Kamala Harris ran as a progressive fighter during her failed 2020 primary campaign. In her acceptance speech, she completed her rebranding.
Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday delivered an impassioned speech in which she reintroduced herself to the nation, connecting her past representing the people as a prosecutor with a desire to be “a president for all Americans.”
“I will be a President who unites us around our highest aspirations”, she said. “A President who leads and listens, who is realistic, practical, and has common sense. And always fights for the American people. From the courthouse to the White House, that has been my life’s work.”
Harris’ acceptance speech capped off an unprecedented rise that began as one of the least popular vice presidents in recent memory. Now, she is firmly ensconced as just the second woman in American history to be a major party’s presidential nominee.
Former President Donald Trump tried to hew to a call for unity in his major convention address given just days after he survived an assassination attempt. After detailing his harrowing experience, Trump meandered into his usual stump speech that included nods to his false claim that 2020 election was stolen from him.
Like other Democrats this week, Harris said Trump was just in the race to better himself.
“Just imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails”, she said. “How he would use the immense powers of the presidency of the United States. Not to improve your life, not to strengthen our national security, but to serve the only client he has ever had: Himself.”
Harris focused on a call for unity, which was accompanied by progressive policies, such as an ambitious plan to address the housing shortage.
“You know our opponents are out there every day denigrating America, talking about how terrible everything is. Well, my mother had another lesson she used to teach: never let anyone tell you are; you show them who you are.
