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WASHINGTON – In a historic speech on the Democratic National Convention, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris promised to proceed army assist for Ukraine and strengthen NATO as she accepted the get together’s nomination for the 2024 presidential race.
The 59-year-old Harris, the primary girl of coloration to high the presidential ticket of a significant U.S. get together, sharply criticized her Republican challenger Donald Trump for cozying as much as authoritarian leaders.
Speaking to 1000’s of cheering supporters on the fourth and final day of the conference contained in the United Center in Chicago, Harris, only a month after President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid and endorsed her to interchange him atop the Democratic ticket, accused Trump of disowning Ukraine and allies and of denigrating the United States.
“As President, I’ll stand sturdy with Ukraine and our NATO allies,” Harris, mentioned on August 22 in the course of the 40-minute speech.
“I’ll by no means waver in protection of America’s safety and beliefs, as a result of within the enduring wrestle between democracy and tyranny, I do know the place I stand,” she added, contrasting her place with Trump and working mate JD Vance, who’ve repeatedly questioned U.S. backing for Ukraine.
Harris, the primary Black girl and first particular person of South Asian descent to simply accept a significant get together’s presidential nomination, delivered an upbeat view of the United States and its standing on this planet, a pointy distinction to the doom-and-gloom image Trump painted on the Republican conference final month.
“I see a nation that is able to transfer ahead, prepared for the following step within the unbelievable journey that’s America,” she mentioned.
Craig Allen, a communications professor and political commentator at Arizona State University, instructed RFE/RL after the speech that whereas Harris was “inspiring,” particularly when she spoke about household and her private journey, her feedback on Ukraine weren’t something “that Biden hadn’t already mentioned.”
“She didn’t elaborate on what she was going to do for Ukraine,” he added.
Turning to the battle between Israel and Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union, Harris vowed to work towards ending the battle that has killed tens of 1000’s of individuals within the Gaza Strip.
The vp mentioned that as president she would “all the time arise for Israel” and would “by no means hesitate to take no matter motion is critical to defend our forces and our pursuits towards Iran and Iran-backed terrorists.”
The deal with, watched by hundreds of thousands of Americans across the nation, is the primary time many citizens have gotten to see the brand new Democratic candidate up shut.
Harris emerged because the get together’s frontrunner on July 21 when Biden took the unprecedented step of bowing out of the race after profitable the primaries.
The 81-year-old president confronted intense strain from senior get together officers to withdraw after he appeared frail and confused throughout a June 27 debate towards Trump, deepening widespread concern he was too previous to serve one other 4 years.
While Harris oversaw key points resembling unlawful immigration and abortion rights, like most vice presidents, she had been largely out of the general public eye throughout her greater than three years in workplace.
In a latest ballot, greater than a 3rd of Americans mentioned they do not know Harris or her positions properly.
Wearing a blue swimsuit, Harris talked about rising up in a center class household of immigrants and occurring to turn out to be a prosecutor to guard folks.
She laid out a few of her priorities as president, together with rising the availability of reasonably priced housing and defending abortion rights.
“They are out of their thoughts,” Harris mentioned in regards to the Trump’s marketing campaign stance on abortion.
The former president took to social media after which known as into Fox News to remark additional, to criticize the speech for not speaking about China, oil fracking, or crime, points that Trump has pushed constantly.
“It was a number of complaining,” he mentioned.
“Why didn’t she do the issues that she’s complaining about?”
Independent polls taken days earlier than the August 19-22 Democratic National Convention confirmed Harris, who if elected would turn out to be the primary feminine president within the historical past of the United States, barely edging out Trump in a hypothetical nationwide vote.
Analysts say even 100,000 votes throughout just a few swing states might decide the result of the November 5 election.
Harris’ marketing campaign has loved a momentum not seen by a Democratic candidate since former President Barack Obama’s first bid in 2008, get together members say.
Even although Trump and Biden simply gained their respective primaries earlier this yr, a major variety of American voters mentioned they wished new candidates on the poll. The two males confronted off in 2020.
Harris’s entry into the race has energized some voters – particularly youthful girls – who had proven little enthusiasm for both Biden or Trump, consultants mentioned.
