DNC as it happened: Walz delivers headline pep talk; Republican urges voters to ‘dump Trump’; Pelosi says Harris will reach ‘new heights’

Day three of the Democratic National Convention has come to an end, with vice presidential candidate Tim Walz delivering his headline address. We’ve also heard from former house speaker Nancy Pelosi who took aim at Donald Trump.

What happened on day three of the Democratic convention?
Many of you will just be waking up to read about the third day of the Democratic National Convention.

We’ve been bringing you all the latest updates through the night, which you can read by scrolling through this blog – we’ll be doing the same again this evening for the convention’s finale.

If you’d prefer a quick recap, here are the key moments you might have missed…

Tim Walz delivers headline ‘pep talk’

Tim Walz accepted the nomination for vice president in a “pep talk” that vowed to “turn the page on Donald Trump”.

The Minnesota governor, little-known before his selection by Kamala Harris, gave the audience an overview of his career, starting with his work as a high school teacher and football coach.

“It was those players and my students who inspired me to run for Congress,” he said.

“Never underestimate a public school teacher,” he laughed. “I represented my neighbours in Congress for 12 years, and I learned an awful lot.”

He also spoke about his family’s struggle with infertility and, turning to gun control, bragged about having a “better shot than most Republicans”.

Warning about Project 2025 – a controversial right-wing set of policy proposals – he called it a “playbook” for the next Republican administration.

“Look, I coached high school football long enough to know and trust me on this – when somebody takes the time to draw up a playbook, they’re going to use it,” he said.

As he wrapped up his speech to wild applause, his walk-off song Rockin’ In The Free World played – Neil Young having signed off on its use after suing Mr Trump for using the song at campaign rallies without permission.

Bill Clinton urges people to vote for ‘president of joy’

Former president Bill Clinton used his convention speech to denounce Mr Trump as selfish and urged Democrats to back the “president of joy” Kamala Harris.

Slating Mr Trump, he compared him to a tenor who warms up by singing “me, me, me”.

“What does her opponent do with his voice? He mostly talks about himself,” he said. “So the next time you hear him, don’t count the lies, count the I’s.

“We need Kamala Harris, the president of joy, to lead us,” he said.

Looking forward, he said Ms Harris was a “clear choice” for president and praised her ‘McDonalds approach’ to public office.

“When she was a student, she worked at McDonald’s. She greeted every person with that thousand-watt smile and said, ‘How can I help you?’ And now, at the pinnacle of power, she’s still asking ‘How can I help you?'” he says.

“I’ll be so happy when she actually enters the White House because, at last, she’ll break my record as the president who has spent the most time at McDonald’s.”

Harris ready to take US to ‘new heights’, says Pelosi 

Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, who played a part in convincing Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race, thanked him and said Ms Harris was ready to “take us to new heights”.

She also criticised Mr Trump over the January 6 Capitol riots, saying he “brazenly assaulted the bedrock of democracy”.

She said: “The parable of January 6 reminds us that our democracy is only as strong as the courage and commitment of those entrusted with its care.

“Let us not forget who assaulted democracy on January 6 – he did.”

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