Vice President Kamala Harris sought to redefine her image for America and draw a sharp contrast with Republican Donald Trump as she accepted the Democratic Party’s 2024 presidential nomination on Thursday.
“On behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth, I accept your nomination for president of the United States,” Harris declared to an enthusiastic crowd at the Democratic National Convention.
Harris became the Democratic nominee just over a month ago when President Joe Biden, 81, was urged to step aside by his allies. If successful, Harris would make history as the first woman to be elected U.S. president.
The four-day convention has attracted some of the most prominent figures in politics and music.
On the final and most anticipated night, Chicago’s United Center was filled with energy and excitement. The arena’s 23,500 seats were fully occupied, and staff briefly had to prevent more people from entering, as the city’s fire marshal declared the venue at capacity.
Biden called Harris to wish her well before her speech, according to a White House spokesperson.
In a subtle critique of Trump’s divisive rhetoric, Harris vowed to “be a president for all Americans.”
Nearly Four Years as VP Harris, a former California attorney general, had long harbored presidential aspirations, though her 2020 campaign faltered. Her nearly four years as vice president also had its challenges.
“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. Not as members of any one party or faction, but as Americans,” she said.
The Chicks performed the national anthem, and Pink took the stage at the United Center, a venue that accommodates over 20,000 people.
The Central Park Five, a group of Black men wrongfully convicted of rape as teenagers and later exonerated, received a standing ovation. They criticized Trump, who, as a New York City real estate developer, had condemned them at the time and refused to retract his false claims.
The Democratic crowd erupted in applause for Senator Elizabeth Warren, who grew emotional and wiped away tears. Warren, who ran for president in 2020, delivered a passionate endorsement of Harris while dismissing Trump as “the felon.”
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