“I am here today before you to proudly announce that I am officially the party’s nominee for president of the United States. Now we have work to do,” she announced.
The current vice president under Joe Biden acknowledged that her candidacy with Tim Walz is not the favorite in this race, but assured that they have the right dynamic and know exactly what they are facing.
Recalling that she has been both an attorney general and a district attorney, Kamala Harris emphasized that in those roles she “dealt with criminals of all kinds: predators who abused women, scammers who deceived consumers, cheaters who broke the rules for their own benefit.”
“So, listen to me when I say that I know the type of Donald Trump. Our campaign is not just a fight against Donald Trump. It is a fight for the future,” she stressed.
In Kamala Harris’s words, this fight for the future includes the creation of “a broad economy where every American has the opportunity to own a home, start a business, build wealth.”
“A future in which we will fight for the most fundamental freedoms: the freedom to vote; the freedom to be safe from gun violence; the freedom to love whom we love openly and proudly; and the freedom for women to make decisions about their own bodies and not have the Government telling them what to do,” she enumerated.
Before handing the floor to her chosen vice president, Tim Walz, Harris praised the governor of Minnesota. “Since I announced my candidacy, I have been committed to finding a partner who would help me build this bright future,” she stated.
“A leader who would help unite our nation and move us forward. A fighter for the middle class, a patriot who believes, like I do, in the extraordinary promise of America: a promise of freedom of opportunity and justice not just for some, but for all.”
“I am here today because I found that leader,” she said, pointing to Tim Walz.
Kamala reinforced that “Tim is more than a governor” and reminded that the 60-year-old man has already been a congressman, teacher, sergeant, and even a football coach. “And in 91 days, the nation will call him the Vice President of the United States”, she assured.
“With Tim Walz by my side, and with all of you by our side, we will fight for the promise of our future.”
Walz ready for an “incredible journey”
Confessing to be “very excited” to be with Americans “on this incredible journey,” Kamala Harris’s pick took the opportunity to criticize the Republican candidate for president.
“Donald Trump sees the world differently than we do. First of all, he doesn’t understand anything about serving [the nation]. He doesn’t have time for that because he’s too busy serving himself,” he criticized.
According to Walz, the former president “has been weakening our economy to bolster only his own well-being” and “sows chaos and division.”
As president, Trump “froze in front of the COVID-19 crisis and crashed our economy,” he declared. “And don’t be fooled: violent crime has been rising during his term. And I’m not even talking about the crimes he himself committed”.
In reference to the revocation of the constitutional right to abortion, decided by the Supreme Court during Trump’s term, Walz stated that some members of the audience on Tuesday were old enough to remember when Republicans spoke of freedom.
“After all, what they meant was that the Government should have the freedom to invade medical offices. In Minnesota, we respect our neighbors and each person’s personal choices,” he emphasized.
“Even if we don’t make the same decision, we have a golden rule: worry only about your own life,” and “that includes the right to abortion.”
The Democratic candidate for vice president of the U.S. also mentioned that he can’t wait to debate JD Vance, Trump’s selected vice, describing him as a “scary and strange” person.
Kamala Harris and Tim Walz took the stage together in Philadelphia for the first campaign rally, which kicks off three months before the elections on November 5. In the coming days they will visit key states across the United States.