Nancy Pelosi opened her convention speech with a sense of gratitude for President Joe Biden, even after her doubts about his campaign fed into the pressures that led him to end his reelection effort. “Thank you, Joe,” Pelosi said after going through Biden's legislative achievements. Then the former House speaker added, “I know that Vice President Harris is ready to take us to new heights.” It was a moment that sidestepped the challenging conversation that led to Harris becoming the Democratic nominee, a dramatic act that catalyzed a sense of excitement and optimism in the party about its chances against Republican Donald Trump.