CHICAGO, Aug 23: Vice President Kamala Harris sealed the Democratic presidential nomination with a muscular speech, laying down broad foreign policy principles and sharp contrasts with Republican rival Donald Trump with 11 weeks left in the race for the White House.
On the final night of the four-day Democratic National Convention, Harris, 59, promised to be a "realistic," "practical" president for all Americans, as she battles Trump, 78, in a razor-close campaign.
"In the enduring struggle between democracy and tyranny, I know where I stand and I know where the United States belongs," she said on Thursday, accusing 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.
Harris emerged as the Democratic candidate little more than a month ago when allies of President Joe Biden, 81, forced him to quit the race.
It was a forceful speech for a candidate who, during her brief campaign, had yet to articulate much of her vision for the country. Harris has faced a stream of personal attacks from Trump, who called her weak on the foreign stage.
After days of protests from Palestinian supporters who were disappointed at not getting a speaking spot at the convention, Harris delivered a pledge to secure Israel, bring the hostages home from Gaza and end the war in the Palestinian enclave.
"Now is the time to get a hostage deal and a ceasefire deal done," she said to cheers. "And let me be clear, I will always stand up for Israel's right to defend itself and I will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself."
She said she wanted to end the war in a way that provides for Israel security and allows the Palestinian people to realize their right to self-determination.
Harris said she would take whatever action was necessary to defend U.S. interests against Iran and said tyrants and dictators including North Korea's Kim Jong Un, "are rooting for Trump."
If successful, Harris stands to make history as the first woman elected U.S. president on Nov. 5.
Harris drew a series of contrasts with Trump, accusing him of not fighting for the middle class, planning to enact a tax hike through his tariff proposals, and having set in motion the end of a constitutional right to abortion with his picks for the US Supreme Court. —REUTERS
