Newsletter: Your Essential Politics guide to Day 3 of the Democratic National Convention

I’m Christina Bellantoni, here with your Essential Politics guide to the Democratic National Convention.

Tonight’s theme is Working Together, and the aim is to trumpet the Obama administration while allowing the outgoing president to pass the torch. It also will be Tim Kaine’s big-time debut on the national stage.

President Obama and Vice President Biden, two of Hillary Clinton’s most powerful and charismatic surrogates, will likely prod Donald Trump as they make the case for the party nominee.

Obama has changed his tune and suggested in an interview on NBC airing today that Trump could win the presidency. “Anything is possible,� Obama told NBC’s Savannah Guthrie. In February, the president had said he believed Trump “will not be president.� Will that message come through in his prime-time speech tonight?

“He’ll talk a little bit about what he has tried to achieve, what kind of country he has tried to build, but put that in the context of why he thinks she’s the right choice,� Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta previewed.

Halfway into the Democratic confab, Cathleen Decker sees that the presidential contest has become a battle between feelings and facts.

Below is our quick look at what happened on Day 2. Or, check out the video version. We’ll have you covered with a gavel-to-gavel livestream that will go live here at 1 p.m. Pacific. and robust live coverage round-the-clock on Trail Guide. We’ll also cover Trump’s planned Reddit Ask Me Anything. Don’t miss a moment.

I’ll present the best of the rest with a series of headlines.

×

Day Two of the Democratic National Convention in less than 3 minutes. Full coverage at latimes.com/trailguide

YOUR GUIDE TO CONVENTION NEWS

— Best moments from Day 2

— Clinton makes a cameo on historic day

— Bill Clinton introduces the ‘real’ Hillary Clinton

— Part moving tribute, part policy slog: Bill Clinton pays homage to his wife

— A long-awaited moment for a woman born before women could vote

— Larry Sanders emotionally casts roll call vote for his brother Bernie

— Voices from the floor: Needles, Ca. woman: ‘Finally’

— California’s delegation is front-and-center. See the photo of the floor and watch the video

— Madeleine Albright says Trump is undermining fight against ISIS

— Watch Albright’s full speech

— ISIS convention mentions rise after GOP complains terrorism is being ignored

— How the Democratic and Republican party platforms stack up on the issues

— Gabby Giffords and John Lewis talk about gun violence

— Terry McAuliffe’s TPP comments do Clinton no favors

— What will it take to get voters to trust Clinton? Campaign chair John Podesta has a plan

— Sanders tells California delegates it’s ‘easy to boo’ but harder to stop Trump

— Charts: Why Bill Clinton is still one of the most popular ex-presidents

— The Republican response to the Democratic National Convention

YOUR GUIDE TO CONVENTION SPEECHES

— Watch: Hillary Clinton’s celebrity supporters sing ‘Fight Song’

— Watch the moment Clinton became the nominee, thanks to Bernie Sanders

— Once lured to L.A. by human traffickers, human rights advocate Ima Matul tells her story at DNC

— ‘Mothers of the Movement’ at the DNC will give Black Lives Matter one of its biggest platforms yet and watch the video

— Why Tamir Rice’s mother is missing from the stage

— Eric Holder: America is already great

YOUR CONVENTION PROTEST GUIDE

— I went to another protest. With no Sanders supporters here, it was a jolt

— Bernie Sanders supporters launched protest after Hillary Clinton was named the nominee

— 4 people arrested after trying to enter Secret Service-protected area outside the DNC

YOUR CONVENTION BINGO CARD

From “First Lad� references to the “woman card,� we have you covered.

’RACIALLY DIVISIVE’ AD POPS IN SAN BERNARDINO RACE

A political committee funded by oil companies has launched ads on the Internet attacking state Sen. Connie Leyva of Chino for opposing the reelection of fellow Democrat Cheryl Brown of San Bernardino, questioning Levya’s party loyalty.

A spokesman for Leyva called the ads “racially divisive� and “reprehensible.�

THE SMALL SOLUTION TO THE STATE’S HOUSING CRISIS

State lawmakers and interest groups continue to battle it out over Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to streamline approval for housing that reserves units for low-income Californians. But a package of bills pending in the Legislature is aiming to address the state’s housing shortage in a smaller way, Liam Dillon and Andrew Khouri report. These bills want to make it easier for homeowners to add a secondary unit in their backyards or convert their garages to new housing, something that could make a big difference in cities with lots of existing barriers like Los Angeles.

For non-convention California headlines, keep an eye on our Essential Politics news feed.

WATCH THE CONVENTION WITH THE L.A. TIMES

Join me, Sacramento bureau chief John Myers and columnist Robin Abcarian at a free convention watch party on Thursday in downtown Los Angeles. The free event runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Pacific, and we will be playing bingo. RSVP here.

TODAY’S ESSENTIALS

— Campaigning in Charlotte, N.C., Trump said Clinton is dangerous for veterans.

— California’s acting governor actually had serious business to attend to Tuesday.

— Who will win the November election? Give our Electoral College map a spin.

LOGISTICS

Miss yesterday’s newsletter? Here you go. Did someone forward you this? Sign up here to get Essential Politics in your inbox daily. And keep an eye on our politics page throughout the day for the latest and greatest. And are you following us on Twitter at @latimespolitics?

Please send thoughts, concerns and news tips to [email protected].