,Vice President Kamala Harris sealed her Democratic presidential nomination Thursday with a muscular speech which laid down broad foreign policy principles.
“In the enduring struggle between democracy and tyranny, I know where I stand. I know where the United States belongs,” she said. Accusing her Republican rival Donald Trump of bowing down to dictators, she promised to back NATO, Ukraine and “stand up to Putin’s aggression,” a reference to Russia’s president.
Pro-Palestinian protesters, annoyed over not getting a speaking spot at the convention, were disappointed by Harris’ closing speech.
Harris, in her speech, delivered a pledge to secure Israel, bring the hostages home from Gaza and end the war in the Palestinian enclave.
She repeated her earlier calls for a ceasefire and hostages deal. She displayed support to Israel’s and its right to defend itself, while also favouring the Palestinian right to self-determination.
Democratic Party insiders fear that Harris’ statement could cost her votes from these areas. Harris would need votes in battleground states such as Michigan. Several cities in these states are home to significant Muslim and Arab American populations that have hosted protests in favour of Gaza.
The convention took place in Chicago, home to the United States’ largest Palestinian community.
Harris also said she would take whatever action was necessary to defend U.S. interests against Iran. She took a dig at Trump and said tyrants and dictators including North Korea’s Kim Jong Un are rooting for him.
HARRIS WOULD BE FIRST FEMALE U.S. PRESIDENT
Harris stands a chance to create history as the first woman elected U.S. president on Nov. 5, if she wins the presidential race.
Harris drew a series of contrasts with Trump in her speech. She accused him of not fighting for the middle class and planning to enact a tax hike through his tariff proposals. She also said he had set in motion the end of a constitutional right to abortion with his picks for the U.S. Supreme Court.
Harris said she intends to pass a middle tax cut, contrasting that with Trump’s vow to cut the corporate tax rate. Harris’ campaign has promoted raising the corporate tax rate to 28% from the current 21%. She said this will benefit more than 100 million Americans.
Among other things, she also discussed her plans such as fighting for abortion rights, boosting housing supply and banning “price gouging” by grocers.
The Convention venue, Chicago’s United Center, was brimming with energy and people. “We did it,” Harris told supporters at a post-convention reception. “Forward, forward, forward.”
