FOR -- CODIFIED RACISM FAR TOO LONG.

WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TOO.

CHALLENGE OUR OWN BIASES.

IF WE SEE SOMETHING, DO SOMETHING.

TOGETHER WE CAN TURN THIS RECKONING INTO A REIMAGING OF A NATION WHERE WE THE PEOPLE MEANS ALL THE PEOPLE.

THERE WERE A FEW PEOPLE WHO STOOD ON THIS VERY BALCONY AS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PEACEFULLY PROTESTED IN THIS CITY.

WHAT WAS OUR NEXT VICE PRESIDENT MY SISTER KAMALA HARRIS.

THE OTHERS WERE MEMBERS OF GEORGE FLOYD'S FAMILY WHO I'M HONORED TO INTRODUCE NOW.

>> MY BROTHER GEORGE WAS SELFLESS.

HE ALWAYS MADE SACRIFICES FOR HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS AND TO COMPLETE STRANGERS.

GEORGE HAD A GIVEN SPIRIT, A SPIRIT THAT HAS SHOWN UP ON STREETS IN OUR NATION AND AROUND THE WORLD.

PEOPLE OF ALL RACES, ALL AGES, ALL GENDERS, ALL BACKGROUNDS, PEACEFULLY PROTESTING IN THE NAME OF LOVE AND UNITY.

IT'S A FITTING LEGACY FOR OUR BROTHER, FOR GEORGE SHOULD BE ALIVE TODAY, BREONNA TAYLOR SHOULD BE ALIVE TO.

ERIC GARNER SHOULD BE ALIVE TODAY, STEPHEN CLERK, AT THAT TIME YAWN AWE JEFFERSON, SANDRA BLAND.

THEY SHOULD ALL BE ALIVE TODAY.

IT'S UP TO US TO CARRY ON THE FIGHT TO JUSTICE.

OUR ACTIONS WILL BE THEIR LEGACIES.

WE MUST ALWAYS FIND OURSELVES WHAT JOHN LEWIS CALLS GOOD TROUBLE.

FOR THE NAMES WE DO NOT KNOW, THE FACES WE WILL NEVER SEE.

THOSE WHO CAN'T MOURN BECAUSE THEIR MURDERS DIDN'T GO VIRAL.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO HONOR GEORGE AND THE MANY OTHER SOULS WE LOST TO HATE AND INJUSTICE.

AND WHEN THIS MOMENT ENDS, LET'S MAKE SURE WE NEVER STOP SAYING THEIR NAMES.

>> Woodruff: THAT WAS AS YOU COULD TELL A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN MEMORY OF GEORGE FLOYD WHO WAS BROUGHT TO HIS DEATH IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO.

WE HEARD FROM HIS BROTHERS, RODNEY AND JUST NOW.

LET'S BRING IN PRAMILA JAYAPAL FROM SEATTLE SHE'S THE CO-CHAIR OF LET'S BRING IN REPRESENTATIVE PRAMILA JAYAPAL AGAIN SEATTLE.

I SHOULD SAY A CONGRESSIONAL PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS PRIOR TO HER ELECTION TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN 2016 SHE WAS AN ACTIVIST AND AN ORGANIZATIONER.

MY APOLOGIES ON THAT.

CONGRESSWOMAN JAYAPAL, VERY GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

WHAT DID THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD MEAN FOR THIS COUNTRY.

>> THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HIS BROTHER FOR BRINGING IN THE NAMES THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IN ADDITION TO GEORGE FLOYD AND SO MANY MORE.

IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF AN AWAKENING, THE BEGINNING OF A RECKONING WITH THE LEGACY OF ANTI-BLACKNESS AND WHITE PREMIUM SEE THAT SO MANY PEOPLE AWE -- SUPREMACY THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ACROSS AMERICA HAVE COME TO TERMS WITH AND HAVE NOT ADDRESSED.

FOR MANY OF US WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON RACIAL JUSTICE FOR A LONG TIME AND WHO KNOW THAT OUR INSTITUTIONS ARE FUNDAMENTALLY RIDDLED WITH INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND THAT THE POLICE FORCE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PEOPLE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT TO KEEP THIS COMMUNITY SAFE.

THIS IS FOR US TO CONSIDER WHAT IT MEANS TO DO HONOR TO GEORGE FLOYD'S NAME.

TO MAKE IT NOT JUST A NAME ON THE T SHIRT.

WHEN HIS BROTHER TESTIFIED BEFORE THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TO ACTUALLY PASS SWEEPING REFORMS THAT ADDRESS THE CONDITIONS THAT LEAD TO THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

>> Woodruff: LET'S BROADEN THIS OUT CONGRESSWOMAN.

YOU ENDORSED VIBE BIDEN BACK IN APRIL BUT A NUMBER OF YOUR FELLOW PROGRESS SIFERS IN THE CONGRESS SAY THEY ARE SUPPORTING HIM BUT HAVEN'T ENDORSED HIM.

WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN 2016 WHEN HILLARY CLINTON DIDN'T GET THE VOTES SHE EXPECTED SHE DID.

COULD THAT HAPPEN TO JOE BIDEN?

>> LOOK, I THINK WE WILL HAVE AT THE CONGRESSIONAL PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS A MEETING WITH JOE BIDEN THAT'S USUALLY THE STANDARD PROTOCOL BEFORE WE FORMALLY ENDORSE A CANDIDATE AS A CAUCUS.

SO THAT WILL HAPPEN.

I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

WHAT I DO THINK WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO IS THAT WE NEED OUR BASE TO TURN OUT.

WE NEED THE YOUNG VOTERS THAT SOMEBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER ON YOUR PROGRAM TO TURN OUT.

WE NEED THE VOTERS OF COLOR TO TURN OUT.

WE NEED THE BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO TURN OUT.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT 2016 AND YOU THINK ABOUT A STATE LIKE MICHIGAN, GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS NEXT ELECTION, WE LOST THE STATE OF MICHIGAN BY JUST OVER 10,000 VOTES.

THERE WERE 20,000 PEOPLE WHO, FEWER PEOPLE THAN 2012 WHO VOTED.

AND THAT DOESN'T COUNT THE UNDER COUNT OF THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO WENT TO THE BALLOT BUT DID NOT MARK IT FOR THE PRESIDENT.

SO WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO HERE.

PROGRESSIVES WILL UNITE.

WE WILL ELECT JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS AS VICE PRESIDENT AND AS PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT.

AND WE WILL DO THE WORK WE NEED TO DO TO CONTINUE TO PUSH.

>> Woodruff: THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT.

HOW DO YOU DO THAT.

THIS IS A CANDIDATE.

YES HE'S A DEMOCRAT, YES HE'S WITH YOU ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES BUT HE'S NOT WITH MEDICARE FOR ALL.

HE IS NOT FOR DEFUNDING THE POLICE.

HE'S NOT DOWN THE LINE FOR A NUMBER OF THE ISSUES THAT PROGRESSIVES SAY ARE SO CENTRAL TO THEIR VIEW.

>> WELL YOU KNOW, CHANGE DOESN'T COME OVER NIGHT.

AS AN ORGANIZER MY WHOLE LIFE, I WILL JUST SAY, THIS IS THE MOST PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATIC PARTY PLATFORM WE HAVE HAD IN A LONG TIME AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE MOVEMENT FOR CHANGE.

IT'S THE MOVEMENT OF PROGRESSIVES.

SO YOU KNOW, YES, WE'RE NOT AT THE PERFECT PLACE BUT WE ARE CONSIDERABLY FURTHER ALONG.

AND HERE'S THE THING, JUDY.

NO PROGRESS IS POSSIBLE WITH DONALD TRUMP IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

IF DONALD TRUMP STAYS IN THE WHITE HOUSE, WE GO DOWN THE ROAD TO FASCISM EVEN MORE QUICKLY THAN WE ALREADY ARE.

WE HAVE NO HEALTHCARE, NO PLANET AND NO RESPECT FOR IMMIGRANTS.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT WILL BE COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

SO LET'S GET KAMALA HARRIS AND, LET'S GET JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS IN.

THIS IS AN EXCITING MOMENT FOR US TO SEE HOW MUCH WE'VE DONE AND HOW MUCH MORE WE CAN DO.

THAT'S WHAT WE PROGRESSIVES ARE ABOUT.

>> BUT YOU'RE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT MAKING THAT CASE TO SAY SOME OF THE ACTIVISTS WHO HAVE BEEN OUT IN THE STREETS CONTINUING TO MARCH, CONTINUING TO COME TOGETHER TO CALL FOR MUCH STRONGER ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN AROUND POLICE REFORM.

AND FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUE THAT BERNIE SANDERS MADE CENTRAL TO HIS CAMPAIGN WHICH IS HEALTHCARE FOR ALL AMERICANS.

>> JUDY, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO STOP FIGHTING FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE IS RIGHT.

BEING A PROGRESSIVE JUST MEANS YOU'RE FIRST TO THE BEST AND MOST JUST IDEA.

AND THEN WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE THE, POLITICS IS THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT IS SEEN AS POSSIBLE.

I HAVE NO DOUBT WE WILL BE ABLE TO ENERGIZE OUR BASE BUT IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE WORK AND ORGANIZING AND IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A LOT OF OUTREACH TO PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO HAVE THEM BELIEVE AGAIN THAT GOVERNMENT CAN BE THE GREAT HE CANNIZER OF OPPORTUNITY.

I DON'T -- EQUALIZER OF OPPORTUNITY.

WE WILL GET THERE AND BEND THE ARC MORE TOWARDS JUSTICE.

>> Woodruff: KAMALA JAYAPAL WASHINGTON STATE -- PRAMILA JAYAPAL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GREAT HAVING YOU WITH US.

>> THANK YOU JUDY.

>> Woodruff: NUMBSUSED.>> WE'LL GO TO AMNA.

>> THANK YOU.

WE'VING HEARING FROM A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS IN THE CONVENTION PLAN TONIGHT.

IT IS THIS IDEA UNDER THE BROAD BREAM OF WE PETE PULL OF RACIAL JUSTICE IS THE THEME RIGHT NOW FOCUSING ON THIS SEGMENT OF THE PROGRAMMING.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN HEARING AGAIN AND AGAIN THE DEMOCRATIC NEEDS TO TURN OUT THOSE VOTERS OF COLOR AND YOUNGER VOTERS.

AND PARTICULARLY VOTERS IN AMERICA WHO FEEL THEIR VOTES HAVE BEEN TAKEN FOR GRANTED ALL THE WHILE RELIED UPON FOR MANY DEMOCRATS IN THEIR ELECTIONS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE KNOW WE'LL BE HEARING ABOUT TONIGHT AND THE DAYS AHEAD OF COURSE IS THE PERSONAL STORY OF SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE HEARD MANY PEOPLE EXAMINING HER STORY AND INTRODUCING HERSELF TO A LARGER AUDIENCE, THIS IS SOMEONE WHO BRINGS TO THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET A FLUENCY, SOMEWHAT OF A COMFORT SPEAKING ABOUT RACE AND ETHICITY AND IDENTITY BECAUSE OF HER OWN EXPERIENCE.

SHE'S ABLE TO TALK ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE AS AN AMERICAN, AS A BLACK WOMAN IN AMERICA BUT SHE'S ALSO ABLE TO TALK ABOUT HER LIVED EXPERIENCE AS A CHILD OF IMMIGRANTS.

REMEMBER HER FATHER IMMIGRATED FROM JAMAICA AND HER MOTHER FROM INDIA AND SHE SPEAKS OFTEN FROM THAT IDENTITY BEING RAISED BY A SINGLE INDIAN MOTHER.

SO YOU SEE HER TALKING ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A MEMBER OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY OF AMERICA BUT ALSO MAKING THE CAMPAIGN VIDEO WHEN SHE WAS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

THIS ONE ISSUE OF RACIAL JUSTICE REMAINS AT THE TOP OF THE PRIORITY LIST FOR MANY OF THEIR LIKELY VOTERS ALONG WITH THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND THE ECONOMY AND HEALTHCARE.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO EXPECT TO SEE AGAIN AND AGAIN.

AND WE KNOW COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM VERY VERY SOON IS GOING TO BE REPRESENTATIVE JIM CLYBURN WHO OF COURSE IS IN SOUTH CAROLINA AT THE ST. OF SITE OF THE HORRENDOUS MURDER.

THIS IS A TOPIC THEY'LL TURN TO AGAIN AND AGAIN, JUDY.

>> Woodruff: AMNA LAKE IT OUT SO WELL FOR -- LAYING IT OUT SO WELL FOR US REMINDING US RACIAL JUSTICE IS WOVEN THROUGHOUT THE THEMES OF THIS CONVENTION.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IT TONIGHT.

THEY OPENED WITH TRULY A MOSAIC OF AMERICA, THE CHILDREN WE SAW ON THE SCREEN, FROM STATES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY WE WERING THE RED WHITE AND BLUE T SHIRT.

THOSE WERE CHILDREN OF EVERY COLOR.

CHILDREN OF EVERY BACKGROUND IN THIS COUNTRY.

A REMINDER THAT AMERICA HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER PEOPLE FROM ALL ACROSS THE WORLD WHO LIVE HERE NOW AND WHO CALL THIS COUNTRY HOME.

IT IS OFTEN HARD TO POINT TO ONE MOMENT THAT TURNS THE TIDE OF A PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN BUT FOR JOE BIDEN IT IS CLEAR THAT SOUTH CAROLINA WAS A TURNING POINT.

CONGRESSMAN JIM CLYBURN'S VOCAL ADVOCACY HELPED TO PUSH THE MEADOW STATE INTO THIS CRITICAL SPOT.

WE'RE GOING TO HEAR WHAT HE HAS TO SAY IN JUST A MOMENT.

I MAY HAVE INTRODUCED HIM A LITTLE BIT EARLY.

WE CAN SHOW YOU RIGHT NOW WHERE THE CONVENTION IS SHOWING JOE BIDEN HIMSELF IN CONVERSATION APPEARS TO BE PRERECORDED CONVERSATION WITH A NUMBER OF ACTIVISTS.

THE POLICE CHIEF OF HOUSTON.

THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO, LORI LIGHTFOOT.

GWEN KARR WHO IS THE MOTHER OF ERIC GARNER.

AND IT'S AS YOU CAN SEE NOW, THEY ARE BRINGING THIS MESSAGE, THIS THEME OF RACIAL JUSTICE FRONT AND CENTER TIME AND AGAIN.

IT SOUNDS AS IF HE'S THANKING THEM RIGHT NOW.

AND WE'RE TURNING.

WE MAY BE MOVING RIGHT TO CONGRESSMAN CRY BURN.

LET'S LIST -- CLYBURN.

LET'S LISTEN.

>> RACISM STRUCTURALLY AND SYSTEMATICALLY IS REAL.

>> BLACK BROWN, NO MATTER WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE, YOU SHOULD NOT EVER BE FEARFUL OF YOUR LIFE AND THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN.

>> WHAT I WANT TO SEE THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS SOMEONE WHO IS FAIR, WHO BELIEVES IN EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW.

I WANT HIM TO LEAD US THROUGH THIS EVOLUTION THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW.

>> JOE BIDEN IS A HEALER AND HE'S A UNIFIER.

HE WILL FIGHT FOR THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT.

>> I WANT TO TEAR DOWN THE RECOMMEND INFORMANTS OF STRUCTURAL AND SYSTEMATIC RACE SELL IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> THE SYSTEMIC INJUSTICES EXIST, OUR NATION HAS OVERLOOKED THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> WE NEED TO STAND ON OUR PLATFORM AND INTRODUCE LEGISLATION THAT MAKES THIS PLATFORM FELT FROM COAST TO COAST.

>> I KNOW THAT JOE BIDEN HAS THE VALUES WE HOLD SO NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR HEARTS.

>> I HAVE A TEN YEAR OLD SON.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS A WORLD THAT'S LEFT BETTER FOR HIM.

>> AGAIN I'M CONGRESSMAN JIM CLYBURN.

HERE IN HISTORIC -- GOOD EVENING.

I'M CONGRESSMAN JIM CLYBURN HERE IN HISTORIC CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

SIX MONTHS AGO I STOOD NOT FAR FROM HERE AND ENDORSED JOE BIDEN TO BE OUR 46TH PRESIDENT.

IT WAS A DECISION THAT MADE WITH MY FEET FIRMLY PLANTED IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THIS COMMUNITY WHERE 80% OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THIS COUNTRY WHO ARRIVED ON THESE SHORES IN BONDAGE.

A FEW BLOCKS FROM HERE OVER GASDEN'S WALL.

THIS COMMUNITY THAT IS STILL HEELING FROM A WHITE SUPREMACIST, IN IT IMMANUEL CHURCH AND MURDERED NINE BLACK PARISHONERS AS THEY STUDIED THE BIBLE TOGETHER.

THE GROUND BENEATH OUR FEET IS SEATED WITH PAIN THAT IS BOTH OLD AND NEW.

BUT FROM THAT SOIL, WE ALWAYS FIND A WAY TO GROW TOGETHER.

EARLIER THIS SUMMER, THE CITY OF CHARLESTON REMOVED ITS STATUTE IN HONOR OF JOHN C. CALHOUN AN HONORED ADVOCATE OF SLAVERY.

AND CONSTRUCTION IS UNDER WAY ON THE INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM AT GADS STOP'S WALL.

WE BEGINNING TO LAY THE GROUND WORK FOR A MORE JUST FUTURE.

IT WON'T BE EASIESTY.

WE CAN SKIS IF WE MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER.

SO WE WILL NEED A PRESIDENT WHO SEES UNIFYING PEOPLE AS A REQUIREMENT OF THE JOB.

A PRESIDENT WHO UNDERSTANDS THE TRUE MEANING OF COMMUNITY.

AND TO BUILD IT THROUGH TRUST AND HUMILITY.

AND SO MANY FAMILIES AND LOST JOBS IN THIS MAN DIRNLG LOST LOVED ONES AND CONFIDENCE IN THE PRESIDENT TO KEY US SAFE.

WE NEED A PRESIDENT WHO UNDERSTANDS BOTH PROFOUND LOSS AND WHAT IT TAKES TO BOUNCE BACK.

MORE IMPORTANT THAN HIS FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE WITH LOSS AND HARDSHIP IS HIS ABILITY TO TRANSLATE THAT PERSPECTIVE INTO POLICY AND SOLUTIONS.

AND PRIORITIZE HARD WORKING PEOPLE AND OVER PARTISAN POLITICS AND PERSONAL GAIN.

THAT'S WHY I STAND WITH JOE AND WHY HE WILL ALWAYS BE AN ADOPTED SON OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

JOE BIDEN IS AS GOOD A MAN AS HE IS A LEADER.

AS I SAID BEFORE AND WISH TO REITERATE TONIGHT, WE KNOW JOE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY JOE KNOWS US.

>> Woodruff: REPRESENTATIVE JAMES CLYBURN OF SOUTH CAROLINA, SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT, VERY IMPORTANT TO JOE BIDEN IN THIS CAMPAIGN.

IT WAS HIS ENDORSEMENT BEFORE THE SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY THAT THEN LED ON TO THE SUPER TUESDAY PRIMARIES AT WHICH POINT JOE BIDEN, IT BECOME VERY CLEAR THAT JOE BIDEN WAS COALESCING SUPPORT AND WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR ANY OTHER DEMOCRAT TO CATCH UP WITH HIM.

JAMES CLYBURN SERVING CONGRESS 27 YEARS HE'S NOW THE THIRD RANKING DEMOCRAT IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

NOW AMNA NAWAZ IS BACK TO CHECK WITH REPORTERS ON THE GROUND AND PLANNED CONVENTION CITY.

AMNA.

>> THANK YOU JUDY.

THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE WEAK 50,000 PEOPLE DESCENDED IN MILWAUKEE FOR THE CONVENTION.

OF COURSE THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN BUT PBS OF WISCONSIN IS THERE TO TELL US WHAT IT'S LIKE IN THE WHOLE CITY.

ZAC, WELCOME AND THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

WE WANT TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH YOU IN PERSON BUT THANKS FOR MAKING THE TIME.

TELL US WHAT IT IS LIKE ON THE GROUND RIGHT NOW.

DOES IT FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ACTUALLY HOSTING A CONVENTION IN MILWAUKEE?

>> THE FENCE IS THERE.

THE CONVENTION SITE'S THERE, THE SIGNS ARE THERE BUT THE PEOPLE ARE NOT.

AND THAT'S WHAT FEELS SO OUT OF PLACE.

IT FEELS LIKE MAYBE THE CONVENTION'S A COUPLE DAYS AWAY EXCEPT THE BIG SIGN ON THE WALL SAYS ZERO DAYS FROM THE DNC COMES TO TOWN.

IT IS EMPTY.

WE DIDN'T FIND PROTESTERS.

THERE WASN'T POLICE AROUND THERE.

IT WAS MORE MEDIA PEOPLE TAKING VIDEOS OF EMPTY BUILDING THAN THERE WAS ANY ACTIVITY GOING ON IN MILWAUKEE TODAY.

>> SO MUCH ANTICIPATION AND SO MUCH EXCITEMENT AROUND A WHOLE CITY FOR A MAJOR CONVENTION LIKE THIS.

AT THE SAME TIME THERE WAS A FEAR ABOUT POSSIBLE FUELING OF THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS IF THAT MANY PEOPLE CAME.

WHEN YOU TALKED TO PEOPLE ON THE GROUND RESIDENTS OF MILWAUKEE, WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE TO CANCELING THE CONVENTION.

WAS IT MOSTLY RELIEF OR DISAPPOINTMENT.

>> IT WAS DEFINITELY DISAPPOINT BUT THE BAND-AID HAD BEEN OFF VERY SLOWLY OVER TIME.

BACK IN MARCH AND APRIL WHEN THE STATE FIRST SHUT DOWN THERE WAS A FEAR WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE DNC, WILL IT BE OVER IN TIME AND THEN PUSHED FROM JULY TO AUGUST.

THEN THERE WAS THE QUESTION WILL EVERYONE STILL BE THERE.

JOE BIDEN WILL STILL ACCEPT THE NOMINATION AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THEY COULD HOLD ON TO.

WHEN IT WENT ALL VIRTUAL THAT'S WHEN ALL THE BUSINESSES AND ALL THE RECALLIERSER -- RALLIERS WANT TO THROW A BIG PARTY REALIZING THEY DIDN'T GET TO DO ANY OF THAT AND THAT'S STILL A DISAPPOINT TODAY.

>> THE CONVENTION WITHOUT THE CONVENING.

WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME TO TALK TO US TONIGHT FROM MILWAUKEE.

ALL EYES ON WISCONSIN IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.

THANKS VERY MUCH AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Woodruff: THANK YOU AMNA AND THANK YOU ZAC.

SO THE BAND-AID BEING RIPPED OFF SLOWLY I THINK WE'RE GOING TO REMEMBER THAT FOR A LONG TIME.

LET'S GO QUICKLY TO THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION AND TO GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO OF NEW YORK.

>> NEW YORKERS WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME TO OUR AID.

30,000 AMERICANS TO VOLUNTEERED TO COME HERE TO HELP IN OUR HOUR OF NEED.

YOUR LOVE GAVE US THE STRENGTH TO CARRY ON.

WE WENT THROUGH HELL BUT WE'VE LEARNED MUCH.

WE KNOW THAT OUR PROBLEMS GO BEYOND THE COVID VIRUS.

COVID IS THE SYMPTOM NOT THE ILLNESS.

OUR NATION IS IN CRISES AND IN MANY WAYS COVID IS JUST A METAPHOR.

A VIRUS ATTACKS WHEN THE BODY IS WEAK WHEN IT CANNOT DEFEND ITSELF.

OVER THESE PAST FEW YEARS AMERICA'S BODY POLITICS HAS BEEN WEAKENED, THE DHVISIONS ARE DEEPER, AN SIGH SEMITISM -- ANTI-SMELLISM, ANTI-RACISM WHERE THE KKK DIDN'T BOTHER TO WEAR THEIR HOODS AND MINNESOTA WHERE THE LIFE WAS SQUEEZED FROM MR. FLOYD.

ONLY A STRONG BODY CAN FIGHT OFF THE VIRUS.

AND AMERICANS DIVISIONS WEAKENED IT.

DONALD TRUMP DIDN'T CREATE THE INITIAL DIVISION.

THE DIVISION CREATED TRUMP.

HE ONLY MADE IT WORSE.

OUR COLLECTIVE STRENGTH IS EXERCISED THROUGH GOVERNMENT.

IT IS IN EFFECT OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM AND OUR CURRENT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS DYSFUNCTIONAL AND INCOMPETENT.

HE COULDN'T FIGHT OFF THE VIRUS.

IN FACT HE DIDN'T EVEN SEE IT COMING.

THE EUROPEAN VIRUS INFECTED THE NORTHEAST WHILE THE WHITE HOUSE WAS STILL FIX EVIDENTED ON CHINA -- FIXATED ON CHINA.

THE VIRUS WAS ATTACKING US FOR MONTHS BEFORE THEY KNEW IT WAS HERE.

WE SAW THE FAILURE OF THE GOVERNMENT THAT TRIED TO DENY THE VIRUS, THEN TRIED TO IGNORE IT THEN TRIED TO PLIFLT SIZE IT.

THE -- POLITICIZE IT.

THE FAILED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT GOT AM BUSHED BY THEIR NEGLIGENT AND THEN WATCHED NEW YORK SUFFER BUT ALL THROUGH IT LEARNED ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

SO TODAY SIX MONTHS AFTER IT BEGAN, THE NATION IS STILL UNPREPARED.

AND WE NOW FACE A SECOND THREAT BUT THIS TIME NOT FROM MOTHER NATURE.

THIS IS A MAN-MADE THREAT BY OUR OWN NEGLIGENCE.

WE NOW SEE THE VIRUS RICOCHETING ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM ONE STATE TO ANOTHER.

TODAY WE TRAIL THE WORLD IN DEFEATING COVID.

WE HAVE OVER FIVE MILLION CASES.

AMERICANS LEARNED A CRITICAL EVIDENT.

HOW VULNERABLE WE ARE WHEN WE ARE DIVIDED AND HOW MANY LIVES CAN BE LOST WHEN OUR GOVERNMENT IS INCOMPETENT.

BUT WE LEARNED SOMETHING ELSE, MY FRIENDS.

WE SAW THE NEGATIVE BUT WE ALSO SAW THE POSITIVE.

AS THEY PROVED THEIR WAY FAILED, WE PROVED THAT OUR WAY SUCCEEDED.

THAT AMERICA CAN STILL RISE TO THE OCCASION.

WE CAN PUT OUR DIFFERENCES ASIDE AND FIND COMMONALITY.

GOVERNMENT CAN TELL THE TRUTH AND CAN BUILD TRUST.

WE CAN JUDGE BY CONTENT OF CHARACTER RATHER THAN COLOR OF SKIN.

WE CAN CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER.

THAT AMERICANS CAN WORK TOGETHER AND FORGE COMMUNITY AND A COMPETENT GOVERNMENT.

OF COURSE WE WILL WEAR MASKS BECAUSE WE ARE SMART AND BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT YOU AND BECAUSE YOU CARE ABOUT ME.

OF COURSE WE WILL SOCIALLY DISTANCE BECAUSE STAYING AWAY SHOWS HOW CLOSE WE ACTUALLY ARE.

YES, WE WILL SET UP TESTING AND TRACING AND DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO MOBILIZE TO WIN THIS BATTLE BECAUSE WE ARE AMERICA, WE WIN WARS.

AND WE ARE THE GREATEST COUNTRY ON THE GLOBE.

AND FOR ALL THE PAIN AND ALL THE TEARS, OUR WAY WORKS.

AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

WE SHOWED THAT OUR BETTER ANGELS ARE STRONG.

THAT AMERICANS WILL RISE TO THEIR CALL.

WE SAW THAT EVEN AT THE END OF THE DAY, EVEN IF IT IS A LONG DAY, THAT LOVE WINS.

AMERICANS' EYES HAVE BEEN OPENED AND WE HAVE SEEN IN THIS CRISES THE TRUTH THAT GOVERNMENT MATTERS AND LEADERSHIP MATTERS.

AND IT DETERMINES WHETHER WE THRIVE AND GROW OR WHETHER WE LIVE OR DIE.

NOW WE NEED A LEADER AS GOOD AS OUR PEOPLE, A LEADER WHO APPEALS TO THE BEST WITHIN US NOT THE WORST.

A LEADER WHO CAN UNIFY, NOT DIVIDE.

A LEADER WHO CAN BRING US UP NOT TERRACETEAR US TOWN.

I KNOW THAT MAN I'VE WORKED WITH THAT MAN, I'VE SEEN HIS TALENTS, HIS STRENGTH AND PAIN AND I'VE SEEN HIS HEART.

THAT MAN IS JOE BIDEN.

JOE BIDEN IS WHAT I CALL AMERICA TOUGH.

TOUGH IN THE BEST WAY.

TOUGH THAT IS SMART, UNITED, DISCIPLINED AND LOVING.

JOE BIDEN CAN RESTORE THE SOUL OF AMERICA.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT OUR COUNTRY NEEDS TODAY.

THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW WE'LL HEAR FROM CHRISTEN ORTIZA.

>> HI.

ONE OF MANY WHO LOST A LOVED ONE TO COVID.

MY DAD, MARK ANTHONY SHOULD BE HERE TODAY BUT HE ISN'T.

HE HAD FAITH IN DONALD TRUMP.

HE VOTED FOR HIM, LISTENED TO HIM, BELIEVED HIM AND HIS MOUTH PIECES WHEN THEY SAID THAT CORONAVIRUS WAS UNDER CONTROL AND GOING TO DISAPPEAR.

THAT IT WAS OKAY TO END SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES BEFORE IT WAS SAFE.

IF YOU HAD NO UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS, YOU WOULD PROBABLY BE FINE.

SO IN LATE MAY, AFTER THE STAY AT HOME ORDER WAS LIFTED IN ARIZONA MY DAD WENT TO A KARAOKE BAR WITH HIS FRIENDS.

A FEW WEEKS LATER, HE WAS PUT ON A VENTILATOR AND AFTER FIVE AGONIZING DAYS, HE DIED ALONE IN THE ICU WITH A NURSE HOLDING HIS HAND.

MY DAD WAS A HEALTHY 65-YEAR-OLD.

HIS ONLY PREEXISTING CONDITION WAS TRUSTING DONALD TRUMP AND FOR THAT HE PAID WITH HIS LIFE.

I AM NOT ALONE.

ONCE I TOLD MY STORY, A LOT OF PEOPLE REACHED OUT TO ME TO SHARE THEIRS.

THEY ASKED ME TO HELP THEM KEEP THEIR COMMUNITY SAFEST SPECIALLY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WHICH HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED.

THEY ASKED ME, A NORMAL PERSON TO HELP BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP WON'T.

THE CORONAVIRUS HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT THERE ARE TWO AMERICAS.

THE AMERICA THAT DONALD TRUMP LIVES IN AND THE AMERICA THAT MY FATHER DIED IN.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

DONALD TRUMP MAY NOT HAVE CAUSED THE CORONAVIRUS BUT HIS DISHONESTY AND HIS IRRESPONSIBLE ACTIONS MADE IT SO MUCH WORSE.

WE NEED A LEADER WHO HAS A NATIONAL COORDINATED DATA-DRIVEN RESPONSE TO STOP THIS PANDEMIC FROM CLAIMING MORE LIVES AND TO SAFELY REOPEN THE COUNTRY.

WE NEED A LEADER WHO WILL STEP IN ON DAY ONE AND DO HIS JOB TO CARE.

ONE OF THE LAST THINGS THAT MY FATHER SAID TO ME WAS THAT HE FELT BETRAYED BY THE LIKES OF DONALD TRUMP.

AND SO WHEN I CAST MY VOTE FOR JOE BIDEN, I WILL DO IT FOR MY DAD.

>> THANK YOU KRISTIN FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.

OUR NATION GRIEVES FOR YOUR FATHER AND ALL THOSE WE'VE LOST TO THIS VIRUS.

IT'S A TOLL THAT HASN'T FALLEN EQUALLY ON US.

PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED DYING AT GREATER RATES THAN WHITE AMERICANS.

BUT WE CAN HONOR ALL OF THOSE WE'VE LOST BY GIVING JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT IN PLACE A REAL NATIONAL PLAN THAT TESTS AND TRACKS, THAT MAKES SURE THAT ACCESS TO A VACCINE WILL BE ANYWHERE AND TURNS THE FULL POWER OF OUR GOVERNMENT TOWARD MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE SUPPLIES AND TECHNOLOGY AND PEOPLE, SCIENTISTS AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS AND CONTACT TRACERS.

WE NEED TO STOP THIS.

SO RIGHT NOW, LET'S HEAR FROM A CHAMPION FOR OUR FRONTLINE WORKERS WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO BE AN OLYMPIC CHAMPION AND WORLD CUP CHAMPION MEGAN RAPINO.

>> HI, EVERYBODY MY NAME IS MEGAN RAPINO AND I HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR TODAY TO HOST THE CONVERSATION WITH FOUR OF OUR FRONT LINE WORKERS HERE IN AMERICA WE SHOULD RENAME THEM HEROES ABSOLUTELY.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU'RE DOING DURING THIS TIME.

>> SO EARLY ON WHEN THE GOVERNMENT WAS STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT PROPER PROTOCOLS TO PROTECT FRONTLINE WORKERS, I HAD UNFORTUNATELY CONTRACTED COVID THROUGH PATIENT CONTACT AND WAS ISOLATED BY MYSELF FOR TWO WEEKS.

TOTAL ISOLATION.

NO CONTACT.

ONCE I RECOVERED LUCKILY I WENT BACK TO THE FRONT LINES TO CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF THE SICK.

ORIGINALLY I WAS WATCHING PEOPLE DIE ALONE.

NO ONE WAS ALLOWED.

EVERYONE WAS TOTALLY ISOLATED AND I KNEW HOW THAT FELT BECAUSE FOR TWO WEEKS THAT WAS ME.

NOT KNOWING IF YOU WERE GOING TO WAKE UP, NOT KNOWING IF YOU WERE GOING TO MAKE IT, WHO YOU CAN THANK YOU TO IF YOU CAN SAY GOOD-BYE WHICH WAS PEOPLE'S MOMS, DADS, BROTHERS, SISTERS, SONS, DAUGHTERS ALL DYING ALONE.

WE KNOW THE ROUNDS ARE COME AND MENTALLY PHYSICALLY EMOTIONALLY I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF US ON THE FRONT LINES ARE GOING TO SURVIVE THAT SECOND ROUND.

>> DR. BRADLEY, WHAT EFFECTS ARE YOU SEEING INSIDE YOUR HOSPITAL DOORS OF THE INACTION OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WHEN IT COMES TO THIS COVID RESPONSE.

>> IT'S HEAVY.

I LEFT THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IN STEERS AND SO DID A -- IN TEARS AND SO DID A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES.

WE WERE EXHAUSTED AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THE TSUNAMI OF INFLUENZA AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO DOCUMENT IT.

IF WE'RE NOT THERE AND PEOPLE COME WITH THEIR BROKEN ARM OR HEART ATTACKS OR STROKES OR APPENDICITIS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE THERE.

>> WHAT WERE YOU SEEING ON THE FRONT LINES IN THOSE VERY EARLY DAYS THAT YOU KNEW WASN'T GOING TO MAGICALLY DISAPPEAR.

DID YOU THINK IT WAS A HOAX THEN.

>> ABSOLUTELY WE KNEW THIS WAS NOT A HOAX.

WE WERE CERTAIN OF THAT.

ALL OF US KNEW FROM EXPERIENCE WHAT THIS VIRUS IS.

WE KNEW WHAT A MANAGE DEMOCRATIC WOULD LOOK LIKE -- WHAT A PANDEMIC WOULD LOOK LIKE.

WE HAD THE PLANS IN PLACE.

BUT THEN WE HAD LACK OF LEADERSHIP FROM THE ADMINISTRATION.

I'VE SEEN THE WORST OF THE WORST.

I KNOW I HAVE ANSWERED THOUSANDS OF CALLS ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE SICK BUT PEOPLE THAT ARE DYING.

>> MICHELLE, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW IT'S BEEN FOR YOU ON THE FRONT LINES, WHAT YOUR SPECIFIC ROLE IS AS A UNION NURSE.

>> I'VE BEEN PRIMARILY MORE ON THE FOREFRONT OF ADVOCATING THAT OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND OUR PATIENTS GET THE SUPPORT AND THE PPE THAT THEY NEED.

YOU KNOW, TEN YEARS AGO I RESPONDED TO THE DISASTER IN HAITI FROM THE EARTHQUAKE.

THE FIRST TIME I EVER FEARED FOR MY LIFE AND MY FAMILY WALKING INTO WORK IS IN MY OWN COUNTRY.

WE HAVE THE MONEY, WE HAVE THE MEANS.

WE HAVE THE RESOURCES IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE ARE DEEPLY LACKING LEADERSHIP AND SOMEBODY WHO CARES.

TRUMP HAS MADE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR HOW HE FEELS.

WE NEED A PRESIDENT WHO CARES.

THAT'S JOE BIDEN.

>> DR. BRADLEY DREYFUSS, ALDO MARTINEZ, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE INDEBTED TO YOU AND YOUR WORK AND YOUR SACRIFICE AND JUST SHOWING UP EVERY SINGLE DAY AND GIVING EVERYTHING YOU HAVE.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO ON THE FRONTLINE.

THERE'S NO WAY WE COULD EVER REPAY YOU.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AND VETERANS AND SENIOR CITIZENS RELY ON THE SYSTEM FOR PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE AND THEIR CHECKS.

>> THE MOST POSTAL IS MORE IMPORTANT THAT COVID WOULD HIT US HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> HOWEVER NOW WITH DONALD TRUMP IN OFFICE AND HIS ATTEMPT TO UNDERMIND THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, WE ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED.

>> THIS ADMINISTRATION'S POSITION NOT TO PROVIDE THE ANYTHING FUNDING THROUGH THE UNITED STATES MOST POSTAL SERVICE.

>> I WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE MAIL IS OUR OWN REALISTIC OPTION.

IN NO WAY DO I WANT MY 11 GRANDCHILDREN TO GROW UP IN A WORLD WHERE THIS KIND OF SUPPRESSION EXISTS.

>> Woodruff: WE ARE STEPPING AWAY FROM THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION PROGRAMMING AND TURNING AGAIN TO OUR GUESTS, OUR GUEST ANALYSTS.

GARY ABERNATHY COLUMNIST FOR "THE WASHINGTON POST."

AND TUCKER IS NOW BASED ON ALABAMA.

AND A COLUMNNESS FROM "THE WASHINGTON POST" AND HIS STORY AND MICHAEL BESCHLOSS.

MICHAEL I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU.

SOME VERY POINTED EMPHASIS TONIGHT ON THE DEATH OF GEORGE EMPLOYED ON BLACK LIVES MATTER ON RACIAL JUSTICE AND OF COURSE ON THE TERRIBLE TOLL OF THIS PANDEMIC.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROGRAMMING SO FAR.

>> I THINK IT'S BEEN PRETTY EFFECTIVE.

AS YOU KNOW JUDY I'VE BEEN DOING THIS PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY THING FOR A WHILE.

SOMETHING I'VE HEARD FOR A LONG TIME IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHO IS PRESIDENT, DOES IT.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'VE HEARD IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING TONIGHT AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IS MAKING IT VERY CLEAR WAYS THAT DONALD TRUMP BEING PRESIDENT HAS AFFECTED PEOPLE'S LIVES.

IF SOMEONE ELSE HAD BEEN PRESIDENT, WOULD THE OUTCOME OF THIS CORONAVIRUS WOULD IT BE DIFFERENT.

WOULD TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE BE ALIVE.

AT LEAST RAISING THE QUESTION.

IN TERMS OF GEORGE FLOYD, WHEN BUMPLING HAM HAPPENED, THE VIOLENCE IN HUMMERRING HAM IN -- BURNING HAM IN 1963.

1965 SELMA HAPPENED WHEN JOHNSON RESPONDED WITH A VOTING RIGHTS BILL AND BY SAYING WE 1458 SHALL OVERCOME THE CONGRESS.

DONALD TRUMP RESPONDED BY SAYING WE NEED MORE LAW AND ORDER BECAUSE THE REAL PROBLEM IS WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN POLICE AND WORRY ABOUT CRIME.

IT DOES MATTER WHO IS PRESIDENT VERY PROPER THEME FOR5Ñ HOW SEVERE THOSE HEALTH DISPARITIES ARE.

AND SO THE CONVENTION PROGRAMMING HAS THE POINTED BOTH THOSE OUT.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE VERY BEGINNING THE OPENING WHICH YOU NOTED, JUDY, HAD ALL OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE OF SO MANY ETHNICITIES SINGING THE "WE THE PEOPLE" THEME AS EVERY JOURNAL LIST HERE I'M A VETERAN OF COVER COVERING THESE CONVENTIONS.

AND I HAVE LONG BEEN STRUCK AND LOOKING AT WHAT THE REPUBLICAN DELEGATES LOOK LIKE.

AND WHAT THE DEMOCRATIC DELEGATES LOOK LIKE.

SO THIS PROBLEM THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE OF BEING A VERY WHITE PARTY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT STARTED WITH DONALD TRUMP.

HE HAS MERELY EXACERBATED IT.

BUT DEMOCRATS HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB I THINK OF HIGHLIGHTING NOT JUST THE DIVERSITY OF THE NATION BUT THE DIVERSITY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

>> Woodruff: I'M TOLD WE'VE GOT ABOUT TWO MEMBERS BEFORE WE START HEARING FROM REPUBLICANS WHO ARE GOING TO BE SPEAKING FOR JOAB TONIGHT.

BUT GARY ABER NATALIE, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING TONIGHT.

SIT INK OHIO LOOKING AT THIS CONVENTION THAT IS COMING FIN ALL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

>> LOT ME TELL YOU WHAT I LOVE.

I LOVED THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.

I LOVED THE KIDS DOING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM THAT WAS VERY EFFECTIVE.

HERE IS ONE REASON WHY.

BECAUSE OF ALL THE CONTROVERSIAL WE'VE HAD ABOUT THE ATHLETES KNEELING DURING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.

WHO SAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT DISRESPECTING THE COUNTRY JUST FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.

BUT MIDDLE AMERICA JUST DOESN'T REALLY SEE IT THAT WAY.

A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T.

THEY SEE IT AS BEING DISRESPECT DISRESPECTFUL.

SO IT WAS SMART OF THE DEMOCRATS TO OPEN UP TONIGHT WITH THIS VERY DIVERSE REALLY COLLAGE OF YOUNG PEOPLE SHOWING THEIR PATRIOTISM THROUGH THAT NATIONAL ANTHEM.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

>> Woodruff: IT WAS BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL.

IT WAS POWERFUL.

WE'LL HAVE TO COME BACK TO YOU.

I'M TOLD THAT THE REPUBLICAN SERIES OF SPEAKERS IS COMING RIGHT NOW STARTING WITH -- I'M SORRY WE'RE NOT HEARING FROM THE REPUBLICANS YET BUT FROM GOVERNOR GRETCHEN WITNESS HER FROM THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.

>> I'M ON LOCAL 652.

AUTO WORKERS IN THIS UNION, ACROSS OUR STATE COULD HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS IF NOT FOR BARACK OBAMA AND JOAB.

IN 2009, THE OBAMA-BIDEN ADMINISTRATION INHERITED THE WORST ECONOMIC CRISIS SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

THE AUTO INDUSTRY, THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE.

A MILLION JOBS AT STAKE.

BUT PRESIDENT OBAMA AND VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN DIDN'T WASTE TIME BLAMING ANYONE ELSE OR SHIRKING THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

THEY GOT TO WORK.

THEY BROUGHT TOGETHER UNION MEMBERS, COMPANIES AND LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

THEY SAVED THE AUTO INDUSTRY.

AND WOULDN'T YOU KNOW JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO AS OUR NATION BEGAN BATTLING COVID-19, AUTO WORKERS ACROSS MICHIGAN SPRANG INTO ACTION.

THEY STARTED MAKING PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR DOCTORS AND NURSES ON THE FRONT LINES.

LET ME BREAK IT DOWN.

PRESIDENT OBAMA AND VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN SAVED THESE AUTO WORKERS' LIVELIHOODS.

THESE WORKERS DID THEIR PART TO SAVE AMERICAN LIVES.

THAT'S THE STORY OF THIS GREAT ACTION.

ACTION BEGETS ACTION.

PROGRESS BEGETS PROGRESS.

WHEN WE WORKS WE CAN ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING.

AFTER ALL, DEMOCRACY IS A TEAM SPORTMENT ESPECIALLY NOW.

IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE RALLY TOGETHER TO FIGHT THIS VIRUS AND BUILD OUR ECONOMY BACK BETTER.

FROM THE JUMP, WE TOOK THIS PANDEMIC SERIOUSLY IN MICHIGAN.

WE LISTENED TO MEDICAL EXPERTS.

WE PLANNED.

WITH A LOT OF WORK FROM THE AUTO WORKERS AND TOO LITTLE HELP FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, WE EXECUTED OUR PLAN.

WE SAVED THOUSANDS OF LIVES.

JUST IMAGINE IF WE HAD A NATIONAL STRATEGY.

SO EVERYONE WHO GETS A TEST GETS ONE FOR FREE.

SO EVER HAS ACCESS TO SAFE VACCINE.

OUR KIDS AND EDUCATORS HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO SAFELY GET BACK TO SCHOOL.

WITH JOE BIDEN AND CHAIRS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

WE WILL.

THEY WILL LEAD BY EXAMPLE.

HE'LL H IT WILL BE SCIENCE NOT POLITICS OFFEREE QUOTA WILL DRIVE THEIR DECISIONS.

THEY KNOW THE HEALTH OF OUR PEOPLE GOES HAND IN HAND WITH THE STRENGTH OF OUR ECONOMY.

THEY KNOW ACTION BEGETS ACTION.

OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, WE'VE LEARNED WHAT'S ESSENTIAL.

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE.

NOT DENYING IT.

WE'VE LEARNED WHO IS ESSENTIAL, TOO.

NOT JUST THE WEALTHIEST AMONG US US.

NOT A PRESIDENT WHO FIGHTS HIS FELLOW AMERICANS RATHER THAN FIGHT THE VIRUS THAT'S KILLING US AND OUR ECONOMY.

IT'S THE PEOPLE WHO PUT THEIR OWN HEALTH AT RISK TO CARE FOR THE REST OF US.

THEY ARE THE MVPs.

THE NURSES AND THE DOCTORS, UTILITY WORKERS, TRUCK DRIVERS AND GROCERY CLERKS.

THE CHILD CARE WORKERS, THE PARENTS, THE TEACHERS.

THE MAIL CARRIERS, AND THE AUTO WORKERS.

SO MANY OF THESE ESSENTIAL WORKERS HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES TO COVID.

NEARLY A THOUSAND HEALTH CARE WORKERS, MORE THAN 170,000 PEOPLE ACROSS AMERICA.

INCLUDING A 5-YEAR-OLD FROM DETROIT WHOSE MOM IS A POLICE OFFICER AND DAD IS A FIREFIGHTER FIREFIGHTER.

GENERATION AFTER GENERATION OUR NATION HAS BEEN DEFINED BY WHAT WE DO OR WHAT WE FAIL TO DO.

SO, FOR SKYLER, FOR HER PARENTS, AND IN THE MEMORY OF ALL THOSE WE'VE LOST, LET US ACT.

LET US HEAL AS A ONE NATION.

LET US FIND STRENGTH TO DO THE WORK.

♪ I'VE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD BEFORE ♪♪ I REMEMBER EVERY TREE ♪♪ EVERY SINGLE BLADE OF GRASS ♪♪ HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE FOR ME ♪ AND I REMEMBER EVERY DAY ♪♪ EVERY HOTEL ROOM ♪♪ EVERY SONG I EVER SANG ♪♪ ON A GUITAR OUT OF TUNE ♪ AND I REMEMBER EVERY NIGHT ♪♪ THE OCEAN AS BLUE ♪♪ I WILL MISS YOU IN THE MORNING LIGHT ♪ LIKE ROSES MISS THE DEW.

♪ >> EVEN THOSE WE MIGHT NOT EXPECT TO SEE AT A DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

JOE BIDEN IS A GUY WHO HAS EARNED THE RESPECT HE COMMANDS ACROSS THE WORLD AND ACROSS THE AISLE.

THE STAKES IN THIS ELECTION CALL FOR THAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP.

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT MORE THAN ONE PARTY.

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE VERY CORE OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

AND THAT'S WHY YOU ARE ABOUT TO HEAR FROM SOME UNEXPECTED VOICES.

>> WHAT AM I DOING HERE?

I'M A LIFE LONG REPUBLICAN.

MY PARENTS WERE INTRODUCED AT THE CONVENTION BY THEIR PARENTS.

BUT THIS ISN'T ABOUT A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT.

IT'S ABOUT A PERSON.

A PERSON DECENT ENOUGH, STABLE ENOUGH, STRONG ENOUGH TO GET OUR ECONOMY BACK ON TRACK.

A PERSON TO WORK WITH EVERYONE, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TO GET THINGS DONE.

DONALD TRUMP ISN'T THAT PERSON.

JOE BIDEN IS.

>> I'M MEG WHITMAN A LONG TIME REPUBLICAN AND LONG TIME CEO.

LET'S ME TELL YOU, DONALD TRUMP HAS NO CLUE HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS LET ALONE AN ECONOMY.

JOE BIDEN ON THE OTHER HAND HAS A PLAN THAT WILL STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMY FOR WORKING PEOPLE AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

FOR ME, THE CHOICE IS SIMPLE.

I'M WITH JOE.

>> HI, I'M SUSAN MOLINARI I'M A FORMER REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

I'VE KNOWN DONALD TRUMP FOR MOST OF MY POLITICAL CAREER.

SO DISAPPOINTING AND LATELY SO DISTURBING.

I'VE ALSO GOTTEN TO KNOW AND WORK WITH JOE BIDEN ON ISSUES RELATED TO WOMEN THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.

THAT'S WHY I'M SO PROUD TO CALL HIM MY FRIEND AND HONOR TO JOIN IN SUPPORT OF HIS CANDIDACY FOR PRESIDENT.

HE'S A REALLY GOODMAN.

AND HE'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS NATION NEEDS AT THIS TIME.

NOW I'M DELIGHTED AND HONORED TO INTRODUCE A FORMER COLLEAGUE OF MINE, FORMER CONGRESSMAN FROM OHIO, FORMER GOVERNOR OF OHIO, JOHN KASICH.

>> AMERICA IS AT A CROSSROADS.

SOMETIMES ELECTIONS REPRESENT A REAL CHOICE, A CHOICE WE MAKE AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS A NATION.

ABOUT WHICH PATH WE WANT TO TAKE WHEN WE'VE COME TO CHALLENGING TIMES.

AMERICA IS AT THAT CROSSROADS TODAY.

THE STAKES IN THIS ELECTION ARE GREATER THAN ANY IN MODERN TIMES TIMES.

MANY OF US HAVE BEEN DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CURRENT PATH WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS.

IT'S A PATH THAT'S LED TO DIVISION, DYSFUNCTION, IRRESPONSIBILITY AND GROWING VITRIOL WHEN OUR CITIZENS, CONTINUEING TO FOLLOW THAT PATH WILL HAVE TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES FOR AMERICA AMERICA'S SOUL BECAUSE WE'RE BEING TAKEN DOWN THE WRONG ROAD BY A PRESIDENT WHO IS PITTED ONE AGAINST THE OTHER.

HE'S UNLIKE ALL OF OUR BEST LEADERS BEFORE HIM WHO WORKED TO UNITE US, TO BRIDGE OUR DIFFERENCES.

AND LEAD US TO A UNITED AMERICA.

I'M A LIFE LONG REPUBLICAN.

BUT THAT ATTACHMENT HOLDS SECOND PLACE TO MY RESPONSIBILITY TO MY COUNTRY.

THAT'S WHY I'VE CHOSEN TO APPEAR AT THIS CONVENTION.

IN NORMAL TIMES, SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD PROBABLY NEVER HAPPEN.

BUT THESE ARE NOT NORMAL TIMES.

I'M PROUD OF MY REPUBLICAN HERITAGE.

THE FOUNDING PRINCIPLES OF UNITY AND A HIGHER PURPOSE.

BUT WHAT I HAVE WITNESSED THESE PAST FOUR YEARS BELIES THOSE PRINCIPLES.

MANY OF US CAN'T IMAGINE FOUR MORE YEARS GOING DOWN THIS PATH.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING YOU TO JOIN WITH ME IN CHOOSING A BETTER WAY FORWARD.

I BELIEVE THE BEST OF AMERICA LIES AHEAD.

BUT ONLY WHEN WE REDISCOVERED OUR SHARED BELIEF IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

FOR OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE, WHICH CAN BE BRIGHT, HOPEFUL AND INSPIRED IF WE CHOOSE TO MAKE IT SO.

I'VE KNOWN JOE BIDEN FOR 30 YEARS.

I KNOW HIS STORY OF PROFOUND GRIEF THAT IS SO DEEPLY AFFECTED HIS CHARACTER.

I KNOW JOE IS A GOOD MAN, A MAN OF FAITH, A UNIFIER, SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THE HOPES AND DREAMS OF THE COMMON MAN AND COMMON WOMAN.

A MAN WHO CAN HELP US TO SEE THE HUMANITY IN EACH OTHER.

HE KNOWS THAT THE PATH TO RESTORED AND REJUVENATED AMERICA LIES IN RESPECT AND UNITY AND A COMMON PURPOSE FOR EVERYONE.

YES, THERE ARE AREAS WHERE JOE AND I ABSOLUTELY DISAGREE.

BUT THAT'S OKAY.

BECAUSE THAT'S AMERICA.

BECAUSE WHATEVER OUR DIFFERENCES WE RESPECT ONE ANOTHER AS HUMAN BEINGS.

EACH OF US SEARCHING FOR JUSTICE AND FOR PURPOSE.

WE CAN ALL SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR COUNTRY TODAY.

AND ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE FACING US AND NO ONE PERSON OR PARTY HAS ALL THE ANSWERS.

BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT WE CAN DO BETTER ARE THAN WHAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING TODAY FOR SURE SURE.

AND I KNOW THAT JOE BIDEN WITH HIS EXPERIENCE AND HIS WISDOM AND HIS DECENCY CAN BRING US TOGETHER TO HELP US FIND THAT BETTER WAY.

I'M SURE THERE ARE REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS WHO COULDN'T IMAGINE CROSSING OVER TO SUPPORT A DEMOCRAT.

THEY FEAR JOE MAY TURN SHARP LEFT AND LEAVE THEM BEHIND.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT.

BECAUSE I KNOW THE MEASURE OF THE MAN, HE'S REASONABLE, FAITH FAITHFUL, RESPECTFUL.

AND YOU KNOW, NO ONE PUSHES JOE AROUND.

JOE BIDEN IS A MAN FOR OUR TIMES TIMES.

TIMES THAT CALL FOR ALL OF US TO TAKE OFF OUR PARTISAN HATS AND PUT OUR NATION FIRST FOR OURSELVES AND OF COURSE FOR OUR CHILDREN.

WHEN AMERICA CHOOSES THE RIGHT PATH AND PULLS TOGETHER, LIKE WE'VE DONE SO MANY TIMES BEFORE, WE CAN DREAM BIG DREAMS.

AND WE CAN SEE THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN AS A UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WITH A SOUL THAT IS A BEACON OF FREEDOM TO THE ENTIRE WORLD.

>> A LIFE LONG REPUBLICAN.

>> REPUBLICAN.

>> A LIFE LONG REPUBLICAN.

>> LONG STANDING REPUBLICAN AND I'M TELLING YOU, YOU GOT TO VOTE FOR JOE BIDEN.

>> I HAVE VOTED FOR AND CAMPAIGNED FOR REPUBLICANS SINCE THE REAGAN YEARS.

BUT I WON'T BE VOTING FOR DONALD TRUMP IN NOVEMBER.

>> I'M SUPPORTING JOE BIDEN FOR PRESIDENT.

>> WE NEED A POSITIVE LEADER.

SOMEONE WHO CAN WORK WITH BOTH SIDES.

REPUBLICANS AND THE DEMOCRATS.

>> I DON'T THINK CAN DEAL WITH THE TYPE OF PERSON WE HAVE NOT WHITE HOUSE ANY LONGER.

>> VOTE AMERICA.

THAT'S ONLY WAY TO GET OUT OF THIS.

AND JOE BIDEN IS JUST THE PERSON TO ENSURE WE GET OUR LIVES BACK TO NORMALMENT.

>> JOE BIDEN IS A DECENT MAN.

WITH A LONG HISTORY OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO AMERICA.

>> HE WILL RESTORE ORDER AND INTEGRITY TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

>> I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO COME TOGETHER.

>> HOPEFULLY RETURN OUR COUNTRY COUNTRY'S POLITICAL DISCOURSE BACK TO SOME MEASURE OF NORMALCY AND DECENCY.

>> I'M SURE, I'M ABSOLUTELY SURE HE'S GOING TO HELP US BRING THIS COUNTRY TOGETHER ONCE AGAIN.

♪ >> AND NOW FROM ALABAMA, SENATOR DOUG JONES.

>> I'M SENATOR DOUG JONES FROM THE GREAT STATE OF ALABAMA.

GROWING UP IN THE SOUTH MEANT GROWING UP IN THE MIDST OF STARK DIVISIONS.

BUT IT WAS HERE IN ALABAMA WHERE ROSA PARK HELPED IGNITE A MOVEMENT BY REFUSING TO GIVE UP HER SEAT SEAT ON A BUS.

WHERE FREEDOM RIDERS CAME TOGETHER AND PURSUED EQUALITY.

IT WAS HERE IN ALABAMA WHERE JOHN LEWIS MARCHED ACROSS A BRIDGE TOWARD FREEDOM.

FROM A YOUNG AGE I KNEW THE HOPE THAT COMES FROM SEEING GOOD PEOPLE WORK TO HEAL OUR DIVISIONS.

IT'S WHAT LED ME TO BECOME THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY WHERE I CONVICTED TWO KLANSMAN WHO MURDERED FOUR YOUNG BLACK GIRLS IN A 196 BIRMINGHAM CHURCH BOMB BOMBING AND DELIVERED LONG OVERDUE JUSTICE.

I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF AN EXHIBIT DEDICATED TO THEIR MEMORY.

ALABAMA HAS SHOWN ME THAT EVEN OUR DEEPEST DIVISIONS CAN BE OVERCOME.

BECAUSE EACH OF US WANT THE SAME THING.

TO BE TREATED FAIRLY AND GIVEN THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AND FREEDOM TO LIVE WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.

NOW, SOME POLITICIANS TRY TO PIT US AGAINST EACH OTHER.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT AMERICANS HAVE MORE IN COMMON THAN WHAT DIVIDES US.

IN NOVEMBER WE HAVE A CHANCE TO ELECT A PRESIDENT WHO BELIEVES THAT, TOO.

I'VE KNOWN JOE FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS.

I MET HIM AS A WIDE I'D LAW STUDENT AND HE'S BEEN MY FRIEND AND CHAMPION EVER SINCE.

THE JOE I KNOW IS EXACTLY THE LEADER OUR COUNTRY NEEDS RIGHT NOW.

HE CAN BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO FIND COMMON GROUND WHILE STANDING UP FOR WHAT HE BELIEVES IS RIGHT.

AFTER YEARS OF BITTER PARTISANSHIP, HE CAN UNITE OUR COUNTRY AND GET THINGS DONE FOR WORKING FAMILIES, AND EVERYONE LOOKING FOR A BETTER FUTURE.

BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT SIDE OF THE AISLE WE'RE ON, IT'S ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE ON THE SIDE OF THE PEOPLE.

THE GREAT JOHN LEWIS WOULD OFTEN QUOTE THE OLD AFRICAN PROVERB, WHEN YOU PRAY, MOVE YOUR FEET.

THEN CHALLENGE US TO DO JUST THAT.

AS A NATION, HE SAID, IF WE CARE FOR THE BELOVED COMMUNITY WE MUST MOVE OUR FEET, OUR HANDS, OUR RESOURCES TO BUILD AND NOT TEAR DOWN.

TO RECONCILE AND NOT TO DIVIDE.

TO LOVE AND NOT TO HATE.

TO HEAL AND NOT TO KILL.

IN THE FINAL AALYSIS, WE ARE ONE PEOPLE.

ONE FAMILY, ONE HOUSE.

THE AMERICAN HOUSE.

THE AMERICAN FAMILY.

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN UNDERSTANDS THAT.

AND HE IS WHO WE NEED AS OUR NEXT PRESIDENT.

>> Woodruff: ALABAMA SENATOR DOUG JONES WHO S PROBABLY MOST ENDANGERED DEMOCRAT RUNNING FOR REELECTION THIS YEAR.

A TOUGH RACE AGAINST A REPUBLICAN IN THIS VERY REPUBLICAN-LEANING STATE.

AS YOU HAIRED HIM HE'S KNOW JOE BIDEN FOR DECADES AND FULLY BEHIND HIS CANDIDACY.

LET'S TURN NOW TO JONATHAN CAPEHART AND MARK SHIELDS, DAVID BROOKS, MICHAEL KNITTER, CHRIS BUS KIRK AT THE TABLE.

AMY WALTER.

I HAD TO CUT YOU OFF, DIDN'T GET TO YOU JONATHAN A FEW MINUTES AGO.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THOSE REPUBLICANS.

JOHN KASICH LITERALLY STANDING THERE AT A CROSSROADS.

REPUBLICAN FORMER GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OHIO.

WE HEARD MEG WHITMAN, CEO SAY, I'VE BEEN A CEO AND I WROTE DOWN WHAT SHE SAID, DONALD TRUMP HAS NO CLUE HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS LET ALONE AN ECONOMY.

THIS WAS A TOUGH INDICTMENT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> YES, A TOUGH INDICTMENT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.

BUT ALSO HAVING THOSE REPUBLICANS COME OUT IN FAVOR OF JOE BIDEN, NOT JUST SHOW UP AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION BUT TO SAY TO FELLOW REPUBLICANS THAT THEY SHOULD VOTE FOR JOE BIDEN, SHOWS YOU JUST HOW MUCH DANGER THE NATION IS IN.

WHEN YOU HAVE THESE ROCK-RIBBED REPUBLICANS WHO ARE LOOKING AT WHAT IS GOING ON.

IN A PERFECT WORLD THEY WOULDN'T BE HERE.

WE WOULD NOT BE HEARING FROM THEM TONIGHT.

BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE PUTTING COUNTRY AHEAD OF PARTY, THEY'RE STANDING ON PRINCIPLE.

YOU KNOW, JUDY, ONE THING I'VE NOTICED IN WATCHING THE PROCEEDINGS TONIGHT, IS AS SAD AS IT'S BEEN TO SEE THE IMAGES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND PEOPLE RESPONDING TO COVID AND BEING SEPARATED BY PANES OF GLASS OR IN THE HOSPITAL KNOWING WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THOSE FAMILIES THAT THE GRIEF AND THE LOSS THAT THEY HAVE ENDURED.

AND THE SATNESS IN ALL THAT LOOK LOOKING AT HOW MUCH WE'VE LOST SINCE MARCH WHEN WE'VE ALL BEEN ON VARIOUS FORMS OF LOCKDOWN.

AND THEN YOU HAD KRISTEN -- KIRSTEN -- AND HER PHENOMENAL LINE ABOUT MY DAD WAS A HEALTHY 65-YEAR-OLD, HIS ONLY PRE PREEXISTING CONDITION WAS TRUSTING DONALD TRUMP.

NO POLITICIAN, NOT THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE, NOT THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY COULD SAY THOSE WORDS WITH THE PASSION AND RAGE AND POWER OF A DAUGHTER WHO IS MISSING HER FATHER.

AND I THINK OVERALL, THE IMPRESSION I'M GETTING AND FEELING I'M GETTING FROM THE REPUBLICANS WE'VE HEARD TO THE EVERY DAY AMERICANS THAT WE'VE HEARD, TO THE POLITICIAN, IS THAT WE'VE HEARD IS A SENSE -- I GUESS A SENSE OF CALM.

BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM PEOPLE TONIGHT IS NOT LECTUREING, IT'S NOT HARANGUEING, IT'S NOT NAME CALLING, IT'S NOT CONDESCENSION OR BELITTLEING OR BULLYING.

IT'S SAYING, WE'RE AMERICANS, THIS IS OUR PARTY, THIS IS OUR COUNTRY THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO GET THINGS BACK NOT TO EXACTLY THE WAY THINGS WERE.

BUT AT LEAST RECLAIM SOME OF OUR DIGNITY, SOME OF OUR RESPECT, BUT ALSO SOME OF OUR LEADERSHIP IN NOVEMBER BY ELECTING JOE BIDEN AND SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS.

THIS IS JUST THE FIRST NIGHT.

IT'S PRETTY -- IT'S A WEIRD THING TO WATCH HAVING BEEN TO CONVENTIONS IN THE PAST.

BUT IT'S POWERFUL TO WATCH.

BECAUSE WITHOUT THE BALLOONS AND SCREAMING AND OUTFITS AND THE JUMPING UP AND DOWN, YOU WERE FORCED TO FOCUS ON THE WORDS.

AND SO FAR THE WORDS HAVE BEEN HARROWING, INSPIRING AND POWER POWERFUL.

>> Woodruff: SUCH A GOOD POINT.

AND AMY WALTER, THE REALLY IMPORTANT POINT THAT JONATHAN JUST MADE ABOUT, YES, THERE IS CRITICISM OF DONALD TRUMP BUT THERE'S ALSO JUST FULL-THROATED SUPPORT FOR JOE BIDEN.

WE HEARD DOUG JONES, HEARD OF COURSE FOUR REPUBLICANS COME OUT WHOLE HEARTEDLY SAYING I'M VOTING FOR JOE BIDEN.

THEN DOUG JONES, THIS IS NOT JUST THE ANTI-DONALD TRUMP CONVENTION.

THIS IS A CONVENTION THAT'S BEHIND JOE BIDEN.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, JUDY.

I THINK THE REASON THEY PUT OUT NOT JUST THE FORMER REPUBLICAN OFFICE HOLDERS BUT THE REGULAR PEOPLE THAT THEY SHOWED AT THE END.

THAT'S SPEAKING TO VOTERS OUT THERE, SUBURBAN VOTERS THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THESE LAST FOUR YEARS MOVE AWAY FROM THE REPUBLICAN ROOTS.

IN 2018 VOTERS IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, OUTSIDE OF DALLAS, OUTSIDE OF HOUSTON THAT HAVE BEEN VOTING FOR REPUBLICANS FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS, FLIPPED AND VOTED FOR DEMOCRATS.

>> Woodruff: AT SOME POINT, AMY, THERE WERE I THINK 20-SOME 20-SOME -- 28 I THINK I COUNTED DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

IN THIS CYCLE.

JOE BIDEN BESTED THEM ALL.

THEY'RE HEARING AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION OR FOR THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION PROGRAMMING RIGHT NOW WE'RE BEGINNING TO HEAR FROM SOME OF THOSE WHO RAN FOR PRESIDENT.

RAN IN THE PRIMARY.

WERE BESTED BY JOE BIDEN.

AMY KLOBUCHAR HUNG IN THERE WE SAW HER, SHE HUNG IN A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN SOME OF THE OTHERS.

BUT IT'S A MEASURE OF HIS BRING BRINGING THE PARTY TOGETHER THAT MOST OF THEM, WE'RE GOING TO SEE MOST OF THEM TONIGHT AND TOMORROW NIGHT AND THE NIGHTS AFTER THAT.

>> JUDY, I WAS GOING BACK IN MY BRAIN ABOUT REMEMBERING 2016 WHICH FEELS LIKE THAT WAS ABOUT 3,000 YEARS AGO.

BUT DEMOCRATS WERE GREETED FIRST DAY OF THE CONVENTION TO THE WIKILEAKS OF THE DNC E-MAILS WHICH JUST REOPENED ALL THE WOUNDS THAT HAD BEEN CAUSED BY THE PRIMARY, BETWEEN BERNIE SAND SANDERS AND HILLARY CLINTON AND POURED SALT IN THERE.

THE DNC CHAIRWOMAN HAD TO BASICALLY RESIGN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONVENTION.

THERE WAS SO MUCH -- IT WAS JUST AN ABSOLUTE MESS.

SO DIFFERENT FROM WHERE WE ARE NOW.

>> Woodruff: FROM WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW.

AMY KLOBUCHAR, THE SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA WHO GAVE IT HER ALL.

SHE RAN FOR PRESIDENT, DIDN'T GO THE DISTANCE BUT SHE DID ENDORSE JOE BIDEN VERY EARLY ON.

LET'S LISTEN TO WHAT SHE IS SAYING AND THIS WILL LEAD IN TO WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM MORE OF THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT IN 2020.

LET'S LISTEN IN.

>> FOR ME IT WAS A MOMENT FILLED WITH GREAT JOY, BECAUSE THE DAY I ENDED MY PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN WAS ALSO THE DAY I ENDORSED JOE BIDEN.

JOE RAN FOR THE SAME REASONS I DID, WHEN I ANNOUNCED MY CAMPAIGN, IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT BLIZZARD ON THE BANKS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

TO CROSS THE RIVER OF OUR DIVIDES, TO BRING THIS NATION TOGETHER, TO BE A PRESIDENT FOR ALL OF AMERICA.

AS I SAID, THE DAY I ENDORSED HIM.

IF YOU FEEL STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXTREMES IN OUR POLITICS, IF YOU ARE TIRED OF THE NOISE AND THE NONSENSE, YOU HAVE A HOME WITH ME AND YOU HAVE A HOME WITH JOE BIDEN.

THAT'S WHY I WAS SO PROUD TO STAND WITH HIM THEN AND ACROSS THIS GREAT COUNTRY.

THAT'S WHY WE ARE ALL NOW STAND STANDING UNITED BEHIND JOE AND MY FRIEND, KAMALA.

OUR NATION'S MOTTO IS OUT OF MANY, ONE.

AND AS YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE, IT'S ALSO THE STORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

THANK YOU, AMERICA.

>> WE ALL RAN FOR PRESIDENT.

MOTIVATED BY THE SAME REASON.

>> AS I WATCHED PRESIDENT TRUMP DIVIDE THIS COUNTRY MORE AND MORE, I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO DO TO STOP HIM?

>> I HAVE HAD THE MOST DESTRUCTIONTIVE, HATEFUL, RACIST PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY.

WHO IS LITERALLY TEARING APART THE FABRIC OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

>> DONALD TRUMP IS A FAILED BUSINESS PERSON AND DESPERATELY FAILED AS A PRESIDENT.

>> WE WILL RUN.

>> I RAN FOR PRESIDENT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S URGENT THAT WE HEAL THE DIVISIONS IN THIS NATION.

>> WE ARE STILL IN CONTROL OF OUR OWN FUTURE.

>> WE NEED TO PROVIDE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS A REAL PATH FORWARD FORWARD.

>> A GREEN JOBS PROGRAM.

>> INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE.

>> PASSING NATIONAL PAID LEAVE BILL.

>> STUDENT LOAN DEBT.

>> MENTAL HEALTH.

STARTING WITH OUR VETERANS.

>> REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE.

>> ECONOMIC JUSTICE.

>> RACIAL JUSTICE.

>> THERE IS SO MUCH A NEW PRESIDENT CAN DO TO BRING US TOGETHER.

>> IT'S TIME TO GET UP.

>> STARTING A PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN IS DAUNTING.

YOU HAVE TO REACH HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.

>> YOU HAVE THESE INCREDIBLY LONG DAYS.

OFTEN CAPPED OFF BY EVENING THAT'S GO ON FOR HOURS.

>> WE'RE CHALLENGED AS A CANDIDATE IS TO BE TRUE TO YOURSELF AND TRUE TO WHY YOU RAN IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> THAT IS SOMETHING BY THE WAY THAT I REALLY ADMIRE ABOUT JOE BIDEN.

HE REALLY IS HIS OWN MAN.

HE KNOWS WHO HE IS.

>> JOE BIDEN IS SOMEBODY WHO DEEPLY CARES ABOUT PEOPLE.

PEOPLE WHO ARE MARGINALIZEDDED, WHO ARE BEING LEFT BEHIND OR BEING IGNORED.

>> I'M A DACA RECIPIENT I OWE YOU EVERYTHING.

>> YOU ARE STAYING, MAN.

>> HE'S HAD SOME HARD TIMES IN HIS LIFE.

HE'S HAD SOME LOSSES IN HIS LIFE.

AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE RELATE TO.

>> YOU DOING OKAY?

>> YEAH.

CLOSE TO 15 YEARS CANCER FREE.

>> ROD GOFF YOU.

>> I WAS AT A SERVICE FOR FOUR FALLEN AFGHANISTAN SOLDIERS I SAW THOSE FAMILIES WHO WERE SO COMFORTED BY JOE BIDEN.

WHEN THEY WALKED OUT THEY KNEW SOMEBODY CARED TO THEM.

WE NEED THAT IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> I STILL REMEMBER STANDING SIDE BY SIDE WITH HIM ON THE DEBATE STAGE AND WE WERE HAVING A GO OF IT.

WHAT WAS REMARKABLE TO ME WAS, IN THE COMMERCIAL BREAK, HE PUTS HIS ARM AROUND ME AND STARTS TELLING ME HOW GOOD MY IDEAS ARE.

AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW I FEEL LIKE HE'S GIVING ME A PEP TALK.

AND LITERALLY TELLING ME HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, HOW REALLY IMPORTANT IT IS THAT I'M ON THAT STAGE.

>> JOE CALLED ME THE NIGHT I SUSPENDED AND WAS EXTRAORDINARILY GRACIOUS AND COMFORTING AND HE TOLD ME I SHOULD BE PROUD OF MYSELF.

SAID THAT I DID MYSELF AND MY FAMILY A REAL SERVICE AND THE COUNTRY A SERVICE.

THAT MEANT A LOT COMING FROM JOE JOE.

>> IT'S NOT EASY TO UNITE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

WE'RE A RAMBUNCTIOUS GROUP.

JOE BIDEN HAS PULLED IT OFF.

>> HE WANTS TO GET THE BEST IDEAS ON THE TABLE SO WEEP CAN MOVE FORWARD IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE.

>> HE'S INCLUDED MY FAMILY BILL OF RIGHTS.

>> HE'S UNIFIED OUR GROUP AROUND A CLEAN ENERGY STRATEGY.

>> THE DOMESTIC WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS I'M VERY EXCITED THAT THAT'S IN THERE.

>> HE'S THE KIND OF LEADER THAT BRINGS OTHER LEADERS IN.

>> THIS IS A GUY THAT IS GOING TO WALK IN TO THE OVAL OFFICE AND NOT HAVE TO FIND HIS WAY AROUND.

BUT WILL ACTUALLY WALK IN AND HAVE ALREADY SORT OF HOME.

THE INSTINCTS YOU NEED TO LEAD THE MOST POWERFUL NATION ON EARTH.

THROUGH A CRISIS.

>> ON THE OTHER SIDE, DONALD TRUMP DOES NOT UNDERSTAND WHO WE ARE AS AMERICANS.

REALLY DOESN'T.

THIS IS A GUY THAT BLAMES EVERYONE FOR EVERYTHING.

YOU KNOW, HE BLAMES THE CITY OF BALTIMORE.

HE BLAMES THE COUNTRY OF DENMARK DENMARK.

HE BLAMES THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA FOR CUTTING HIM OUT OF THE CANADIAN VERSION OF HOME ALONE TWO.

WHO DOES THAT?

>> THERE NOR SIDELINES.

THERE'S NO SITTING THAT ONE OUT.

THERE'S NO HOPEING THAT SOMEONE ELSE IS GOING TO COME IN AND SAVE THE DAY.

THERE IS NO CAVALRY.

WE ARE THE CAVALRY.

>> THE MOMENT HAS FOUND THE PERSON.

THAT PERSON IS JOE BIDEN.

>> JOE HAS MY VOTE BECAUSE HE WILL BRING DECENCY AND DIGNITY BACK TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> WE'VE GOT ONE SHOT TO MAKE DONALD TRUMP A ONE-TERM PRESIDENT.

AND THAT SHOT IS RIGHT NOW.

>> IT'S JOE TIME!

IT'S JOE TIME.

>> NEXT PRESIDENT, RIGHT HERE.

>> Woodruff: YOU HEARD IT.

THEY SAID WE ARE THE CAVALRY.

AND WITH THAT WE'RE GOING TO TURN AGAIN TO GREAT REPORTERS COVERING THIS ELECTION, ERIN HAYNES WITH THE NEWLY LAUNCHED NEWS WEBSITE THE 19th.

ROBERT COSTA WITH THE "WASHINGTON POST" HOST OF WASHINGTON WEEK HERE ON PBS, YAMICHE ALCINDOR AND LISA DESJARDINS.

ERIN HAYNES, WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE ALL THESE CANDIDATES WHO RAN AGAINST JOE BIDEN AND LOOK WHAT THEY'RE SAY SAYING ABOUT HIM.

>> YOU KNOW, I WAS SAYING EARLIER, THIS IS THE TIME THE CONVENTION IS THE TIME WHEN WE SEE THE PARTY START TO RALLY BEHIND, START TO UNIFY BEHIND THAT TICKET.

THAT WAS ON FULL DISPLAY FOR THE MOST PART.

WHAT YOU JUST SAW IN THAT VIDEO, WITH A LOOK BACK AT A VERY CROWDED PRIMARY.

IT WAS THE MOST DIVERSE PRIMARY THE DEMOCRATIC HAS EVER FIELDED.

SIX HISTORIC WOMEN AND NUMBER OF CANDIDATES OF COLOR, I THINK THAT JOE BIDEN WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIS FORMER RIVALS MOST OF WHOM RALLIED BEHIND HIM FAIRLY QUICKLY AFTER THEY SUSPENDED THEIR OWN CAMPAIGNS.

THERE WERE I WOULD LIKE TO JUST POINT OUT A FEW NOTABLE ABSENCES FROM THAT VIDEO.

I DIDN'T SEE BERNIE SANDERS OR MARION WILLIAMSON, DIDN'T SEE, WHO AM I FORGETTING.

>> Woodruff: WE'RE GOING TO -- >> WHO WERE NOT IN THERE.

BUT FOR MOST PART YOU SAW A LARGELY UNITED FRONT OF HIS FORMER RIVALS RALLYING BEHIND HIM.

>> Woodruff: WE SHOULD POINT OUT WE ARE GOING TO SEE BERNIE SANDERS SHORTLY HE'S COMING UP IN A FEW MOMENTS WE'LL GET TO THAT.

I'M GOING TO TALK TO THE THREE OF YOU VERY QUICKLY.

ROBERT COSTA HOW POWERFUL IS THIS THIS TO SEE THE PARTY PRETTY -- COMPLETELY UNIFIED BEHIND JOE BIDEN AND TO HEAR EVEN SOME REPUBLICANS SPEAKING UP FOR HIM.

>> SURE, YOU HARD FROM FEMALE REPUBLICANS WHO WERE SPEAKING WITH BUSINESS TIES TO THOSE VOTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

TONIGHT'S BIG MOMENT I JUST SMOKE TO SENATOR SANDERS FOR A LONG TIME ON SUNDAY.

FIVE YEARS AFTER THAT LONELY ANNOUNCEMENT ON CAPITOL HILL, ALMOST NO ONE SHOWED UP, NOW TWO PRESIDENTIAL BIDS BEHIND HIM.

HE CHANGED THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

BROUGHT IT TO THE LEFT AND ON ISSUES LIKE HEALTH CARE WHAT A MOMENT FOR THIS SENATOR WHO HAS BEEN IN THE TRENCHES OF THE LEFT FOR DECADES TO TALK ABOUT HIS MOVEMENT AND WHERE IT GOES NEXT.

INTRODUCED BY ALEXANDRIA CORTEZ THE NEW YORK REPRESENTATIVE WHO IS HIS OWN POLITICAL HEIR AMONG OTHERS.

>> Woodruff: THAT IS COMING UP IN A MOMENT.

YAMICHE ALCINDOR NOT A FRIENDLY NIGHT FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP ARE THEY RESPONDING TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING?

>> YES.

WE'VE SEEN DEMOCRATS BRING OUT REPUBLICANS TO PROSECUTE THE CASE AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP YOU SAW GOVERNOR KASICH, FORMER GOVERNOR OF OHIO AND MANY OTHERS OTHERS.

SENIOR TRUMP ADVISOR SAYS TO "NEWSHOUR" JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR CANDIDATES IN HIS PARTY.

ESSENTIALLY PUSHING BACK ON THE IDEA THAT REPUBLICANS DO NOT WANT TO SEE HIM IN OFFICE.

ONE OTHER THING JONATHAN CAPEHART SAID, THE MOMENT I THINK IS GOING TO STICK OUT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN THAT YOUNG WOMAN SAID THAT HER FATHER WHO WAS A TRUMP SUPPORTER PAID FOR THAT WITH HIS LIFE SAYING SHE ONLY HAD ONE PREEXISTING CONDITION, THAT WAS TRUSTING DONALD TRUMP AND HE DIED BECAUSE OF THAT.

THIS IS REALLY THE DEMOCRATS USING REPUBLICANS TO MAKE THE CASE AGAINST DONALD TRUMP.

>> Woodruff: IT'S REALLY INTERESTING, LISA, TO SEE THE DEMOCRATS, TO SEE JOE BIDEN WEAVING TOGETHER THESE DIFFERENT THEMES AROUND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

CERTAINLY AROUND THE PANDEMIC.

AND AROUND FRANKLY AROUND DONALD TRUMP.

AND HIS LEADERSHIP OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, JUDY.

I THINK THERE ARE TWO TECHNIQUES THEY'RE USING HERE.

DEMOCRATS KNOW THEY HAVE TO FIRE UP THEIR BASE ABOUT JOE BIDEN, WE HEAR A LOT OF THAT.

BUT THEY ALSO ARE TRYING TO SPEAK TO SWING VOTERS WHICH INCLUDES MORE REPUBLICANS PERHAPS THAN WE'VE SEEN IN RECENT TIMES.

THEY WANT SWING VOTERS MAYBE NOT TO BE FIRED UP ABOUT JOE BIDEN BUT BE COMFORTABLE WITH HIM.

THAT'S WHY JOHN KASICH'S SPEECH WAS SO IMPORTANT.

HE SAID, REPUBLICANS, TRUMP WILL TRY TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE JOE BIDEN IS GOING TO SWING LEFT.

I DON'T BELIEF THAT ABOUT JOE BIDEN.

THAT WAS IMPORTANT SPEECH.

WHAT UNIFIES THOSE TWO THEMES ABOUT PUMPING DEMOCRATIC VOTERS MAKING SWING VOTERS COMFORTABLE WITH JOE BIDEN.

AMERICAN IDENTITY.

THAT IS WHAT ALL OF THESE SPEECHES TONIGHT HAVE IN COMMON I THINK, JUDY.

THEY'RE TRYING TO RECLAIM A DEMOCRATIC IDEA OF AMERICAN IDENTITY, WHICH IS BROADER AND MORE ABOUT DIVERSITY.

SORT OF MAYBE AN ANSWER, A COUNTERPOINT TO DONALD TRUMP'S MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN IS THIS IDEA OF MAKE AMERICA, AMERICA AGAIN.

>> Woodruff: SUCH AN IMPORTANT POINT.

WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO COME BACK TO THE FOUR OF YOU THROUGHOUT THIS CONVENTION.

LISA DESJARDINS, YAMICHEAL IS IN FOR, ERIN HANS, ROBERT COSTA.

THE CANDIDATE THAT RUNG IN THE RACE LANGUAGEER THAN OTHERS TO CHALLENGE JOE BIDEN, AND BERNIE SANDERS IT'S HIS TURN AT THIS CONVENTION.

>> GOOD EVENING.

OUR GREAT NATION IS NOW LIVING IN AN UNPRECEDENTED MOMENT.

IT IS WORST PANDEMIC IN A HUNDRED YEARS AND ECONOMIC.

WE'RE CONFRONTING RACISM AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

AND IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THIS, WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO IS NOT ONLY INCAPABLE OF ADDRESSING THESE CRISES, BUT IS LEADING US DOWN THE PATH OF AUTHORITARIAN AUTHORITARIANISM.

THIS ELECTION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT IN THE MODERN HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY.

IN RESPONSE TO THE UNPRECEDENTED CRISES WE FACE, WE NEED AN UNPRECEDENTED RESPONSE, A MOVEMENT LIKE NEVER BEFORE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE PREPARED TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY AND DECENCY.

AND AGAINST GREED, OLIGARCHY AND BIGOBIGOTRY AND WE NEED JOE BIDEN AS OUR NEXT PRESIDENT.

LET ME TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A WORD TO THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED MY CAMPAIGN THIS YEAR AND IN 2016.

MY FRIENDS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TRUST, YOUR SUPPORT AND THE LOVE YOU SHOWED JANE, ME AND OUR FAMILY.

TOGETHER WE HAVE MOVED THIS COUNTRY IN A BOLD NEW DIRECTION.

SHOWING THAT ALL OF US, BLACK AND WHITE, LATINO, NATIVE AMERICAN, ASIAN AMERICAN, GAY AND STRAIGHT, NATIVE BORN AND IMMIGRANT, YEARN FOR A NATION BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE, LOVE AND COMPASSION.

OUR CAMPAIGN ENDED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.

BUT OUR MOVEMENT CONTINUES AND IS GETTING STRONGER EVERY DAY.

MANY OF THE IDEAS WE FOUGHT FOR THAT JUST A FEW YEARS AGO WERE CONSIDERED RADICAL ARE NOW MAINSTREAM.

BUT LET US BE CLEAR.

IF DONALD TRUMP IS REELECTED ALL THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE WILL BE IN JEOPARDY.

AT ITS MOST BASIC, THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT PRESERVING OUR DEMOCRACY.

DURING THIS PRESIDENT'S TERM, THE UNTHINKABLE HAS BECOME NORMAL.

HE HAS TRIED TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM VOTING, UNDERMINE THE U.S.

POSTAL SERVICE, DEPLOYED THE MILITARY AND FEDERAL AGENTS AGAINST PEACEFUL PROTESTERS.

THREATENED TO DELAY THE ELECTION AND SUGGESTED THAT HE WILL NOT LEAVE OFFICE IF HE LOSES.

THIS IS NOT NORMAL.

AND WE MUST NEVER TREAT IT LIKE IT IS.

UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION AUTHORITARIANISM HAS TAKEN ROOT IN OUR COUNTRY.

I AND MY FAMILY AND MANY OF YOURS, KNOW THE INSIDIOUS WAY AUTHORITARIANISM DESTROYS DEMOCRACY, DECENCY AND HUMANITY.

AS LONG AS I AM HERE, I WILL WORK WITH PROGRESSIVESW MODERATES AND, YES, WITH CONSERVATIVES TO PRESERVE THIS NATION FROM A THREAT THAT SO MANY OF OUR HEROES FOUGHT AND DIED TO DEFEAT.

THIS PRESIDENT IS NOT JUST A THREAT TO OUR DEMOCRACY, BUT BY REJECTING SCIENCE HE HAS PUT OUR LIVES AND HEALTH IN JEOPARDY.

TRUMP HAS ATTACKED DOCTORS AND SCIENTISTS TRYING TO PROTECT US FROM THE PANDEMIC.

WHILE REFUSING TO TAKE STRONG ACTION TO PRODUCE THE MASKS, GOWNS AND GLOVES OUR HEALTH DARE WORKERS DESPERATELY NEED.

NEUROFIDDLEED WHILE ROME BURNED.

TRUMP GOLFS.

HIS ACTIONS FANNED THIS PANDEMIC RESULTING IN OVER A 170,000 DEATHS AND A NATION STILL UN UNPREPARED TO PROTECT ITS PEOPLE.

FURTHERMORE, TRUMP'S NEGLIGENCE HAS EXACERBATED THE ECONOMIC CRISIS WE ARE NOW EXPERIENCING.

SINCE THIS PANDEMIC BEGAN, OVER 30 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS AND MANY HAVE LOST THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE.

MILLIONS OF WORKING FAMILIES ARE WONDERING HOW THEY WILL FEED THEIR KIDS.

AND THEY'RE WORRIED THAT THEY WILL BE EVICTED FROM THEIR HOMES.

AND HOW IS TRUMP RESPONDED?

INSTEAD OF MAINTAINING THE $600 A WEEK UNEMPLOYMENT SUPPLEMENT THAT WORKERS WERE RECEIVING AND THE $1200 EMERGENCY CHECKS THAT MANY OF YOU RECEIVED, INSTEAD OF HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES, TRUMP CONCOCTED FRAUDULENT EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT DO VIRTUALLY NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS WHILE THREATENING THE VERY FUTURE OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE.

BUT THE TRUTH IS, THAT EVEN BEFORE TRUMP'S NEGLIGENT RESPONSE TO THIS PANDEMIC, TOO MANY HARD WORKING FAMILIES HAVE BEEN CAUGHT ON AN ECONOMIC TREADMILL WITH NO HOPE OF EVER GETTING AHEAD.

TOGETHER, WE MUST BUILD A NATION THAT IS MORE EQUITABLE, MORE COMPASSIONATE AND MORE INCLUSIVE INCLUSIVE.

I KNOW THAT JOE BIDEN WILL BEGIN THAT FIGHT ON DAY ONE.

LET ME OFFER YOU JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF HOW JOE WILL MOVE US FORWARD.

JOE SUPPORTS RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $15 AN HOUR.

THIS WILL GIVE 40 MILLION WORKERS A PAY RAISE AND PUSH THE WAGE SCALE UP FOR EVERYONE ELSE.

JOE WILL ALSO MAKE IT EASIER FOR WORKERS TO JOIN UNIONS, CREATE 12 WEEKS OF PAID FAMILY LEAVE, FUND UNIVERSAL PRE-K FOR THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS AND MAKE CHILD CARE AFFORDABLE FOR MILLIONS OF FAMILIES.

JOE WILL REBUILD OUR CRUMBLE CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE AND FIGHT THE THREAT OF CLIMATE CHANGE BY TRANSITIONING US TO 100% CLEAN ELECTRICITY OVER THE NEXT 15 YEARS.

THESE INITIATIVES WILL CREATE MILLIONS OF GOOD PAYING JOBS ALL ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.

WE ARE THE ONLY INDUSTRIALIZEED NATION NOT TO GUARANTEE HEALTH CARE FOR PEOPLE.

WHILE JOE AND I DISAGREE ON THE BETH PATH TO GET UNIVERSAL COVERAGE, HE HAS A PLAN THAT WILL GREATLY EXPAND HEALTH CARE AND CUT THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

FURTHER, HE WILL LOWER THE ELIGIBILITY AGE OF MEDICARE FROM 65 DOWN TO 60.

TO HELP REFORM OUR BROKEN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, JOE WILL END PRIVATE PRISONS AND DETENTION CENTERS, AND SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE.

AND TO HEAL THE SOUL OF OUR NATION.

JOE BIDEN WILL END THE HATE AND DIVISION TRUMP HAS CREATED.

HE WILL STOP THE DEMON ANY SAKES OF IMMIGRANTS.

THE CODDLEING OF WHITE NATIONAL NATIONALISTS, THE RACIST DOG WHISTLING, THE RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY AND UGLY ATTACKS ON WOMEN.

MY FRIENDS, I SAY TO YOU, TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED OTHER CANDIDATES IN THE PRIMARY AND TO THOSE WHO MAY HAVE VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP IN THE LAST ELECTION, THE FUTURE OF OUR DEMOCRACY IS AT STAKE.

THE FUTURE OF OUR ECONOMY IS AT STAKE.

THE FUTURE OF OUR PLANET IS AT STAKE.

WE MUST COME TOGETHER, DEFEAT DONALD TRUMP AND ELECT JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS AS OUR NEXT PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT.

MY FRIENDS, THE PRICE OF FAILURE IS JUST TOO GREAT TO IMAGINE.

THANK YOU.

[ Applause ] ♪ RISE UP ♪♪ >> MY AMERICAN DREAM IS TO HAVE AN AMERICA WHERE WE HAVE PEOPLE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> FOR EVERY HUMAN BEING IN THIS COUNTRY TO HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE AND ECONOMIC MEANS TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES AND FAMILIES.

>> ACCESS TO EQUALITY AND EQUITABLE EDUCATION.

>> A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT THAT PROTECTS THE WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

>> JOE BIDEN THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER HAS FOCUSED ON REBUILDING THE MIDDLE LOS ANGELES.

>> WE NEED A LEADER THAT ACTUALLY SUPPORTS OUR MOONS FOR OUR HARD WORKING PEOPLE.

>> WE LEADERSHIP SHOW GENUINE SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES DURING THIS DOWNTOWN.

>> I BELIEVE JOE BIDEN HAS THE EXPERIENCE, THE PLATFORM AND EMPATHY TO BUILD AMERICA BACK BETTER.

>> HE WANTS GOOD THINGS FOR ALL AMERICANS.

NOT JUST A SELECT FEW.

♪ >> THE VOICES WE LONG TO HEAR RIGHT NOW ARE THE ONES THAT SPEAK WITH COURAGE AND KINDNESS, STRENGTH AND WISDOM, LOVE AND EXAMINATION.

THEY'RE UNAFRAID TO SPEAK THE TRUTH AND TALK ABOUT THEIR OWN UNCERTAINTIES AND STRUGGLES.

THEY MAKE US FEEL SEEN AND INSPIRE US TO BECOME THE BEST VERSIONS OF OURSELVES.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS THAT FOR ALL OF US.

IT IS MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE THE FORMER FIRST LADY, MICHELLE OBAMA.

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

IT'S A HARD TIME AND EVERYONE'S FEELING IT IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

AND I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS ARE RELUCTANT TO TUNE TOWN A POLITICAL CONVENTION RIGHT NOW.

OR TO POLITICS IN GENERAL, BELIEVE ME, I GET THAT.

BUT I AM HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I LOVE THIS COUNTRY WITH ALL MY HEART.

AND IT PAINS ME TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE HURTING.

I'VE MET SO MANY OF YOU.

I'VE HEARD YOUR STORIES.

AND THROUGH YOU, I HAVE SEEN THIS COUNTRY'S PROMISE.

AND THANKS TO SO MANY WHO CAME BEFORE ME, THANKS TO THEIR TOIL AND SWEAT AND BLOOD, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO LIVE THAT PROMISE MYSELF MYSELF.

THAT'S THE STORY OF AMERICA.

ALL THOSE FOLKS WHO SACRIFICE AND OVER CAME SO MUCH IN THEIR OWN TIMES BECAUSE THEY WANTED SOMETHING MORE.

SOMETHING BETTER FOR THEIR KIDS.

THERE'S A LOT OF BEAUTY IN THAT STORY.

THERE'S A LOT OF PAIN IN IT, TOO.

A LOT OF STRUGGLE AND INJUSTICE AND WORK LEFT TO DO.

AND WHO WE CHOOSE AS OUR PRESIDENT IN THIS ELECTION WILL DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT WE HONOR THAT STRUGGLE AND CHIP AWAY AT THAT INJUSTICE.

AND KEEP ALIVE THE VERY POSSIBILITY OF FINISHING THAT WORK.

I AM ONE OF THE HANDFUL OF PEOPLE LIVING TODAY WHO HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE IMMENSE WEIGHT AND AWESOME POWER OF THE PRESIDENCY.

AND LET ME ONCE AGAIN TELL YOU THIS, THE JOB IS HARD.

IT REQUIRES CLEAR-HEADED JUDGMENT, A MASTERY OF COMPLEX AND COMPETING ISSUES, A DEVOTION TO FACTS AND HISTORY, A MORAL COMPASS AND AN ABILITY TO LISTEN LISTEN.

AND AN ABIDING BELIEF THAT EACH OF THE 330 MILLION LIVES IN THIS COUNTRY HAS MEANING AND WORTH.

A PRESIDENT'S WORDS HAVE THE POWER TO MOVE MARKETS.

THEY CAN START WARS OR BROKER PEACE.

THEY CAN SUMMON OUR BETTER ANGELS OR AWAKEN OUR WORST INSTINCTS.

YOU SIMPLY CANNOT FACE YOUR WAY THROUGH THIS JOB.

AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, BEING PRESIDENT DOESN'T CHANGE WHO YOU ARE, IT REVEALS WHO YOU ARE.

WELL, A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAN REVEAL WHO WE ARE, TOO.

AND FOUR YEARS AGO TOO MANY PEOPLE CHOSE TO BELIEVE THAT THEIR VOTES DIDN'T MATTER.

MAYBE THEY WERE FED UP.

MAYBE THEY THOUGHT THE OUTCOME WOULDN'T BE CLOSE.

MAYBE THE BARRIERS FELT TOO STEEP, WHATEVER THE REASON, IN THE END THOSE CHOICES SENT SOMEONE TO THE OVAL OFFICE WHO LOST THE NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE BY NEARLY THREE MILLION VOTES.

IN ONE OF THE STATES THAT DETERMINED THE OUTCOME, THE WINNING MARGIN AVERAGED OUT TO JUST DO VOTES PER PRECINCTS.

TWO VOTES.

AND WE'VE ALL BEEN LIVING WITH THE CONSEQUENCES.

WHEN MY MUSS LEFT OFFICE WITH JOE BIDEN AT HIS SIDE, WE HAD A RECORD BREAKING STRETCH OF JOB CREATION.

WE'D SECURED THE RIGHT TO HEALTH CARE FOR 20 MILLION PEOPLE.

WE WERE RESPECTED AROUND THE WORLD, RALLYING OUR ALLIES TO CONFRONT CLIMATE CHANGE.

AND OUR LEADERS HAD WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH SCIENTISTS TO HELP PREVENT AN EBOLA OUTBREAK FROM BECOMING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

FOUR YEARS LATER, THE STATE OF THIS NATION IS VERY DIFFERENT.

MORE THAN 150,000 PEOPLE HAVE DIED.

AND OUR ECONOMY IS IN SHAMBLES BECAUSE OF A VIRUS THAT THIS PRESIDENT DOWNPLAYED FOR TOO LONG.

IT HAS LEFT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE JOBLESS.

TOO MANY HAVE LOST THEIR HEALTH CARE.

TOO MANY ARE STRUGGLING TO TAKE CARE OF BASIC NECESSITIES LIKE FOOD AND RENT.

TOO MANY COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN LEFT IN THE LURCH TO GRAPPLE WITH WHETHER AND HOW TO OPEN OUR SCHOOLS SAFELY.

INTERNATIONALLY WE'VE TURNED OUR BACK NOT JUST ON AGREEMENTS FORGED BY MY HUSBAND, BUT ON ALLIANCES CHAMPIONED BY PRESIDENTS LIKE REAGAN AND EISENHOWER.

AND HERE AT HOME, AS GEORGE FLOYD, BRIONNA TAYLOR AND NEVER ENDING LIST OF INNOCENT PEOPLE OF COLOR CONTINUE TO BE MURDERED MURDERED, STATING THE SIMPLE FACT THAT A BLACK LIFE MATTERS IS STILL MET WITH DERIGS FROM THE NATION'S HIGHEST OFFICE BECAUSE WHENEVER WE LOOK TO THIS WHITE HOUSE FOR SOME LEADERSHIP OR CONSOLATION OR ANY SEMBLANCE EVER STEADYINESS, WHAT WE GET INSTEAD IS CHAOS.

DIVISION AND A TOTAL AND UTTER LACK OF EMPATHY.

EMPATHY, THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT LATELY LATELY.

THE ABILITY TO WALK IN SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES.

THE RECOGNITION THAT SOMEONE ELSE'S EXPERIENCE HAS VALUE, TOO.

MOST OF US PRACTICE THIS WITHOUT A SECOND THOUGHT.

IF WE SEE SOMEONE SUFFERING OR STRUGGLING, WE DON'T STAND IN JUDGMENT, WE REACH OUT.

BECAUSE THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD GO I.

IT IS NOT A HARD CONCEPT TO GRASP IT'S WHAT WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN.

AND LIKE SO MACHINE PE OF YOU BARACK AND I HAVE TRIED SO MUCH TO IN STILL IN OUR GIRLS A STRONG MORAL FOUNDATION, TO CARRY FORWARD THE VALUES THAT OUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS POURED IN TO US.

BUT RIGHT NOW, KIDS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE SEEING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE STOP REQUIRING EMPATHY OF ONE ANOTHER.

THEY'RE LOOKING AROUND WONDERING IF WE'VE BEEN LYING TO THEM THIS WHOLE TIME ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE TRULY VALUE.

THEY SEE PEOPLE SHOUTING IN GROCERY STORES, UNWILLING TO WEAR A MASK TO KEEP US ALL SAFE.

THEY SEE PEOPLE CALLING THE POLICE ON FOLKS MINDING THEIR OWN BUSINESS, JUST BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN.

THEY SEE AN ENTITLEMENT THAT SAYS, ONLY CERTAIN PEOPLE BELONG HERE.

THAT GREED IS GOOD AND WINNING IS EVERYTHING.

BECAUSE AS LONG AS YOU COME OUT ON TOP, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TO EVERYONE ELSE.

AND THEY SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT LACK OF EMPATHY IS GINNED UP INTO OUTED RIGHT DISDAIN.

OUR SEE OUR LEADERS LABELING OUR FELLOW CITIZENS WHILE EMBOLDEN EMBOLDENING WHITE SUPREMACISTS THEY WATCH IN HORROR AS CHILDREN ARE TORN FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND THROWN INTO CAGES AND PEPPER SPRAY AND RUBBER BULLETS ARE USED ON PEACEFUL PROTESTERS FOR A PHOTO OP.

SADLY THIS IS THE AMERICA THAT IS ON DISPLAY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

A NATION THAT'S UNDERPERFORMING NOT SIMPLY ON MATTERS OF POLICY BUT ON MATTERS OF CHARACTER.

AND THAT'S NOT JUST DISAPPOINT DISAPPOINTING, IT'S DOWN RIGHT INFURIATEING.

BECAUSE I KNOW THE GOODNESS AND THE GRACE THAT IS OUT THERE IN HOUSEHOLDS AND NEIGHBORHOODS ALL ACROSS THIS NATION.

AND I KNOW THAT REGARDLESS OF OUR RACE, AGE, RELIGION OR POLITICS, WHEN WE CLOSE OUT THE NOISE AND THE FEAR AND TRULY OPEN OUR HEARTS, WE KNOW THAT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY IS JUST NOT RIGHT.

THIS IS NOT WHAT WE WANT TO BE.

WHAT IS OUR STRATEGY?

OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME WHEN OTHERS ARE GOING SOLO, DOES GOING HIGH STILL REALLY WORK?

MY ANSWER, GOING HIGH IS THE ONLY THING THAT WORKS.

BECAUSE WHEN WE GO LOW, WHEN WE USE THOSE SAME TACTICS OF DE DEGRADING AND DEHUMANIZING OTHERS, WE JUST BECOME PART OF THE UGLY NOISE THAT'S DROWNING OUT EVERYTHING ELSE.

WE DEGRADE OURSELVES.

WE DEGRADE THE VERY CAUSES FOR WHICH WE FIGHT.

BUT LET'S BE CLEAR, GOING HIGH DOES NOT MEAN PUTTING ON A SMILE AND SAYING NICE THINGS WHEN CONFRONTED BY VICIOUSNESS AND CRUELTY.

GOING HIGH MEANS TAKING THE HARDER PATH.

IT MEANS SCAPING AND CLAWING OUR WAY TO THAT MOUNTAIN TOP.

GOING HIGH MEANS STANDING FIERCE AGAINST HATRED WHILE REMEMBERING THAT WE ARE ONE NATION UNDER GOD.

AND IF WE WANT TO SURVIVE, WE'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO LIVE TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER ACROSS OUR DIFFERENCES.

AND GOING HIGH MEANS, UNLOCKING THE SHACKLES OF LIES AND MISTRUST WITH THE ONLY THING THAT CAN TRULY SET US FREE.

THE COLD HARD TRUTH.

SO LET ME BE AS HONEST AND CLEAR AS I POSSIBLY CAN.

DONALD TRUMP IS THE WRONG PRESIDENT FOR OUR COUNTRY.

HE HAS HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME TO PROVE THAT HE CAN DO THE JOB BUT HE IS CLEARLY IN OVER HIS HEAD.

HE CANNOT MEET THIS MOMENT.

HE SIMPLY CANNOT BE WHO WE NEED HIM TO BE FOR US.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT MY MESSAGE WON'T BE HEARD BY SOME PEOPLE.

WE LIVE IN A NATION THAT IS DEEPLY DIVIDED AND I AM A BLACK WOMAN SPEAKING AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION, BUT ENOUGH OF YOU KNOW ME BY NOW.

YOU KNOW THAT I TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT I'M FEELING.

YOU KNOW I HATE POLITICS.

BUT YOU ALSO KNOW THAT I CARE ABOUT THIS NATION.

YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I CARE ABOUT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN.

SO IF YOU TAKE ONE THING FROM MY WORDS TONIGHT, IT IS THIS.

IF YOU THINK THINGS CANNOT POSSIBLY GET WORSE, TRUST ME, THEY CAN AND THEY WILL IF WE DON'T MAKE A CHANGE IN THIS ELECTION.

IF WE HAVE ANY HOPE OF ENDING THIS CHAOS, WE HAVE GOT TO VOTE FOR JOE BIDEN LIKE OUR DEPENDS ON IT.

I KNOW JOE.

HE IS A PROFOUNDLY DECENT MAN, GUIDED BY FAITH.

HE WAS A TERRIFIC VICE PRESIDENT.

HE KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES TO RESCUE AN ECONOMY, BEAT BACK A PANDEMIC AND LEAD OUR COUNTRY.

AND HE LISTENS.

HE WILL TELL THE TRUTH AND TRUST SCIENCE.

HE WILL MAKE SMART PLANS AND MANAGE A GOOD TEAM.

AND HE WILL GOVERN AS SOMEONE WHO HAS LIVED A LIFE THAT THE REST OF US CAN RECOGNIZE.

WHEN HE WAS A KID, JOE'S FATHER LOST HIS JOB.

WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG SENATOR, JOE LOST HIS WIFE AND HIS BABY DAUGHTER.

AND WHEN HE WAS VICE PRESIDENT, HE LOST HIS BELOVED SON.

SO JOE KNOWS THE ANGUISH OF SITTING AT A TABLE WITH AN EMPTY CHAIR, WHICH IS WHY HE GIVES HIS TIME SO FREELY TO GRIEVING PARENTS.

JOE KNOWS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO STRUGGLE, WHICH IS WHY HE GIVES HIS PERSONAL PHONE NUMBER TO KIDS OVERCOMING A STUTTER OF THEIR OWN.

HIS LIFE IS A TESTAMENT TO GETTING BACK UP AND HE IS GOING TO CHANNEL THAT SAME GRIT AND PASSION TO PICK US ALL UP.

TO HELP US HEAL AND GUIDE US FORWARD.

NOW JOE IS NOT PERFECT.

AND HE'D BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU THAT.

BUT THERE IS NO PERFECT CANDIDATE.

NO PERFECT PRESIDENT.

AND HIS ABILITY TO LEARN AND GROW WE FIND IN THAT THE KIND OF HUMILITY AND MATURITY THAT SO MANY OF US YEARN FOR RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE JOE BIDEN HAS SERVED THIS NATION, HIS ENTIRE LIFE WITHOUT EVER LOSING SIGHT OF WHO HE IS.

BUT MORE THAN THAT, HE HAS NEVER LOST SIGHT OF WHO WE ARE, ALL OF US.

JOE BIDEN WANTS ALL OF OUR KIDS TO GO TO A GOOD SCHOOL, SEE A DOCTOR WHEN THEY'RE SICK, LIVE ON A HEALTHY PLANET.

AND HE'S GOT PLANS TO MAKE ALL OF THAT HAPPEN.

JOE BIDEN WANTS ALL OF OUR KIDS NO MATTER WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE, TO BE ABLE TO WALK OUT THE DOOR WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT BEING HARASSED OR ARRESTED OR KILLED.

HE WANTS ALL OF OUR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO GO TO A MOVIE OR A MATH CLASS WITHOUT BEING AFRAID OF GETTING SHOT.

HE WANTS ALL OUR KIDS TO GROW UP WITH LEADERS WHO WON'T JUST SERVE THEMSELVES AND THEIR WEALTHY PEERS BUT WILL PROVIDE A SAFETY NET FOR PEOPLE FACING HARD TIMES.

AND IF WE WANT A CHANCE TO PURSUE ANY OF THESE GOALS, ANY OF THESE MOST BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR A FUNCTIONING SOCIETY, WE HAVE TO VOTE FOR JOE BIDEN IN NUMBERS THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, FOLKS WHO KNOW THEY CANNOT WIN FAIR AND SQUARE AT THE BALLOT BOX ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO STOP US FROM VOTING.

THEY'RE CLOSING DOWN POLLING PLACES IN MINORITY NEIGHBORHOODS.

THEY'RE PURGING VOTER ROLLS, THEY'RE SENDING PEOPLE OUT TO INTIMIDATE VOTERS AND THEY'RE LYING ABOUT THE SECURITY OF OUR BALLOTS.

THESE TACTICS ARE NOT NEW.

BUT THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO WITHHOLD OUR VOTES IN PROTEST OR PLAY GAMES WITH CANDIDATES WHO HAVE NO CHANCE OF WINNING.

WE HAVE GOT TO VOTE LIKE WE DID IN 2008 AND 2012, WE'VE GOT TO SHOW UP WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF PASSION AND HOPE FOR JOE BIDEN.

WE'VE GOT TO VOTE EARLY, IN PERSON IF WE CAN, WE'VE GOT TO REQUEST OUR MAIL-IN BALLOTS RIGHT NOW, TONIGHT AND SEND THEM BACK IMMEDIATELY.

AND FOLLOW UP TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE RECEIVED AND THEN MAKE SURE OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES DO THE SAME.

WE HAVE GOT TO GRAB OUR COMFORT COMFORTABLE SHOES, PUT ON OUR MASK, BACK A BROWN BAG DINNER AND MAYBE BREAKFAST, TOO.

BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO BE WILLING TO STAND IN LINE ALL NIGHT IF WE HAVE TO.

LOOK, WE HAVE ALREADY SACRIFICED SO MUCH THIS YEAR.

SO MANY OF YOU ARE ALREADY GOING THAT EXTRA MILE.

EVEN WHEN YOU'RE EXHAUSTED, YOU'RE MUSTERING UP UNIMAGEABLE COURAGE TO PUT ON THOSE SCRUBS AND GIVE OUR LOVED ONES A FIGHT FIGHTING CHANCE.

EVEN WHEN YOU'RE ANXIOUS, YOU ARE DELIVERING THOSE PACKAGES, STOCKING THOSE SHELVES AND DOING ALL THAT ESSENTIAL WORK SO THAT ALL OF US CAN KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

EVEN WHEN IT ALL FEELS SO OVERWHELMING, WORKING PARENTS ARE SOMEHOW PIECING IT ALL TOGETHER WITHOUT CHILD CARE, TEACHERS ARE GETTING CREATIVE SO THAT OUR KIDS CAN STILL LEARN AND GROW.

OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE DESPERATELY FIGHTING TO PURSUE THEIR DREAMS.

AND WHEN THE HORRORS OF SYSTEMIC RACISM SHOOK OUR COUNTRY AND OUR CONSCIENCEES, MILLIONS OF AMERICANS OF EVERY AGE, EVERY BACKGROUND ROSE UP TO MARCH FOR EACH OTHER, CRYING OUT FOR JUSTICE AND PROGRESS.

THIS IS WHO WE STILL ARE.

COMPASSIONATE, RESILIENT, DECENT PEOPLE.

WHOSE FORTUNES ARE BOUND UP WITH ONE ANOTHER.

AND IT IS WELL PASTIME FOR OUR LEADERS TO ONCE AGAIN REFLECT OUR TRUTH.

SO, IT IS UP TO US, TO ADD OUR VOICES AND OUR VOTES TO THE COURSE OF HISTORY, ECHOING HEROES LIKE JOHN LEWIS WHO SAID, WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT IS NOT RIGHT, YOU MUST SAY SOMETHING.

YOU MUST DO SOMETHING.

THAT IS THE TRUEST FORM OF EMPATHY.

NOT JUST FEELING, BUT DOING.

NOT JUST FOR OURSELVES OR OUR KIDS, BUT FOR EVERYONE.

FOR ALL OUR KIDS.

AND IF WE WANT TO KEEP THE POSSIBILITY OF PROGRESS ALIVE IN OUR TIMEF WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO LOOK OUR CHILDREN IN THE EYE AFTER THIS ELECTION, WE HAVE GOT TO REASSERT OUR PLACE IN AMERICAN HISTORY AND WE HAVE GOT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ELECT MY FRIEND, JOE BIDEN.

AS THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

THANK YOU ALL.

GOD BLESS.

>> Woodruff: FORMER FIRST LADY, MICHELLE OBAMA WITH A POWERFUL COMMUNICATION, A ARE POWERFUL DELIVERY OF THOSE REMARKS.

A LITTLE MORE THAN 18 MINUTES.

FOR SOMEONE WHO HATES IN HER WORDS, HATES POLITICS, SHE DELIVERED QUITE A CLOSE TO THIS FIRST NIGHT.

DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

JOINING ME NOW ARE GROUP WHO HAVE BEEN WITH US ALL NIGHT LONG LONG, DAVE SHIELDS, MICHAEL BROOKS, MICHAEL NUTTER, CHRIS BUS KIRK AND AMY WALTER.

WE WERE RESPONDING THINKING HOW MANY FIRST LADIES COULD PULL OFF SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

HOW MANY PEOPLE COULD PULL OFF SOMETHING LIKE WHAT MICHELLE OBAMA JUST DID.

>> HER SPEECH IN 2016 BROUGHT AN ENTIRE CONVENTION HALL COMPLETELY SILENT.

AND GOT PROBABLY THE BEST ROUND OF APPLAUSE OF ANY SPEAKER OF THE ENTIRE CONVENTION THEN TO BE ABLE TO BE THE KIND OF PERSON WHO CAN DELIVER THAT KIND OF SPEECH AT A CONVENTION AND THEN DO SOMETHING AS DIFFICULT AS THIS, WHICH IS SPEAKING INTO A CAMERA FOR 18 MINUTES STILL BE ENGAGING, AND NATURAL AND BRING PEOPLE IN, THAT IS A VERY RARE TALENT THAT CAN DO THAT.

>> Woodruff: A VERY RARE TALENT.

SHE TOUCHED ON -- SHE MADE THE CASE, FOR JOE BIDEN AT THE END BUT ALSO MADE THE CASE AGAINST DONALD TRUMP.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Woodruff: CHRIS, HOW DO YOU COUNT HEAR MICHELLE OBAMA SAID?

>> YEAH, SHE WAS DEFINITELY THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT IN FACT WE MAY LOOK BACK THAT SHE GAVE THE BEST SPEECH OF THE WHOLE WEEK.

IT WAS -- IT WAS VERY POWERFUL.

IT WAS PASSIONATE, I THOUGHT IT WAS MORE COMPELLING FRANKLY THAN ANYBODY ELSE'S TONIGHT.

BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT THERE THAT WAS SIMILAR TO EVERYBODY ELSE'S.

THAT WAS -- THERE WAS TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT WERE -- TO MY MIND ANYWAY ARE AB TRACK SHUNS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REPUBLICANS WANT TO DO IS PUSH BACK WITH SOMETHING THAT IS VERY CONCRETE.

THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT POLICIES POLICIES, TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO.

IT'S GOOD I THINK IN POLITICAL RHETORIC TO TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE EMPATHY AND UNITY.

THOSE THINGS ARE CORE CIVIC VIRTUES.

IF YOU ONLY DO THAT THEN MY RECOMMENDATION TO REPUBLICANS OR I GUESS WARNING TO REPUBLICANS THAT SORT OF GIVES PEOPLE A RHETORICAL SUGAR HIGH IN A DAY OR WEEK LATER THINK THINK, HOLD ON A SECOND.

I'M FOR THOSE THINGS BUT HOW DO THOSE CHANGE MY LIFE.

LIKE WHAT DOES THAT ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE A YEAR FROM NOW.

WHEN YOU SAY HOW DO YOU PUSH BACK ON THAT IF YOU'RE REPUBLICANS YOU HAVE TO GET VERY DETAILED, VERY CONCRETE.

HERE IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, X, Y, Z, THESE ARE OUR POLICIES THIS IS WHAT -- HOW IT WILL AFFECT YOU MAKE YOUR LIFE BETTER.

>> Woodruff: MICHAEL NUTTER, RESPOND TO THAT.

>> SURE.

I DON'T THINK TONIGHT WAS POLICY NIGHT.

IT WAS BILLED AS "WE THE PEOPLE" MICHELLE OBAMA FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA SPOKE TO US AS A PERSON.

SHE TALKED ABOUT EMPATHY.

BUT SHE HAD CONCRETE EXAMPLES OF ACTUALLY POLICY FAILURES.

BY DONALD TRUMP AND THE GOODNESS AND THE NATURE OF JOE BIDEN HAVING BEEN VICE PRESIDENT, MAKING DECISIONS, TAKING ACTION WHICH WE DO NOT SEE IN DONALD TRUMP.

SO IT'S FOUR DAYS, FOUR NIGHTS OF CONVENTION.

I THINK THE THEME WAS VERY CLEAR FROM THE START.

AND NO BETTER PERSON TO BRING THAT THEME HOME AND BRING IT ALTOGETHER THAN FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA, INCREDIBLE SPEECH.

18 MINUTES.

LOOKS LIKE IN A ROOM BY HERSELF.

DIFFICULT ENOUGH TO DO IN FRONT OF A LOT OF PEOPLE.

IT'S EVEN TOUGHER WHEN YOU'RE BY YOURSELF.

>> Woodruff: AND DAVID BROOKS BROOKS, PLEASE DO COMMENT ON MICHELLE OBAMA BUT I WANT TO SAY SHE WAS PRECEDED BY BERNIE SAND SANDERS WHO DID TALK ABOUT ISSUES, DID TALK ABOUT HEALTH CARE.

TALKED ABOUT A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT FOR HIM ARE AS HE SAID THE MOVEMENT CONTINUES EVEN THOUGH I'VE LOST THIS CAMPAIGN AND LAST ONE.

THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT CONTINUES.

BUT PULL IT ALL TOGETHER FOR US.

>> I THOUGHT MICHELLE OBAMA WAS VERY GOOD.

BUT I DIDN'T EXPECT TO SAY THIS BUT I THOUGHT BERNIE SANDERS HAD THE SPEECH OF THE NIGHT.

I THOUGHT, A, JUST HELPED UNIFY THE PARTY TREMENDOUSLY.

SECOND IT FOCUSED ON WHAT I THINK IS CORE DEMOCRATIC ARGUMENT THIS IS NOT A NORMAL ELECTION THAT DONALD TRUMP -- THAT IS SORT OF ALL HANDS ON DECK.

I THINK THERE'S A STRAIGHT LINE TO BE DRAWN BETWEEN THAT SANDERS SANDERS' ARGUMENT AND WHAT HAPPENED EARLIER IN THE NIGHT WHICH I THINK MOVED A LOT OF PEOPLE IS THE SPRING TEEN SONG " "THE RISING" A SENSE THAT PEOPLE ARE MARCHING A LOT OF DIVERSE PEOPLE ARE MARCHING AGAINST THIS UNIQUE THREAT.

THAT IS THE CORE DEMOCRATIC ARGUMENT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE, SOME OF THEM IN THE DEMOCRATS, HAVE TO RISE TO THIS MOMENT.

AND PART OF WHAT HAPPENED TONIGHT WAS THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY SAY WE'RE FAY TREE ANOTHER I CAN, WE'RE NORMAL NORMAL, WE'RE NOT RADICAL, WE'RE NOT SWINGING LEFT I THINK THEY DID THAT TONIGHT.

SO I THINK THE SANDERS' SPEECH, THE RISING SONG, THE GENERAL SENSE OF COMFORT MAKES THIS A GOOD NIGHT FOR DEMOCRATS.

>> Woodruff: PICK UP ON THAT, MARK, AND IF YOU WOULD, I MEAN THE REMINDERS ON SEVERAL POINTS THROUGH THE NIGHT TO PEOPLE WHO JUST EITHER DIDN'T VOTE OR VOTED THIRD PARTY, FOURTH PARTY THE LAST TIME.

THE MESSAGE TONIGHT WAS DON'T DO THAT THIS TIME.

>> ABSOLUTE LIE, JUDY.

I'D SAY THIS.

A COUPLE OF LESSONS CAME THROUGH TONIGHT.

POLL FIX IS RADIO VERY PERSONAL BUSINESS.

BEFORE PEOPLE VOTE FOR YOU THEY HAVE TO LIKE YOU.

WHAT CAME THROUGH PEOPLE WHO HAD RUN AGAINST JOE BIDEN, TRULY PRIVILEGED OBSERVERS HAD BEEN COMBAT AGAINST HIM POLITICALLY, OVERWHELMINGLY, UNANIMOUSLY SPOKE GLOWINGLY ABOUT HIM, ABOUT HIS PERSONAL QUALITIES, ABOUT THE KIND OF MAN HE WAS, THE KIND OF PRESIDENT HE MIGHT VERY WELL BE.

AND THIS STANDS IN STARK AND DIRECT CONTRAST TO SORT OF CONTRAST BY CONFRONT TAKES BY CONTRAST.

TO 2016 WHEN ONE AFTER ANOTHER FROM TED CRUZ TO JOHN KASICH TO MARCO RUBIO TO JEB BUSH TO LINDSEY GRAHAM.

ALL SAID SCALDING, SCORCHING THINGS ABOUT DONALD TRUMP AND HOW UNFIT HE WAS FOR THE OFFICE HE WAS SEEKING.

I THOUGHT THERE WAS SEVERAL LINES THAT STUCK WITH ME.

MICHELLE OBAMA'S LINE THAT, BEING PRESIDENT DOESN'T CHANGE WHO YOU ARE, IT REVEALS WHO YOU ARE.

AND AGAIN, PRIVILEGED OBSERVER SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN THERE EIGHT YEARS KNOWS WHAT IT MEANS.

I JUST THOUGHT WHAT CAME THROUGH THROUGH, JOE WAS A GUY THAT CAN BRING THE NATION TOGETHER.

THAT'S THE MESSAGE THEY WERE SELLING, I THOUGHT THEY DID IT QUITE PERSUASIVELY.

HE STARTS, YOU CAN'T BRING THE NATION TOGETHER UNTIL YOU BRING YOUR PARTY TOGETHER.

HE BROUGHT HIS PARTY TOGETHER, BROUGHT NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE TO THE PARTY TONIGHT INCLUDING GOVERNOR WHITMAN AND GOVERNOR KASICH AND CONGRESSWOMAN MOLINAR MOLINARI.

I THINK IT'S A NEW SYSTEM.

SEEING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME.

I THOUGHT IT WAS -- IT MOVED ALONG AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A POSITIVE NIGHT FOR JOE BIDEN THE DEMOCRATS.

>> AMY, I'M GOING TO TURN TO YOU LAST WHAT IS GOING TO STAY WITH YOU FROM TONIGHT?

>> I THINK CERTAINLY MICHELLE OBAMA'S SPEECH.

BUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE WATCH WATCHING THIS VIRTUAL CONVENTION IT ACTUALLY WORKED.

YOU CAN TUNE INASMUCH AS YOU WANT.

BUT THIS FELT LIKE YOU COULD ACTUALLY I THINK JONATHAN KAY PART THIS YOU CAN LISTEN TO PEOPLE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

USUALLY GETTING DROWNED OUT BY ALL THE OTHER VOICES IN THE CONVENTION HALL.

IT MOVED MUCH MORE QUICKLY.

BECAUSE THE POLITICIANS WERE ONLY GIVEN THIS SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME THEY HAD TO PUT IN THE ESSENCE OF WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO SAY INTO THE SHORT BURST OF TIME.

I THINK IT COMES ACROSS BETTER FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO CLUE IN FOR A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT THIS PARTY STANDS FOR.

>> Woodruff: THEY HAD TO.

WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT TONIGHT.

THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN ON ZOOM CALLS AND OTHER KINDS OF CALLS -- >> THIS LOOKED A LOT BETTER THAN A ZOOM CALL.

I'LL SAY THAT.

>> Woodruff: IT ROSE ABOVE THE ZOOM CALL LEVEL.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU.

WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW NIGHT.

AMY WALTER, MARK SHIELDS, DAVID BROOKS, MICHAEL NUTTER, NOW TO MY COLLEAGUE AMNA TO WHAT TO LOOK FOR.

>> WE DID INDEED RISE ABOVE THE ZOOM CALL.

YOU LOOK BACK AT THE SLATE OF SPEAKERS THIS CAREFULLY CURATED CONVENTION CONTENT THERE WERE TWO GROUPS, DEMOCRATS WERE SPEAKING TO.

VOTESSERS THEY NEED TO EXCITE THEIR BASE AND YOUNG PROGRESS PROGRESSIVES AND VOTERS THEY NEED TO CONVINCE.

THE SWING VOTERS AND PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE CONVINCED THAT BIDEN IS GOING FORWARD.

YOU WILL SEE THIS SLATE OF SPEAKERS WE'LL HAVE CONGRESS WARM ALEXANDRA CORTEZ MAKING HER REMARKS.

SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY AND FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON WILL ALSO BE SPEAKING TO THE LEADERSHIP THAT THEY THINK JOE BIDEN CAN PROVIDE.

AND DR. JOE BIDEN WILL DELIVER HER REMARKS AS WELL SPEAKING OF COURSE IN A VERY PERSONAL WAY TO THE MAN AND HIS CHARACTER.

ALSO TOMORROW NIGHT, JUDY, WE SHOULD POINT OUT HISTORIC ROLL CALL VOTE TYPICALLY A HALLMARK MOMENT AT EVERY POLITICAL CONVENTION.

WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT WILL ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE IN THIS NEARLY ALL VIRTUAL CONVENTION.

TO QUOTE MICHELLE OBAMA, IT IS WHAT IT IS.

JUDY.

>> Woodruff: IT IS WHAT IT IS IS.

AMNA IS WATCHING WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AND WHAT IS COMING AHEAD.

THANK YOU.

THANKS TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS.

TALL OF OUR REPORTERS TONIGHT AND WE WILL BE BACK HERE TOMORROW NIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR JOININGS FOR THIS LIVE COVERAGE OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

PLEASE STAY WITH US ALL WEEK ONLINE, ON THE "NEWSHOUR" AND THEN FOR SPECIAL COVERAGE.

I'M JUDY WOODRUFF FOR ALL OF US AT THE "NEWSHOUR" PLEASE STAY SAFE AND WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.