Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday officially accepted the Democratic presidential nomination, vowing to unite the country and bring a practical perspective to the presidency if she is elected in November.
“I know there are people of various political views watching tonight, “Harris said in her keynote address on the final night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
“And I want you to know: I promise to be a president for all Americans,” she said.
“I will be a president who unites us around our highest aspirations,” Harris said. “A president who leads — and listens. Who is realistic. Practical. And has common sense. And always fights for the American people.”
Harris also promised that building the middle class “will be a defining goal of my presidency.”
“This is personal for me. The middle class is where I come from,” she said.
The line channeled the rhetoric of President Joe Biden, who made history in late July when he withdrew his reelection bid and endorsed Harris as his replacement.
But Harris’ speech also sought to uncouple her from the 81-year-old incumbent, who has been dogged by low approval ratings, and pitch a “new way forward.”
“With this election, our nation has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past,” she said. “Not as members of any one party or faction, but as Americans.”
The speech caps a four-day parade of politicians, celebrities, activists, entertainers and everyday Americans, ranging from Oprah Winfrey and Bill Clinton to the wrongfully imprisoned members of the Central Park 5.
It also mirrors the patriotic overtures and positive vibes that defined much of the convention — a clear effort to appeal to more moderate voters and defang Donald Trump‘s efforts to label Harris a far-left “Marxist.”
That tone serves another purpose: Underscoring Democrats’ recent refrain that both Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, are “weird” and don’t represent most of the country.
“In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man,” Harris said in Thursday’s speech. “But the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious.”
She warned that Trump would be empowered if rewarded with a second term, referencing a recent Supreme Court ruling that granted former presidents “presumptive immunity” from criminal prosecution for their official acts.
This is a developing story, please check back for updates.