Kamala Harris rose to the occasion with a perfect nominating acceptance speech. I’ve never seen a nominee target their political objectives so precisely. The text was ideally suited to the electoral challenge she faces, and her delivery exuded strength and inspiration.
I have not hesitated to criticize either the substantive merits or the political shrewdness of Harris’s choices. I could find nothing to criticize in this speech.
Harris entered the convention tied, or perhaps ever-so-slightly ahead. But she faces serious challenges. Many undecided voters know little about her, or worry she is too liberal. Every word of the speech was aimed directly at resolving those concerns.
Harris told a story of herself in her biography as the striving child of strict immigrant parents growing up in a working-class neighborhood. She explained her inspiration to become a prosecutor as a desire to protect, growing from seeing a friend confide to her that she was being sexually abused at home.
Then she recounted her history as a prosecutor, where she fought big banks and the “cartels who traffic in drugs and guns and human beings, who threaten the security of our border and the safety of our communities.”
Harris explicitly promised to represent Republicans as well as Democrats. “I know there are people of various political views watching tonight,” she said, “And I want you to know: I promise to be a President for all Americans.” That may seem like easy rhetoric, but it stands in contrast to Trump’s naked partisanship as president, routinely and openly favoring politicians and areas that supported him.
More significantly, Harris relentlessly depicted herself as the sane, moderate candidate in the race. She labeled herself a candidate “who is realistic, practical, and has common sense.”
Her issue focus reflected that idea. Harris emphasized popular elements of her program: protecting abortion rights and promising to sign into law the border bill negotiated with “conservative Republicans.”
Harris labeled her economic goal “an opportunity economy where everyone has a chance to compete and a chance to succeed.” The notion of opportunity, with its implication that people should control their own economic destiny, has long been a conservative one. Harris stole it.
In addition to the obvious call to defend Medicare and Social Security, Harris promised, “I will bring together labor and workers, small-business owners and entrepreneurs, and American companies.” That, again, is a pointed identifier of herself with moderation.
Her attacks on Trump were well targeted. She cited his plans to raises taxes on all Americans through a tariff and to eliminate the Department of Education — two of Trump’s most politically toxic notions.
Harris’s case on foreign affairs was designed to authenticate her as a commander-in-chief for voters who might not automatically envision a woman in that role. (Several segments preceding the speech, featuring veterans and national security specialists like Leon Panetta, advanced the same goal.)
Harris’s delivery enhanced the message. She was forceful and confident. She sounded like a nominee who believes she is going to win and who is designing a campaign focused relentlessly on that goal. The floundering incipient candidate of 2019, trying desperately to please progressive activists with social-justice lingo, could not be a more distant memory now. Harris is in this to win this. And I believe she will.
