Kamala Devi Harris simply called Kamala Harris, accepted the Democratic presidential nomination in Chicago on Thursday, August 22 before a rapturous crowd, pledging a “new way forward” and warning that her rival, Republican party candidate, Donald Trump “will take America backwards” if he wins November’s blockbuster election.
The 59-year-old Kamala delivered a message of unity and patriotism for Americans after taking over from Joe Biden who is set to retire from politics in November.
“With this election, our nation has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism, and divisive battles of the past — a chance to chart a new way forward,” Harris said to huge cheers from tens of thousands of pumped-up supporters.
“And I want you to know: I promise to be a president for all Americans.”
The Democratic Party’s candidate was later joined on stage by her running mate, Tim Walz and their families, as they held their arms aloft amid ovation from the crowd.
“I will be a president who unites us around our highest aspirations,” she vowed.
Harris then launched attacks at 78-year-old Trump, whose campaign has been upended by having to face a woman two decades younger, rather than Biden who is 81.
“We know what a second Trump term would look like,” she said, saying he wanted to “pull our country back to the past.”
Turning to foreign policy, she accused Trump of trying to “cozy up” to foreign autocrats like Russian President Vladimir Putin.
She pledged instead to “stand strong” with Ukraine as it fights Russia’s invasion and supports NATO allies.
Harris is the first Black Asian woman to be nominated by a major US party.