On night two, can Democrats top Michelle Obama?

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(CNN)CNN Opinion asks contributors to share their tweets and analysis on the second night of the Democratic National Convention.

This foreign policy is extraordinarily powerful; devastating review of Trump's behavior on world affairs by top figures, including Republicans, and highest praise for Biden's knowledge, experience and values.

— Frida Ghitis (@FridaGhitis) August 19, 2020

Joe Biden has a big advantage on diplomacy and foreign policy for voters who value how America is received and perceived around the world - and many do.

— Andrew Yang🧢🇺🇸 (@AndrewYang) August 19, 2020

This foreign policy and nat sec testimonial to Biden's readiness -- whatever you think of his past judgment -- is good. Compelling. #DemConvention

— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) August 19, 2020

This convention is a really well-argued case against Donald Trump.

— Jill Filipovic (@JillFilipovic) August 19, 2020

This convention feels full of real people. I like that. There's a tenderness.

— Tess Taylor (@Tessathon) August 19, 2020

Watching Biden officially nominated I haven't felt as hopeful and happy since the pandemic began.

— Aaron David Miller (@aarondmiller2) August 19, 2020

I think this is the first presidential election where the key contrast between candidates is empathy.

— John Avlon (@JohnAvlon) August 19, 2020

I just start to tear up as soon as I hear Khizr Khan's voice. What a wonderful soul.

— Jill Filipovic (@JillFilipovic) August 19, 2020

Khzir Khan should be at every DNC convention until we've fixed everything.

— jess mcintosh (@jess_mc) August 19, 2020

This is the first convention truly made-for-TV, and honestly it's way better than I expected. #DemConvention

— Nicole Hemmer (@pastpunditry) August 19, 2020

What spectacular diversity makes up America. A beautiful reminder from Democrats. Next week will look very, very different

— Frida Ghitis (@FridaGhitis) August 19, 2020

Just as the keynote was creatively reimagined tonight, so too was the roll call. No roar of anticipation in the crowd, funny hats or sharp-elbowed polls trying to edge into the shot.
But a lot more message content.

— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) August 19, 2020

I have watched quite a few roll call votes at conventions and the ritual got stale. But seeing delegates (and families) across the country vote live from their hometowns in this pandemic is remarkably moving. #DemocraticNationalConvention

— Tim Naftali (@TimNaftali) August 19, 2020

Best way to describe tonight is pretty cool. They made the keynotes compelling. They even made the roll call a message rich fun vote. Well done.

— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) August 19, 2020

Roll call on the convention floor is normally a rambunctious ruckus. But pandemic roll call is a gorgeous look at America. I'll take it. #DemConvention

— Frida Ghitis (@FridaGhitis) August 19, 2020

This tour of America nominating Biden is cosmically cool and with its own down home sensibility really inspiring.

— Aaron David Miller (@aarondmiller2) August 19, 2020

This whip-around the states and territories for the roll call is compelling; it is visually interesting and looks like America. Well done, @DNC @DemConvention

— Paul Begala (@PaulBegala) August 19, 2020

Honestly I always like roll call but this makes roll call so much fun. Let's keep doing this. All these places are great and all these people are great and I love it.

— Jill Filipovic (@JillFilipovic) August 19, 2020

President's Clinton and Obama would have been all over fighting Covid. They would have listened to scientists not Fox News anchors, they would have protected Americans not their own political fortunes. Clinton nails the choice we face. #BidenHarris https://t.co/a5ICR4MrDL

— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) August 19, 2020

Lots of good stuff for Ds tonight and a very tight presentation. The omnibus keynote of young leaders. @SallyQYates, a career prosecutor, with a withering indictment of Trump. Caroline Kennedy and son, Jack Schlossberg, were particularly good in making care for @JoeBiden.

— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) August 19, 2020

Amtrak conducter, elevator operators, real people who have a real connection with Joe Biden. More powerful than all the politicians.

— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) August 19, 2020

Can we get Jacquelyn Brittany to run for something? Because she's really good.

— Jill Filipovic (@JillFilipovic) August 19, 2020

.@AOC represents the future of our party. She deserved the keynote.

— Abdul El-Sayed (@AbdulElSayed) August 19, 2020

Watching Bernie get nominated by AOC is like seeing a parallel world. This convention could definitely have used more AOC.

— Andrew Yang🧢🇺🇸 (@AndrewYang) August 19, 2020

Bill Clinton says this is the world's most important job interview, Biden will "concentrate, not distract" - unite, not divide."

He turned around the Democratic Party after they lost more than 40 states in 3 consecutive elections.

— John Avlon (@JohnAvlon) August 19, 2020

Eight years ago, after Bill Clinton finished his stemwinder for Obama in Charlotte, I pinged a GOP Romney voter I knew personally who still ended up voting for Romney, to ask for thoughts on the Clinton speech. The answer? "He makes me want to be a Democrat."

— David M. Drucker (@DavidMDrucker) August 19, 2020

No one can define the clear choice we face better than Bill Clinton

— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) August 19, 2020

Clinton never lost his touch to turn a https://t.co/uKopA9SsAj response to pandemic, the White House should have been a command center; instead it was storm center producing chaos.

— Aaron David Miller (@aarondmiller2) August 19, 2020

What was nice about the montage, in addition to working with short attention spans, was that it wasn't delivered in the stereotypical political speech cadence.

Tho I appreciate very muchly that @SenSchumer brought up the hiding in a bunker. #DemConvention

— Nayyera (@nayyeroar) August 19, 2020

Sally Yates defending US public servants against Trump's corruption and abuse was a good use of this time and space. "He treats our country like it's his family business." #DemConvention

— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) August 19, 2020

#SallyYates is making a very good speech and is telling the truth, but to people who aren't following events closely, she seems like a generic anti-Trump voice. #DemConvention2020

— ((Lincoln Mitchell)) (@LincolnMitchell) August 19, 2020

So the DNC is about how Trump is a threat to democracy, the constitution, free and fair elections, and the rule of law. And the RNC is going to be about owning the libs, why immigrants and Black people are scary, and the unfair media.

— Jill Filipovic (@JillFilipovic) August 19, 2020

Really cool opening tonight. Young Democrats giving keynotes from their hometowns and homes. Very effective.

— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) August 19, 2020

This is a keynote address for the history books. Beautifully reinvented Convention for pandemic times. #DemConvention

— Frida Ghitis (@FridaGhitis) August 19, 2020

"In a democracy, we do not elect saviors." Stacey Abrams has it.

— Jill Filipovic (@JillFilipovic) August 19, 2020

Cuomo's 1984 "a tale of two cities" remains one of the most powerful pieces of Democratic oratory in modern convention history.

— Julian Zelizer (@julianzelizer) August 19, 2020

Notably absent from this montage is Bill Clinton's 1988 convention speech. At the time Larry King, who was covering the convention, declared Clinton's political career over. #DemConvention

— Nicole Hemmer (@pastpunditry) August 19, 2020

.@AOC is speaking tonight to nominate @BernieSanders in a symbolic roll call @JoeBiden will win. I'd be surprised if she did anything other than offer a full-throated salute to the progressive movement Sanders led.

— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) August 19, 2020

The leadership matters theme should be a softball for the Democrats. If they can't hit this one out of the ballpark...

— Julian Zelizer (@julianzelizer) August 19, 2020

Why do the Democrats have so many Republicans participating in the Convention? Because they want Biden to win by a landslide. Makes sense. #DemConvention

— Frida Ghitis (@FridaGhitis) August 19, 2020

The contrast between the two parties will be on display over the next two weeks. One difference will be clear. #Democrats want to govern and #Republicans want to complain and tell us how terrible the #USA is.

— ((Lincoln Mitchell)) (@LincolnMitchell) August 19, 2020
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