Kamala Harris invites voters to chart a 'new way forward' as she accepts Democratic nomination

Taking the stage to a thunderous standing ovation at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Vice-President Kamala Harris sought to reintroduce herself to the American public and outline her vision for leading the nation for the next four years.

"Our nation, with this election, has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past," she said. "A chance to chart a new way forward. Not as members of any one party or faction, but as Americans."

Harris's address in Chicago caps a whirlwind eight weeks in American politics and manifests the stunning reversal of Democratic fortunes just 75 days until election day. Party leaders who had publicly despaired over President Joe Biden's candidacy after his disastrous debate against Trump, were jubilant both at the historic nature of Harris' candidacy and their buoyed hopes for this November.

The daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, Harris became the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to accept a major party's presidential nomination. If elected, she would become the first female U.S. president.

"America, the path that led me here in recent weeks was no doubt unexpected," she said. "But I'm no stranger to unlikely journeys."

Harris shares her political origins

Harris talked about being raised primarily by her mother in a small apartment in San Francisco's East Bay after her parents divorced, and being raised as well by friends and caregivers who were "family by love."

She also detailed a key part of her political origin story, when Wanda, her best friend from high school, confided in her that she was being abused by her stepfather and came to live with Harris family.

"That is one of the reasons I became a prosecutor. To protect people like Wanda," Harris said.

She also outlined her career as a prosecutor, state attorney general, senator and now vice-president. "My entire career, I've only had one client: the people," Harris said, before noting that Trump has only ever acted in the interests of "the only client he has ever had: himself."

A historic moment

As she took the stage, she looked out across a sea of female delegates and Democratic supporters wearing white — the colour of women's suffrage — the movement that culminated with American women securing the right to vote in 1920.

A festive mood filled Chicago's United Center all evening, with a packed audience, including running mate Tim Walz dancing and singing along to a mix of pop and classic rock.

Two of Harris' young grandnieces were brought onstage by actress Kerry Washington to remind the convention how to correctly pronounce her first name. At their direction, one side of the arena shouted "comma" and the other "la."

Despite speculation about a potential surprise appearance by the music superstar Beyoncé at Thursday's convention ahead of Harris' speech, a source involved in the evening's planning who was not authorized to discuss it publicly said she would not be in attendance.

The 59-year-old Harris moved to the top of the Democratic presidential ticket after Biden announced last month that he would abandon his re-election bid. He then endorsed his vice-president as his successor and Harris swiftly secured the support needed from Democratic delegates to claim the nomination.

With Harris at the helm of the Democratic ticket, U.S. voters are being given a new choice on election day, rather than a repeat of 2020, when Biden beat Trump.

The 78-year-old Trump — the Republican presidential nominee for the third straight U.S. election — is aiming to return to power after four years away from the White House.