Harris: "Unite the Democratic Party for Victory"... First Step Toward Presidential Bid

Speech Contrasting Prosecutor Harris and "Criminal" Trump

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris declared on the 22nd (local time) that she will unite the Democratic Party and defeat former President Donald Trump in the upcoming November presidential election. As a leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination following President Joe Biden's decision not to seek re-election, she publicly announced her intention to run for the presidency and began her first steps.

Vice President Harris, speaking at the campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, said, "In the coming days and weeks, I will unite the Democratic Party with you all and unite this country to win the election."

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is giving a speech at the campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, on the 22nd (local time).
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

This speech marked the first time Harris publicly expressed her presidential ambitions after President Biden withdrew from the Democratic presidential race and endorsed her.

In her speech, Vice President Harris focused on confronting the Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump. Emphasizing her career as a prosecutor, she said, "I have dealt with all kinds of perpetrators, including sexual offenders and fraudsters," adding, "I know the type that Donald Trump is well." This was a remark targeting the legal risks surrounding allegations of sexual misconduct against former President Trump.

She contrasted her record of prosecuting corrupt criminals as a local prosecutor with the fact that former President Trump solicited campaign contributions from oil industry lobbyists.

She also stated that strengthening the middle class, gun control, and abortion rights (reproductive rights protection) would be key issues in this election. Vice President Harris said, "We will fight for reproductive freedom," adding, "If Trump gets the chance, he will sign abortion ban laws that make abortion illegal in every state."

Vice President Harris said, "Donald Trump and I have two different visions for the future of America," and added, "Former President Trump wants to take America back to a time before many Americans enjoyed full freedom and rights."

President Biden, who announced his support for Vice President Harris after deciding not to seek re-election the day before, called campaign headquarters to encourage staff and urged them to actively support Harris. President Biden said his withdrawal was "the right thing to do" and stated, "I am not going anywhere. I will participate in the campaign to help Kamala Harris get elected."