CHICAGO (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris tells voters they have a chance to chart a “new way forward” as Americans this November, as she looked to introduce herself to voters and prosecute her case against Republican Donald Trump Thursday night as she accepts her party’s nomination at the Democratic National Convention.
Harris’ address in Chicago caped a whirlwind eight weeks in American politics and manifests the stunning reversal of Democratic fortunes just 75 days until Election Day. Party leaders, who had publicly despaired over President Joe Biden’s candidacy after his disastrous debate against Trump, were jubilant both at the historic nature of Harris’ candidacy and their buoyed hopes for this November.
“With this election, our nation has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism, and divisive battles of the past,” Harris said her candidacy is “a chance to chart a New Way Forward. Not as members of any one party or faction, but as Americans.”
Harris is the first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to accept a major party’s presidential nomination, and if elected, she would be the first female U.S. president.
A festive mood filled the United Center before Harris appeared onstage, with a packed audience including running mate Tim Walz dancing and singing along to a mix of pop and classic rock. Two of Harris’ young grandnieces were brought onstage by actress Kerry Washington to remind the convention how to correctly pronounce her first name. At the girls’ direction, one side of the arena shouted “comma” and the other “la.”
Just a month after Biden ended his reelection bid – Republicans say he was forced out – he endorsed her to replace him atop the Democratic ticket. Harris took the opportunity to try to define herself to voters on her own terms before an audience of millions.
Harris shared her background rising from a middle-class family to protect others as a prosecutor, contrast her “optimistic” vision with what she called Trump’s “dark” agenda and evoke a sense of patriotism.
Harris spoke briefly to the convention on Monday, when she thanked Biden and celebrated his record as president, and again on Tuesday, when the beginning of her rally in Milwaukee was streamed into the convention hall after Democrats reaffirmed their nomination of her with a state-by-state roll call.
Harris, the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India, is the first Black woman and the first person of South Asian descent to accept a major party’s presidential nomination. She spoke a day after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, her choice for running mate, thanked the packed Chicago arena for “ bringing the joy ” to the election.
Despite Harris’ prominence as vice president, she’s spent four years in Biden’s shadow, leaving some Americans unclear on her personal history and her political vision for the country.
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