Before a packed house and at a prime time, Harris, 59, highlighted joy, optimism and patriotism as essential to running her campaign and securing the support of the largest number of American voters as she seeks to become the first woman and person of color to hold the White House.
“On behalf of the people, on behalf of all Americans, regardless of race, regardless of background, regardless of the language your grandparents spoke, on behalf of all of you, I accept your nomination to become the president of the United States of America,” Harris told a cheering crowd of supporters.
Her speech is the epilogue of a month since the former California prosecutor entered the race, after President Joe Biden withdrew, forced out by the bigwigs of the Democratic Party following a disastrous performance during a presidential debate.
The Democratic candidate, who has not given any interviews or held a press conference so far, used her acceptance speech, a historically high-profile moment in American political life, to speak directly to all Americans.
After discussing her personal story as the daughter of middle-class immigrants who achieved the American dream, Harris reflected on her career as attorney general of California, where she “defended children, women and the vulnerable,” promising, once elected president of the United States, to defend the right of everyone “to a life of dignity and prosperity,” free “from fear and cynicism, a life where everyone can have a chance to succeed.”
The candidate did not fail to virulently attack her Republican rival, warning that the “consequences of Donald Trump’s return to the White House would be extremely unfortunate”, he whose program “aims to drag America backwards”.
Kamala Harris also focused on the foreign policy she intends to implement during her presidency. She particularly committed to continuing to “strongly defend Ukraine and our NATO allies”, while stressing, with regard to the “devastating” situation in Gaza, that it is “high time to reach an agreement that guarantees the release of the hostages, and a ceasefire now”.
As in previous evenings, the euphoric audience was treated to interventions by distinguished speakers, including Senator and former presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren, civil rights leader Al Charpton, in addition to American basketball star Stephen Curry, as well as prosecutors, who worked alongside Kamala Harris, the opportunity to present different facets of the life, career and achievements of the vice-president, in favor of social justice, security, or even in terms of foreign policy.
The Democratic convention, which was a passing of the torch between Biden and Harris, was billed by the party as a moment to symbolize the unity and renewed momentum of the Democratic campaign.
During the four days of this conclave, the party’s leading lights and many celebrities took turns at the podium of the immense “United Center” in Chicago to display a united front around Kamala Harris and her running mate, the governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, and to attack head-on the Republican ticket led by Trump and senator JD Vance.
President Biden, who received a long ovation in a speech that amounted to a farewell message, called Donald Trump a threat to democracy, while former president and undisputed star of the party, Barack Obama, presented him, in a fiery speech, as a billionaire who only cares about himself, promoting division and hatred to advance his career.
Outside the convention center, however, that unity was less palpable, and the divisions more pronounced, as demonstrators protested the war in Gaza.
Kamala Harris first ran for president in 2019. She quickly ended her campaign before being chosen by Biden to be his vice president.
Just three years earlier, Hillary Clinton had lost to Donald Trump after a campaign that she and her defenders consider to be marked by misogyny and sexism.
In Chicago, elected officials and Democratic activists now seem confident: Ms. Harris’ identity as a woman of color is seen as a major asset. With less than three months to go, the race is tight and the outcome of the vote remains uncertain.
2024-08-23 20:24:13