US Vice President Kamala Harris becomes Democratic presidential candidate
Vice President Kamala Harris delivers a speech at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Houston. (Photo: PTI)
US Vice President Kamala Harris, who is of Indian and African descent, was on Friday declared the ruling Democratic Party’s 2024 presidential candidate after receiving enough votes from Democratic delegates during a virtual call.
Harris, 59, was set to face Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump, 78, in the Nov. 5 general election.
“I am honored to be the Democratic nominee for president of the United States, and I will formally accept the nomination next week. This campaign is about people coming together, driven by love of country, to fight for the best of who we are,” said Harris, who was abruptly thrust into the role of presidential candidate late last month after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race for the White House.
One step away from breaking the last glass ceiling in the United States, Harris became the first woman of color to ever top a major U.S. political party’s presidential nomination. She is also the first Indian-American to be nominated as a Republican or Democratic party’s presidential candidate.
“I am proud to confirm that Vice President Harris received more than a majority of the votes of all delegates at the convention and will be the Democratic Party nominee when voting is complete,” Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison said after a virtual call for votes from elected delegates across the country.
Harris’ mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was Indian and her father, Donald Jasper Harris, is Jamaican. They both immigrated to the United States.
Harris will formally accept the nomination once virtual voting closes next week. She will ceremonially accept it at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 22. She will likely announce her running mate in the coming days.
“We love our country. We believe in the promise of America, and that’s what this campaign is about. Of course, I will officially accept your nomination next week, once the virtual voting period closes. But I’m already excited to know that we have enough delegates to secure the nomination,” she said.
“Later this month, we will gather in Chicago, united as one, where we will have the opportunity to celebrate this historic moment together,” Harris said in a phone call with delegates shortly after she secured enough delegates to win the nomination.
Harris said this campaign is about all of us working together, people from all walks of life, all experiences we’ve been through, and the love of our country that renews us. We know we’re prepared to fight for the best of ourselves.
“The beauty of our democracy is that we, each and every one of us, have the power to answer that question. That’s why I say and know that the power lies with the people,” she said.
Harris said: “We’re going to win this election and that’s going to take all of us: whether we’re making phone calls, reaching out to our communities, engaging online or even talking to people where we go every day, whether it’s the grocery store or the church, we’re going to talk together.
First print: Aug 03, 2024 | 06:17 AM IST