Welcome to Opinion’s commentary for Night 1 of the Democratic National Convention. In this special feature, Times Opinion writers rate the evening on a scale of 0 to 10: 0 means the night was a disaster for Kamala Harris; 10 means it could lead to a big polling bump. Here’s what our columnists and contributors thought of the event, which included speeches by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Hillary Clinton, Raphael Warnock and Joe Biden.
Best Moment
Kristen Soltis Anderson, contributing Opinion writer Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. In a night showcasing the party’s elders, A.O.C. demonstrated that she is their future. Republicans underestimate her at their peril.
Binyamin Appelbaum, member of the editorial board The stark power of the personal testimonials from women denied access to pregnancy-related health care.
Charles M. Blow, Times columnist Hillary Clinton: fiery, impassioned, affecting.
Frank Bruni, contributing Opinion writer The orgy of applause for Hillary Clinton. I’m a sap. I can’t imagine what that meant to her, someone put through the political grinder like few leaders in my lifetime, someone forever haunted by (and blamed for) losing to Donald Trump. She needed that. So did Democrats. It affirmed their unity, elevated graciousness and turned the page.
Jane Coaston, contributing Opinion writer If you could bottle whatever Clinton must have been feeling listening to a chanting crowd scream “Lock him up,” it would power a nation.
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