The Democratic National Convention put its best foot forward Tuesday night as Michelle Obama, Julian Castro and others went to bat for another four years with Barack. Here's the highlights from Tuesday's speeches.

Jimmy Carter The 88-year-old former president endorsed Obama in a four-minute video. Carter used his time to refuting Romney's claim that Obama started his term as president with an "apology tour," a claim which has been rated as false.

“Overseas, President Obama has restored the reputation of the United States within the world community," Carter said. "Dialogue and collaboration are once again possible, with the return of a spirit of trust and good will to our foreign policy.”

Harry Reid Next to Romney, Reid is the one of the highest-profile Mormons in the nation. But a common faith does not equal kinship as Reid has been one of Romney's most vocal foes as he repeatedly accused the GOP nominee of not paying taxes for ten years. Charges of a "rigged game" and double standard for billionaires were accusations he was happy to repeat in Charlotte.

"Never in modern American history has a presidential candidate tried so hard to hide himself from the people he hopes to serve," Reid said. "When you look at the one tax return he has released, it’s obvious why there’s been only one."

Reid has offered no evidence to support his claims against Romney and Politifact concluded his accusations were so warantless, they deserved a "pants on fire" rating on the truth scale.

Julian Castro The San Antonio mayor and poster boy for a "boot straps" theology adressed delegates to roaring applause. The much-lauded speech played up the dichotomy between the candidates, borrowing an Occupy slogan to incite the crowd.

"It's a choice between a country where the middle class pays more, so that millionaires can pay less," Castro said. "Or a country where everybody pays their fair share."

Castro adopted GOP talking points, as well. He appropriated the GOP theme of American exceptionalism to characterize his own family story. He thanked his mother for working long hours so that "instead of a mop, I could hold this microphone."

So much hype led up to Castro's speech, it caused speculation his appearance was a primer on the 2016 election more than on the Dems' current candidate.

Michelle Obama The First Lady was on deck to remind America why she, and we, fell in love with her husband. To garner as much good will as possible from both the national defense and female voters, she was introduced by a sentimental video chronicling her achievements, then by military mother Elaine Brye, who has four children in the armed services.

Michelle's role was the same as Ann Romney's a week ago-- to connect to a broad swath of female voters and humanize her husband to a weary electorate. But Michelle's efforts struck a more populist tone, telling stories of how Barack used to take her on dates in a car so rusted out, she could she the pavement through a hole in the floor.

"Even though he'd been brought up across the country, he had been brought up just like me," she said.

Michelle was quick to invoke the memory of her husband's late mother, whose struggles as a single mother were a defining narrative during the 2008 campaign. The First Lady also mentioned the Lilly Ledbetter Act and the couple's own struggles with student debt.

"For Barack, these issues aren't political, they're personal," Michelle said.

The First Lady's impassioned speech, which focused on personality more than policy, alternately inspired multiple standing ovations and rapt attention from the delegation. The enthusiastic reception from the crowd demonstrates the extent to which Mrs. Obama has been able to revamp her image from a bitter, race-obsessed liability to a political asset. Only November will tell if she is able to perform the same miracle on her husband's image, as well.

 

Follow Neon Tommy's coverage of the Democratic National Convention.

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