Vice President Kamala Harris sought to reassert herself and draw a sharp contrast with Republican Donald Trump on Tuesday night as she accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for president in 2024.
“On behalf of all those whose stories can only be written in the greatest nation on earth, I accept your nomination for president of the United States,” Harris said to cheers from Democrats at their national convention.
Ms Harris emerged as the Democratic nominee less than a month ago as allies of President Joe Biden, 81, pressured him to drop out of the race. If successful, she would make history as the first woman elected US president.
The four-day Democratic National Convention attracted some big names in politics and music.
On the final and most anticipated night of the convention, Chicago’s United Center was abuzz with energy — and people. The 23,500-seat arena was packed, and arena staff quickly blocked more people from entering, saying the city fire marshal had declared the building at capacity.
A White House spokesman said Mr Biden called Ms Harris to wish her luck ahead of his speech.
Alluding to the divisive rhetoric Mr Trump used during the campaign, Ms Harris pledged to “be a president for all Americans”.
Ms. Harris has delivered a series of counterpoints to Mr. Trump, accusing him of failing to fight for the middle class, planning to implement tax increases through his tax proposals and moving to end constitutional abortion rights thanks to his Supreme Court appointments.
Ms Harris noted the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity and the risks that would arise if Mr Trump regained power.
“Imagine Donald Trump without guardrails,” she said.
Mr Trump, who promised to respond shortly after Ms Harris’s speech, posted a series of messages on Truth Social when she spoke about him, including: “She represents incompetence and weakness – Our Country is being laughed at by the entire world!” and “She will never be respected by the Tyrants of the World!”
Nearly 4 years as vice president
A former California attorney general, Harris’s presidential ambitions have been clear for years, but those efforts were dashed by her own tumultuous 2020 campaign and the clashes during her nearly four years as vice president.
“With this election, our country has a precious opportunity to move beyond the bitter battles, mistrust, and divisions of the past. A chance to chart a New Way Forward. Not as members of any party or faction, but as Americans,” she said.
The Democratic crowd went wild for Senator Elizabeth Warren, who broke down in tears. Warren, who is running for the White House herself in 2020, gave a rousing endorsement of Harris as she called Trump a “criminal.”
Victims of gun violence, including former U.S. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, also appeared.
Former US Representative Adam Kinzinger, one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach then-President Trump, was among the Republicans who spoke at the convention against Mr. Trump.
“Democracy knows no party,” Kinzinger said, telling his fellow Republicans, “Democrats are just as patriotic as we are. They love this country as much as we do.”
