Harris looks to sustain convention momentum as she turns to close election fight against Trump

Coming out of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago that wrapped up on Thursday evening, Vice President Kamala Harris now pivots to the general election fight against former President Donald Trump that is shaping up to be a close race.

"We are charting a new way forward, forward, to a future with a strong and growing middle class," Harris said after formally accepting the nomination. "Building the middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency."

Harris, now officially her party’s presidential nominee, said she will work with Congress to pass a middle class tax cut to benefit 100 million Americans and panned Trump for having reduced taxes for corporations and wealthy Americans in his first term. 

"Donald Trump is an unserious man, but the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious," she said.

As of Thursday, the RealClearPolitics polling average shows Harris with a 1.7% lead over Trump, giving her a slight advantage heading into the last week of August.  

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama urged Democrats on Tuesday night to rally around presidential nominee Harris and her vision for the future and keep the momentum going after the convention.

They both warned Democrats that the election is too close for comfort.

"So we cannot afford for anyone to sit on their hands and wait to be called upon," Mrs. Obama said. "Don’t complain if no one from the campaign has specifically reached out to ask for your support. There is simply no time for that kind of foolishness."

She continued, saying, "So consider this to be your official ask: Michelle Obama is asking you to do something because this is going to be close."

Mr. Obama told Democrats to be prepared for a tough fight against Trump.

"Make no mistake: it will be a fight. For all the incredible energy we’ve been able to generate over the last few weeks, this will still be a tight race in a closely divided country – a country where too many Americans are still struggling, and don’t believe government can help," he said.

Harris formally accepted the Democratic nomination for president of the United States on Thursday night after President Joe Biden’s withdraw from the race a little over one month ago.

Biden dropped out of the presidential race on July 20 after a disastrous debate performance, which resulted in members of his own party calling for him to step aside.

He left the race and endorsed Harris for the job.

Biden has described his selection of Harris as his running mate as the “best decision” of his career.

He addressed the convention on the opening night Monday, touting his record in office and calling on Democrats to come together and vote for "prosecutor" Harris to defeat Trump.

Harris began serving as a U.S. senator from California in January 2017 and left in January 18, 2021 when she was elected vice president.

Prior to that, Harris was the attorney general of California.

She also served as district attorney of San Francisco from 2004-2011.

Biden said his defeat of Trump in 2020 "saved democracy" and implored Democrats to “save democracy again in 2024.”

He also zeroed in on Trump with several attack lines.

"Think of the message he sends around the world when he talks about America being a failing nation," Biden said. "He says we're losing. He's the loser. He's dead wrong.”

Hillary Clinton, former secretary of state and former U.S. senator from New York, addressed the audience before Biden.

Clinton, who was the Democratic presidential nominee in 2016, said Harris is writing a new chapter in history and also attacked Trump.

"Do we push forward or pull back? Come together as we the people or split into us versus them?" she asked. "That's the choice we face in this election. Kamala has the character, experience and vision to lead us forward.”

In her remarks, Clinton referred to a jury finding Trump guilty in his hush money trial in New York City.

“As a prosecutor, Kamala locked up murderers and drug traffickers,” Clinton said. “She will never rest in defense of our freedom and safety. Donald Trump fell asleep at his own trial. And when he woke up, he made his own kind of history. The first person to run for president with 34 felony convictions.”

On the third night of the convention, Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., and several keynote speakers, attempted to draw a contrast with the Republican Party on the meaning of “freedom.” Throughout the 2024 campaign cycle, the Democrats have placed an emphasis on the overturning of Roe. v. Wade and their effort to codify abortions rights into law.

Walz said reproductive freedom must be protected, including IVF and fertility treatments, which he explained is a personal issue for him.

"I’m letting you in on how we started our family because that’s a big part of what this election is about—freedom," Walz said during his vice presidential nomination acceptance speech.

"When Republicans use that word, they mean that the government should be free to invade your doctor’s office. Corporations free to pollute the air and water. Banks free to take advantage of customers," he added.

Walz continued, saying, "But when we Democrats talk about freedom, we mean your freedom to make a better life for yourself and the people you love. The freedom to make your own health care decisions. And, yeah, your kids’ freedom to go to school without worrying they’ll be shot dead in the halls.”

Billionaire media mogul Oprah Winfrey addressed the convention from the main stage prior to Walz.

The issue of Abortion rights was a main focus of her speech.

She said that “freedom isn't free" and America is an "ongoing project."

If women "cannot control when and how you choose to bring your children into this world and how they are raised and supported, there is no American dream," Winfrey said.

She described the "women and men who are battling to keeps us from going back in time to a time of desperation and shame" as the "new freedom fighters and make no mistake, they are the best of America.”

Harris vowed to codify abortion rights into U.S. law and attacked Trump over the issue in her convention acceptance speech.

"Why is it that they don't trust women? Well, we trust women," she said. "I will proudly sign it into law."

She also said that "many other fundamental freedoms are at stake" in the election, including the "freedom to live safe from gun violence—in our schools, communities, and places of worship."

Harris also named "the freedom to love who you love openly and with pride."

She continued, saying that freedom to "breathe clean air, drink clean water, and live free from the pollution that fuels the climate crisis."

Harris emphasized that voting rights is the "freedom that unlocks all the others." 

She said Democrats have an "opportunity to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Freedom to Vote Act" if they win this election. 

Former President Bill Clinton, in his speech on the same night, touched upon abortion rights as well. He called Harris a "leader in the fight for reproductive freedom, and advanced America’s interests and values all over the world.”

Democrats featured former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., on the main stage during the last night of the convention, in an attempt to make an appeal to Republican voters and independents. Kinzinger served on the House Select Committee on Jan. 6 and is an outspoken critic of Trump. On the stage, Kinzinger said Harris shares his values and argued that she is committed to upholding the rule of law. 

Harris and Trump meet for the first time in a presidential debate on Sept. 10.