Washington: Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has expressed pride in serving as Vice President under Joe Biden, but she emphasised that her presidency will be different due to the unique challenges ahead.
Speaking on Tuesday from the Ellipse, the same area where Donald Trump held a rally in 2020, Harris framed herself as a protector of those who face injustice. She credited this drive to her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who was born in India.
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Harris positioned herself as a “unifier,” contrasting with Trump, whom she labelled a “divider.” She described herself as a "champion of working people," criticising the former president who would “give tax breaks to the wealthy.” She also called herself a "fierce protector" of national security, suggesting Trump is easily "vulnerable to flattery and favours".
"I have been honoured to serve as Joe Biden's Vice President," Harris said, "but I will bring my own experiences and ideas to the Oval Office. My presidency will be different, because the challenges we face are different. Our top priority as a nation four years ago was to end the pandemic and rescue the economy. Now our biggest challenge is to lower costs, costs that were rising even before the pandemic, and that are still too high".
While Trump’s campaign has attempted to link Harris to the Biden administration's shortcomings, she has worked to distance herself from the President without appearing disloyal. This strategy has led to her and Biden not appearing together at rallies, although she has made several appearances with former President Barack Obama.
Harris acknowledged that many Americans may not know her well, given her long career outside of Washington D.C. And recalling her career as a line prosecutor and then top law officer of the most populous state of the country -- California, she said, "I did this work because for as long asI can remember, I have always had an instinct to protect. There's something about people being treated unfairly or overlooked that, frankly, just gets to me. I don't like it. It's what my mother instilled in me, a drive to hold accountable those who use their wealth or power to take advantage of other people, the drive to protect hard-working Americans who aren't always seen or heard and deserve a voice. And I will tell you, that is the kind of President I will be."
In a speech lasting nearly 30 minutes, she highlighted the differences between her values and vision for the country compared to Trump, covering issues from basic principles to foreign policy. "World leaders think that Donald Trump is an easy mark, easy to manipulate with flattery or favour, and you can believe that autocrats like (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong (Un) are rooting for him in this election. I will always uphold our security, advance our national interest, and ensure that the United States of America remains as we must forever be a champion of liberty around the world."
Agency
Published: 30 Oct 2024, 10:05 am IST
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