WASHINGTON – In a historic speech on the Democratic Nationwide Conference, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris promised to proceed navy help for Ukraine and strengthen NATO as she accepted the social gathering’s nomination for the 2024 presidential race.
The 59-year-old Harris, the primary girl of colour to high the presidential ticket of a serious U.S. social gathering, sharply criticized her Republican challenger Donald Trump for cozying as much as authoritarian leaders.
Chatting with hundreds of cheering supporters on the fourth and final day of the conference contained in the United Middle in Chicago, Harris, only a month after President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid and endorsed her to switch him atop the Democratic ticket, accused Trump of disowning Ukraine and allies and of denigrating the USA.
“As President, I’ll stand sturdy with Ukraine and our NATO allies,” Harris, stated on August 22 in the course of the 40-minute speech.
“I’ll by no means waver in protection of America’s safety and beliefs, as a result of within the enduring wrestle between democracy and tyranny, I do know the place I stand,” she added, contrasting her place with Trump and operating mate JD Vance, who’ve repeatedly questioned U.S. backing for Ukraine.
Harris, the primary Black girl and first particular person of South Asian descent to just accept a serious social gathering’s presidential nomination, delivered an upbeat view of the USA and its standing on the earth, a pointy distinction to the doom-and-gloom image Trump painted on the Republican conference final month.
“I see a nation that is able to transfer ahead, prepared for the subsequent step within the unbelievable journey that’s America,” she stated.
Craig Allen, a communications professor and political commentator at Arizona State College, informed RFE/RL after the speech that whereas Harris was “inspiring,” particularly when she spoke about household and her private journey, her feedback on Ukraine weren’t something “that Biden hadn’t already stated.”
“She didn’t elaborate on what she was going to do for Ukraine,” he added.
Turning to the battle between Israel and Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist group by the USA and the European Union, Harris vowed to work towards ending the battle that has killed tens of hundreds of individuals within the Gaza Strip.
The vp stated that as president she would “at all times arise for Israel” and would “by no means hesitate to take no matter motion is important to defend our forces and our pursuits towards Iran and Iran-backed terrorists.”
The tackle, watched by hundreds of thousands of People across the nation, is the primary time many citizens have gotten to see the brand new Democratic candidate up shut.
Harris emerged because the social gathering’s frontrunner on July 21 when Biden took the unprecedented step of bowing out of the race after successful the primaries.
The 81-year-old president confronted intense strain from senior social gathering officers to withdraw after he appeared frail and confused throughout a June 27 debate towards Trump, deepening widespread concern he was too previous to serve one other 4 years.
Whereas Harris oversaw key points akin to unlawful immigration and abortion rights, like most vice presidents, she had been largely out of the general public eye throughout her greater than three years in workplace.
In a latest ballot, greater than a 3rd of People stated they do not know Harris or her positions effectively.
Carrying a blue swimsuit, Harris talked about rising up in a center class household of immigrants and occurring to grow to be a prosecutor to guard folks.
She laid out a few of her priorities as president, together with rising the availability of reasonably priced housing and defending abortion rights.
“They’re out of their thoughts,” Harris stated in regards to the Trump’s marketing campaign stance on abortion.
The previous president took to social media after which referred to as into Fox Information to remark additional, to criticize the speech for not speaking about China, oil fracking, or crime, points that Trump has pushed persistently.
“It was a variety of complaining,” he stated.
“Why didn’t she do the issues that she’s complaining about?”
Unbiased polls taken days earlier than the August 19-22 Democratic Nationwide Conference confirmed Harris, who if elected would grow to be the primary feminine president within the historical past of the USA, barely edging out Trump in a hypothetical nationwide vote.
Analysts say even 100,000 votes throughout a couple of swing states may decide the end result of the November 5 election.
Harris’ marketing campaign has loved a momentum not seen by a Democratic candidate since former President Barack Obama’s first bid in 2008, social gathering members say.
Despite the fact that Trump and Biden simply gained their respective primaries earlier this 12 months, a major variety of American voters stated they needed new candidates on the poll. The 2 males confronted off in 2020.
Harris’s entry into the race has energized some voters – particularly youthful girls – who had proven little enthusiasm for both Biden or Trump, consultants stated.