Harris, full of fight, captures Democrats in a storm
With full force, Kamala Harris makes her first campaign appearance as designated Presidential candidate. Before an energized audience, she makes clear distinctions from Donald Trump's style. "We don't go back!", Harris promises.
Fourteen times she thanks. Kamala Harris stands before the microphone, as the deafening cheer in Milwaukee's hall refuses to subside. "Hi Milwaukee", the US Vice President barely audibly says, beaming with joy, raises her hands. "Thank you", she says, "thank you everyone", "thank you all very much". Biden's forfeit of his candidacy and Harris' subsequent designation as the Presidential candidate have ignited new energy among Democrats.
Harris' campaign kickoff marks the end of a months-long depressive phase for the governing Democrats, who had maneuvered themselves into it. The 81-year-old Biden, the consensus in all political circles, was deemed too old for another four years, but the President didn't want to go. His appearances were celebrated, but they lacked the excitement of the new. Instead, there was fear of a Republican return to the White House by Donald Trump.
Milwaukee, a stronghold of Democrats, had hosted the Republicans for their convention a week prior and nominated Trump. Some residents had even temporarily fled the city to the Great Lakes in fear. The state of Wisconsin is a key state for a Democratic win. It's part of a political mantra: whoever loses the Middle West loses the Presidency. Harris aims to prevent this in November.
"I know Donald Trump's type"
After quelling the cheers, Harris thanks her former boss for his four years, his performance, and his support as the designated candidate. She acknowledges the importance of the city and Wisconsin as a state for a win like in 2020. After the formalities, she charges into her three-and-a-half-month campaign against Donald Trump like a bulldozer. She recalls her time as California's District Attorney in the courtrooms. "I took on rapists, I took on thieves who broke the rules to their advantage", she says and adds, "I know Donald Trump's type."
Harris delves into the details, drawing parallels between her cases and Trump's indictments. She contrasts the Democratic campaign with Trump's. He had promised the Oil Lobby a dance for a billion dollars at Mar-a-Lago. "He has the support of billionaires and corporations.", the Democrats, on the other hand, were conducting a different campaign, having just had the best 24 hours in grassroots donations in the history of Presidential campaign fundraising: "We will be a 'people first' Presidency!"
Her roughly 20-minute speech is a litany of contrasts. "We focus on the future, they focus on the past", she calls out, and lists social programs, the right to unions, paid parental leave, and pension plans. "Rebuilding the middle class will be a defining goal of my Presidency." Trump's "extreme project 2025" would instead weaken the middle class, cut taxes for the rich, and abolish healthcare.
## Battle for "Freedom"
Perhaps Harris will stick to this stump speech, this campaign speech in the race: The concept of "Freedom" that the Republicans claim for themselves and their plans should not be given up without a fight, the country should not sink into "Chaos, Fear and Hate." It's ironic: The Conservatives usually turn things around and accuse the Democrats of this. In their world, Republicans are fighting for their Freedom to do as they please, while Democrats are trying to impose things like electric cars, political correctness, and a gender-neutral lifestyle on them.
Even the "Fighting" (fighting), which has become a battle cry for the Republicans with Trump's raised fist after the attack on him, Harris does not let go of. "We are fighting for the future, we are fighting for Freedom," she declares. So that everyone can vote, live freely from gun violence. "We trust that women can make decisions over their own bodies and not have their government tell them what to do." The following applause indicates how important the issue of reproductive rights is in the campaign and how much Harris can leverage it. "Are you ready to fight for it? And if we fight, we win!"
As the designated candidate steps off the stage and shakes hands for many minutes, Beyoncé's "Freedom" plays: "I need Freedom, and I'll break these chains all by myself." If Harris wins this campaign in three and a half months, she would be the first US President; in addition to Barack Obama, the second Black person. Before the music fades out, the production team plays Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground." It's a nod to Michelle Obama's motto: "When they go low, we go high." From now on, it's about winning with Harris, not about not losing.
In the United States Presidential Election 2024, former Vice President Kamala Harris aims to distinguish her campaign from Donald Trump's style, echoing her declaration during her campaign kickoff in Milwaukee, saying, "I know Donald Trump's type."
As the designated Presidential candidate, Kamala Harris is set to face off against Donald Trump in the upcoming election, pledging to be a "people first" President, contrasting Trump's alleged support of billionaires and corporations.
