Harris vows 'new way forward' for America as she accepts nomination

In a highly personal headline speech focused on unity and working-class aspiration, Harris pledged to lead "for all Americans" and create an "opportunity economy"

Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic nomination for president on the final night of the party convention in Chicago, saying she has only had the people as her client her entire career.

In a highly personal headline speech focused on unity and working-class aspiration, Harris pledged to lead "for all Americans" and create an "opportunity economy".

“My entire career, I have only had one client,” she said. “The people.”

For roughly 45 minutes on Thursday, Harris tried to tell Americans who she is - and what she would do if she wins the White House.

She recounted her mother’s journey as an immigrant from India. She talked about her childhood upbringing in a working-class neighbourhood in Oakland, California.

Harris’s speech included calls for unity and a pathway beyond the “bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles” of modern American politics.

She said that the US had a “precious, fleeting” opportunity to “chart a new path forward”.

But that chart had few details.

When Harris did turn to policy details, she spoke in generalities. She said she will be focused on lowering the costs of “everyday needs” – including healthcare, housing and groceries. And specifically called out abortion rights – and framed it as a means of preserving freedom.

Harris also leaned heavily on protecting the right to abortion - an issue that has helped motivate Democratic voters in recent elections.

Demonstrations have been taking place all week outside the convention in opposition to US support of Israel’s war in Gaza.

Harris called for a ceasefire but did not address the protesters directly, as President Biden did in his speech on Monday.

Meanwhile, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump wrote on social media during the speech: "Why didn’t she do something about the things of which she complains?"

Democrats have been riding on a surge of energy and enthusiasm since Harris became their candidate, but polls suggest the election remain extremely tight.

Vice President Kamala Harris argued that the country is not as divided as her opponent says it is, pitching for its unity in her Democratic National Convention speech on Thursday.

She said Americans “have so much more in common than what separates us” and that “none of us has to fail for all of us to succeed.”

She said former President Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance are “denigrating America” and “talking about how terrible everything is” on the campaign trail.

“Well, my mother had another lesson she used to teach. Never let anyone tell you who you are, you show them who you are,” Harris said.

“America, let us show each other and the world who we are and what we stand for: freedom, opportunity, compassion, dignity, fairness, and endless possibilities.”

Vice President Kamala Harris outlined her plans for a “new way forward” if she’s elected to be the 47th president of the United States.

Harris said her plans to protect the middle class are personal because “the middle class is where I come from.”

She called for creating an “opportunity economy where everyone has a chance to compete and a chance to succeed.”

Harris also promised to end the country’s housing shortage and protect social security and Medicare.

Her plans, she said, differ from Donald Trump and she accused the former president of fighting “for himself and his billionaire friends.”

Trump live on DNC

Meanwhile Republican presidential nominee Trump was following Harris's speech, considering how many short, one-sentence, posts he has made on social media critiquing her performance.

"Too many 'Thank yous,' too rapidly said, what’s going on with her?" he wrote as Harris first came on stage and thanked the crowd, her supporters and her family.

"Walz was an ASSISTANT Coach, not a COACH," he wrote about her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

He mocked Harris for sharing the details of her childhood and claimed she "allowed" 20 million illegal immigrants into the US.

Trump also posted that he planned to record an interview with Fox News after Harris finishes her speech.

"They’d like to know what I thought of it — I will be very honest in my assessment!" he wrote.