Hillary Clinton, the former US Secretary of State, delivered a powerful speech at the Democratic National Convention, praising Vice President Kamala Harris and urging her to break the “highest, hardest glass ceiling” to become the first female President of the United States. Clinton, who was himself a presidential candidate in 2016, spoke about the progress that has been made in shattering the glass ceiling, but emphasized that there is still more work to be done. She referred to her own failed attempt at presidency and praised Harris, saying that when a barrier falls for one person, it clears the way for all.
Clinton’s speech was sandwiched between appearances by other prominent Democratic figures, including New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who endorsed Harris and praised her efforts to bring peace to the Gaza Strip. Ocasio-Cortez, who is known for her progressive views, highlighted the importance of addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and criticized the lack of attention the issue has received from the Biden-Harris administration.
Outside the convention center, thousands of protesters gathered to rally against the US support for Israel in its war with Hamas in Gaza. Some protesters held signs that read “Abandon Harris” and argued that the Vice President’s inability to differentiate herself from Biden’s handling of the conflict is unacceptable. Despite these protests, Harris’ allies within the DNC were confident that the official program would not be overshadowed, with a slew of current and former Democratic stars set to take the stage in the coming days.
Kamala Harris (Image via Getty)
The Democrats are also focusing on abortion access as a key election issue, with three women whose healthcare was affected by the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade speaking at the convention. The party is betting that this issue will propel them to success, following a trend in other key races since the Supreme Court’s decision.
The Democratic National Convention is seen as a crucial event for Harris, who must now win over a divided country that is still making up its mind about the election. With the convention now underway, Harris has a chance to energize her base, introduce herself to a wider audience, and lay the groundwork for a potential showdown with Republican candidate Donald Trump in the general election.
