I’m old enough to remember when Democrats worried that Roy Cooper wasn’t a strong public speaker.

Then there he was Thursday night: in the spotlight at the Democratic National Convention, the final speaker before Kamala Harris.

He gave a rousing five-minute speech that brought the crowd roaring to its feet.

He told how Harris, as a fellow attorney general, held out for a bigger settlement against banks that cheated and defrauded homeowners.

“All the AGs were close to a settlement with the big banks, and it was a pretty good deal,” Cooper said. “It would have meant $4 billion for California families who had been ripped off. I know that sounds like a lot, but Kamala said, ‘Hang on a minute. I’ve met these families. I know what they’ve been through, and they deserve more’.”

She prevailed, and the families got $20 billion.

“Let me tell you, this was a huge risk. But she knew it was a risk worth taking. That’s Kamala.”

Yes, Cooper’s star turn said a lot about North Carolina’s importance in the presidential election.

It also said a lot about a man who has always been a thoughtful, conscientious public servant – and has become a powerful public speaker.

Many people in politics are impressive up close. Not all can command a crowd.

But it’s like shooting a basketball, or any other skill. If you work at it, you can get better. Practice does make perfect.

I have no inside information on how Cooper transformed himself from a speaker people worried about to a star speaker at a national convention.

I bet he worked hard at it.

It worked out well for him – and for North Carolina.

If Harris is elected, Cooper may end up in a key position in her administration.

Or he may end up in the Senate.

Wherever he lands, he will do good for North Carolina – and make us proud.