Vice President Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday, despite not releasing a policy platform since launching her campaign.
Harris appeared at the headline event on the final day of the Democratic National Convention to accept the nomination that delegates voted to give her just weeks ago. Virtual roll callThe vice president mostly spoke about his record and attacked former President Donald Trump, but also touched on some vague policy positions and campaign themes.
“On behalf of all the people who can only speak for the greatest country on Earth, I accept my nomination for president of the United States of America,” Harris said at the start of her speech.
Harris began her speech with a personal story — how she became a prosecutor after a childhood friend was abused, and how her mother told her “never do anything half-heartedly” — before moving on to outline fundamental policies, promising to pass a bipartisan border bill that failed in the Senate earlier this year and to pass legislation to protect abortion access nationwide.
She also expressed sympathy for the plight of the Palestinians, called for a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza, and promised to continue to support Israel's right to defend itself.
Another major theme was attacks on Trump, whom she portrayed as a threat to freedoms such as abortion rights and said he was a convicted sexual assaulter who only looked out for his own interests.
“I stay away from tyrants and dictators who are rooting for Trump. They know he is easy to manipulate. Trump won't hold dictators accountable because he wants to be a dictator himself,” she said.
Meanwhile, Trump promised to livestream Harris' speech on Truth Social early Thursday morning, and he posted 37 times throughout her 41-minute speech.
Is she talking about me?
Donald Trump Socializing for Truth 10:52 PM EST 08/22/24 Donald Trump
— Posts from Donald J. Trump's Truthful Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) August 23, 2024
The convention kicked off Monday with a day dedicated to President Joe Biden and his decision to drop out of the presidential race and endorse Harris. The Democratic National Convention ran behind schedule, with Biden's speech finishing after prime time and just after midnight. Amid applause, the president urged Americans to vote for Harris and Gov. Tim Walz.
“We need your vote. We need it to keep the Senate and the House. And most importantly, we need it to defeat Donald Trump,” Biden said in a speech that lasted nearly an hour.
Observers, including prominent pollster Nate Silver, said the speech may have been delayed to lower Biden's profile as the party shifts its focus to Harris.
“While the media has been very East Coast focused, it would be pretty naive to think that tonight's DNC dragged on for any reason other than to undermine Biden's name recognition,” Silver said. Tweeted.
For example, how drugged do you have to be to think that it's just a coincidence that the President of the United States isn't speaking until so late?
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) August 20, 2024
But despite the night being in Biden's favor, the Democratic National Convention was entirely focused on Harris and her role within the party. Her speech was conspicuously devoid of any comment on her record as vice president. The headliners on Day 2 were former President Barack Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama and Doug Emhoff.
“I feel hopeful because this convention has always been so good for a bunch of kids with funny names who believe in a country where anything is possible. Because we have a chance to elect someone who has spent her life trying to give people the same chances that America gave her, someone who sees you, hears you, gets up every day and fights for you – the next president of the United States of America, Kamala Harris,” Barack Obama said.
Despite the furor surrounding Harris' nomination, Trump and his campaign have emphasized that the vice president has shunned the media and lacked a platform. Harris has not held a press conference or given an interview since launching her campaign four weeks ago. Harris had told reporters she would do interviews by the end of August, but Biden gave an interview to CBS News before Harris did. (Related article: 'The dam will break': Trump campaign insider predicts backlash against Kamala's underground campaign)
On the final day of the convention, Harris has yet to post a policy platform on her website, while the Trump campaign has released its own. web page The Democratic National Committee released its platform on the first day of the election, which mentioned “a second term for President Biden” 19 times and President Trump 150 times.
