Harris, like Biden before her, is trying to balance support for Israel’s security with condemnation of the violence in Gaza.
She said she and Biden are working around the clock for a hostage and cease-fire deal.
“I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself because the people of Israel must never again face the horror that a terrorist organization called Hamas calls on Oct. 7,” she said. “At the same time, what has happened in Gaza over the past 10 months is devastating so many innocent lives lost.”
Harris on her vision as commander-in-chief
Harris laid out her experience on the global stage as vice president, saying she has “confronted threats to our security, negotiated with foreign leaders, strengthened our alliances and engaged with our brave troops overseas.”
“As commander-in-chief, I will ensure America always has the strongest, most lethal fighting force in the world. And I will fulfill our sacred obligation to care for our troops and their families, and I will always honor and never disparage their service and their sacrifice,” she said, as the crowd broke out into a chant of “U.S.A.!”
Harris vows to sign border bill that Trump derailed
Harris turned to the issue of immigration talking about the need to come up with legislation to properly secure the border.
On Thursday, Trump was at the border and slammed her for what he called failed policies.
Harris reminded that Congress was close to bringing a bipartisan bill that was backed by border patrol agents and others. She vowed to revive that bill.
“I refuse to play politics with our security, and here is my pledge to you as president, I will bring back the bipartisan border security bill that he killed, and I will sign it into law,” she said.
Harris talking about one of her strongest issues: reproductive rights
Harris struggled to find her role in the first few years of the Biden administration, but began to shine when talking about the fight for reproductive rights after the fall of Roe v. Wade.
“Let’s be clear about how we got here, Donald Trump hand picked members of the United States Supreme Court to take away reproductive freedom, and now he brags about it,” she said.
She then turned her ire to Republicans in Congress.
“Why exactly is it that they don’t trust women?” she said. “Well, we trust women.”
Harris’ family, running mate watch her speak
Second gentleman Doug Emhoff, seated with his children and Harris’ sister Maya, was seen wiping his eyes after Harris walked out to the lectern. He was the first person to receive a shout-out from the vice president, who remarked on their 10th wedding anniversary.
Her running mate, Tim Walz, was also looking on with emotion as she took the stage.
Harris warns of dangers under ‘Project 2025’
Harris discussed the controversial “Project 2025” conservative policy proposals contending that would mean “Donald Trump with no guardrails.”
“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,” she said.
“Its sum total is to pull our country back to the past,” Harris said of “Project 2025. “But America, we are not going back.”
Harris sparks deafening ‘we’re not going back’ chant
After proclaiming, “America, we are not going back,” the crowd erupted into chants of “we’re not going back.”
The chants got so loud that at first, you couldn’t hear Harris over the speakers.
Harris pivots to attack on Trump: ‘Unserious man’ with ‘serious’ consequences
Harris called the election “one of the most important in the life of our nation” as she pivoted to talking about Trump.
She called him an “unserious man” who if put back in the White House would have “extremely serious” consequences.
“Consider not only the chaos and calamity when he was in office, but also the gravity of what has happened since he lost the last election,” she said, going on to discuss the insurrection and fraud verdict.
Harris makes unity pitch
“I know there are people of various political views watching tonight, and I want you to know, I promise to be a president for all Americans,” she said. “You can always trust me to put country above party and self, to hold sacred America’s fundamental principles, from the rule of law to free and fair elections, to the peaceful transfer of power. “
“I will be a president who unites us around our highest aspirations, a president who lead us and listens, who is realistic, practical and has common sense and always fights for the American people from the courthouse to the White House,” she continued. “That has been my life’s work.”
Reframing economics as an issue for Democrats
I wrote about this earlier today in our 538 politics chat, but the Harris campaign has been working to reframe their party’s position on the economy, an issue that’s always at the top of voters’ minds. It’s an issue that Democrats have been lagging behind Trump on throughout this election cycle, though Harris has been gaining a bit of ground since she entered the race.
Other DNC speakers have touted Harris’s history of working at McDonald’s and her middle-class roots, while her speech emphasized that again tonight with her stories of growing up in Oakland. I expect more of this on the campaign, as Walz, a former teacher, and Harris try to connect with working-class voters.
Harris accepts presidential nomination
Harris accepted the party’s nomination behalf of the American people.
“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,” she said.
Harris brings back Michelle Obama’s ‘do something’ mantra
“My mother was a brilliant, five foot tall, brown woman with an accent,” Harris said. “And as the eldest child, I saw how the world would sometimes treat her. But my mother never lost her cool. She was tough, courageous, a trailblazer in the fight for women’s health, and she taught Maya and me a lesson that Michelle mentioned the other night: She taught us to never complain about injustice, but do something about it.”
“That was my mother — and she also taught us, and ‘never do anything half-a–ed.’ And that is a direct quote.”
