“On behalf of all those whose history could only be written in the greatest nation on earth, I accept your nomination to (become) President of the United States of America”declared Kamala Harris on Thursday evening, August 22, 2024, to the cheers of the audience at the end of the Democratic National Convention organized in Chicago (Illinois).
With these words, the current vice president for Joe Biden – who had called him to wish him luck before his speech – agreed to be the leader of the Democratic ticket to challenge Donald Trump and the Republican Party in the presidential election in November.
“In this election, our country has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move beyond the bitterness, cynicism and struggles of the past. The opportunity to chart a new path, not as members of a party or group, but as Americans.”she added.
If she succeeds in reaching the White House, Kamala Harris will become the first woman to be elected president of the United States.
Unite the country
“On behalf of all Americans”Kamala Harris has repeatedly said that she does not want to leave anyone behind in this campaign, regardless of race, gender or political affiliation.
“I promise to be president of all Americans”said the 59-year-old vice president, dressed in a dark pantsuit, to deafening ovations from thousands of delegates.
In a speech full of authority, often solemn, sometimes fiery, Kamala Harris promised to “ chart a new path ».
After finishing, under the traditional avalanche of balloons in the colors of America, she remained on stage for a long time to enjoy the exaltation of the representatives of her party, together with her husband Doug Emhoff as well as her deputy Tim Walz and members of their families .
“In the name of the people, in the name of all Americans, regardless of their party, their race, their gender”in their name “who work hard, pursue their dreams, and look out for each other, on behalf of all those whose history can only be written in the greatest nation on earth, I accept your nomination to serve as President of the United States.launched the candidate before a transcended crowd.
She said she addressed everyone “people of different political views are watching us tonight”.
For the biggest speech of his life, the Californian chose his Indian mother’s journey as a common thread.
“I saw how the world treated her sometimes. But my mother never lost her cool. She was strong, brave”said the candidate, who also said she learned from her “to never (complain) about injustice, but to act against it”.
“friend-friend”
Kamala Harris apparently strongly attacked her Republican opponent.
“We know what another (Donald) Trump term would look like. Everything is written in Project 2025 »she declared, referring to an ultra-conservative program created by relatives of the billionaire whose goal, she says, is to “Take our country back years”.
“Unlike Trump, I don’t want to be friends with dictators”she declared again, pledging her support for Ukraine and Israel, but also“self-determination” for the Palestinians.
The vice president talked about reforming an immigration system “fail”to promote an economy “that enables everyone to succeed” and to restore a guarantee of the right to abortion throughout the country.
The most important thing for her was not to detail a program, but to convince America of her presidential status.
“I want to be a president who unites us around our highest aspirations. A president who leads and listens”Kamala Harris said.
Degree of difficulty
His speech, even accompanied by shouting, brought a sudden seriousness to the Democratic convention, which has been taking place since Monday in a festive atmosphere.
Before Kamala Harris, the vast majority of representatives from every American state wore white.
Associated with women’s major political struggles, this color testifies to their hope to see the 59-year-old vice president become the first president of the United States by defeating Donald Trump on November 5.
Polls give Harris a slight lead over Trump in national voting intentions.
This is by no means a guarantee of victory, 74 days before a vote that will surely be played out, as in 2016 and 2020, in a handful of key states.
So much can happen between now and then. In the space of four astonishing 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, the lines could move again. According to American media, the independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. throw in the towel and support the Republican billionaire.
“We are not the favourites […]that’s how we see things”said Dan Kanninen, a campaign manager for Kamala Harris, during an event hosted by the agency Bloomberg.
Donald Trump repeated Thursday that his rival wanted to tip America into “communism”.