Kamala Harris wanted to “chart a new path” of unity by accepting the Democratic Party’s nomination for the November presidential election on Thursday, which will pit her against Donald Trump.
“I promise to be the president of all Americans,” the 59-year-old vice president said, dressed in a dark pantsuit, to deafening cheers from thousands of delegates.
In a speech full of authority, often solemn, Kamala Harris sometimes took on resolutely patriotic tones: “In the eternal fight between democracy and tyranny, I know where I stand. And I know where the United States must stand,” she declared.
After finishing, under the traditional avalanche of American-colored balloons, she remained on stage to savor the excitement, joined by her husband Doug Emhoff as well as his running mate Tim Walz and members of their families.
“On behalf of all Americans, regardless of party, race, gender,” “on behalf of all those whose history can only be written in the greatest nation on earth, I accept your nomination to become president of the United States,” the candidate said.
“She wanted not only to bring us together and reassure us but also to appeal to the opposing camp,” reacted Shani Henry, a delegate from Montana.
For the greatest speech of her life, the Californian chose the journey of her mother, an Indian, as her central theme.
“I saw how the world treated her sometimes. But my mother never lost her calm. She was strong, courageous,” said the candidate, adding that she had learned from her “never to complain about injustice, but to act against it.”
“Ami-ami”
Kamala Harris has obviously attacked her Republican opponent forcefully.
“We know what a second term for (Donald) Trump would look like. It’s all written in Project 2025,” she said, referring to an ultraconservative program concocted by people close to the billionaire whose goal, she said, is to “take our country back years.”
“Unlike Trump, I will not make friends with dictators,” she added, promising her support for Ukraine and Israel, but also “self-determination” for the Palestinians.
The former California attorney general has spoken of reforming a “broken” immigration system, promoting an economy “that allows everyone to succeed” and restoring a nationwide guarantee of abortion rights.
The main thing for her, however, was not to detail a program, but to convince America of her presidential stature.
“I will be a president who unites us around our highest aspirations. A president who leads and listens,” Kamala Harris said.
Gravity
His speech, even accompanied by cheers, brought a sudden gravity to the Democratic convention, which since Monday has been held in a party atmosphere, with the hall often transformed into a vast discotheque.
But no Beyoncé. Social media has been buzzing with rumors all day about a visit from the huge star, who gave the campaign its official anthem with her song “Freedom.”
In front of Kamala Harris, the vast majority of representatives from all American states wore white.
This color, associated with the great political struggles of women, reflects their hope of seeing her become the first woman to lead the United States, after the November 5 election.
Her Republican opponent, whom she will face in a first debate on September 10, flooded her social media with messages during the vice president’s speech, calling it “the worst speech ever given” and saying: “SHE HAS MADE US A NATION IN DECLINE.”
Polls give Kamala Harris a slight lead in national voting intentions.
This is in no way a guarantee of victory, 74 days before an election that will certainly be decided, as in 2016 and 2020, in a handful of key states.
So much can happen between now and then. In four mind-boggling weeks, America has seen its current president, Joe Biden, abandon his candidacy and its former president, Donald Trump, fall victim to an assassination attempt.
On Friday, things could move again. According to American media, independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will throw in the towel and support the Republican billionaire.
“Let’s get to work,” former President Barack Obama, whose 2008 campaign was in constant discussion this week in Chicago, wrote on X after the speech.
