CHICAGO
Kamala Harris will deliver the most significant speech of her political career on Thursday when she accepts the Democratic presidential nomination in Chicago – a pivotal moment after a remarkable turnaround in the 2024 White House race.
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The 59-year-old US vice president is expected to exude positive and hopeful “vibes” after President Joe Biden withdrew his candidacy from a month that electrified Democrats. Harris plans to tell her personal story and present an optimistic vision in her speech at the Democratic National Convention, in contrast to the gloomy tone often associated with her rival Donald Trump.
“When Kamala gets on the stage, we will not stop. It will be absolute insane,” said Amanda Taylor, a 47-year-old delegate from Missouri.
Despite growing enthusiasm and Harris’ lead in the polls, Democrats are aware that the campaign is far from over. Prominent figures such as Barack and Michelle Obama and Bill Clinton have warned that Harris faces a formidable challenge against the 78-year-old Trump.
Harris’ rapid rise to the top of the ticket means she is an unknown figure to many U.S. voters. As the first female, Black and South Asian vice president, and now the first female president, her role has largely kept her out of the spotlight over the past four years.
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“Fight for freedom”
Harris plans to address that in her speech, talking about her childhood as a working mother and the economic challenges facing families struggling with inflation, according to a campaign official who asked not to be identified. She will contrast her hopeful outlook for the future of America with what her campaign describes as Trump’s pessimistic and conservative vision for a second term.
Throughout the Democratic Convention, numerous speakers criticized what they saw as Republicans’ planned actions to restrict abortion rights and undermine democratic institutions, focusing on the issue of freedom.
On Wednesday, her energetic running mate Tim Walz officially accepted his nomination with the statement: “Kamala Harris will stand up and fight for your freedom to live the life you want to live.”
However, Harris’ campaign hardly included any detailed policy announcements, especially on the economy – a key election issue.
Political analyst Larry Sabato emphasized the importance of this moment, pointing out that Harris must use the opportunity to outline her agenda: “You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.”
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“Kamala vibes”
“Voters already have the Kamala mood. Now they need the Kamala agenda,” said Sabato, a professor at the University of Virginia, warning that a lack of economic policy could be a significant vulnerability.
Amid the “Kamala vibes,” Democrats are in full celebration mode. Under Harris’ leadership, the party is barely recognizable from its low point following Biden’s poor debate performance against Trump.
On Tuesday, former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama spoke about the convention. Michelle assured that under Harris, “hope is making a comeback.”
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At the events on Wednesday, Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and the musicians Stevie Wonder and John Legend performed as opening acts for Tim Walz. The Democrats’ celebration is in stark contrast to the memory of Biden’s farewell speech a few days ago.
While the transition of power has been dizzying for Biden and the Democrats, it has also left Trump unsettled. He has endured a turbulent summer, survived an assassination attempt and seen his longed-for victory threatened by the rise of a feisty, younger challenger.
On Thursday, Trump will be in Arizona on the Mexican border, strategizing how to exploit Harris’ perceived weakness on illegal immigration.
