Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic nomination at a festive convention

It was to thunderous applause and an avalanche of balloons in the colors of the American flag that Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic Party nomination, after a very festive week of convention, a great show as the Americans know how to do. This is the subject of the 7th episode of Washington d’ici, the original podcast with correspondents from the public French-speaking media.

After a completely disrupted election campaign, worthy of a season of House of Cardsthe vice president is the Democratic candidate. This is historic, it was supposed to be an 81-year-old white man, she will ultimately be the first black woman to be nominated as a candidate. Kamala Harris at 59 years old.

At this Democratic convention, there was really a special energy, we felt the enthusiasm, the relief, the hope of the Democratic activists who for many were quite depressed and pessimistic just a few weeks ago, when Joe Biden was still the party’s candidate.

“It was a crazy atmosphere, full of glitter, a breath of fresh air.“, explains Sébastien Paour of Radio France. “She came to replace an old man who, when he came on stage, I wondered how anyone could have accepted that this man with the slow, jerky gait was a candidate. Kamala Harris erased, sent Joe Biden back to the stands of history.“

The theme of this convention was joy, but there were also caveats.”We’ve heard this term a lot. Kamala Harris is the president of joy, as Bill Clinton has said repeatedly. But there were caveats, because it’s not a foregone conclusion for Democrats.” explains Frédéric Arnould of Radio-Canada.

“On behalf of the people, on behalf of all Americans regardless of party, race, gender, or language you speak. On behalf of my mother and all those who have had a particular path in life. On behalf of Americans who are like the ones I grew up with, people who work hard, chase their dreams, and look out for each other. On behalf of all those whose stories can only be made in the greatest nation on earth, I accept your nomination to become President of the United States.“, Kamala Harris said in her speech.

She began this speech by talking a lot about her personal history. A strategic choice. “IYou have to tell your own story, your own storytelling, in front of all those who are potentially going to be voters and to ensure that they identify with it.“, explains Sébastien Paour. Kamala Harris has had a hard time opening up in recent years. But, she had to.”Many Americans know the name Kamala Harris, but they don’t know who she is fundamentally and that’s why this presentation is very important politically.” explains Jordan Davis of RTS.

Freedom was a central theme in his speech, the song Freedom, Beyonce’s song is also her campaign anthem. If the Democrats have chosen to insist on this term, it is because freedoms, just like “people’s rights (body rights, LGBT rights) speak more to a younger generation,“unlike Joe Biden”who insisted a lot on the defense of democracy, which is abstract for people“, explains Guillaume Naudin, from RFI.”Moreover, the Republicans have made freedom a central value of their discourse for years, making themselves almost its custodians, and the Democrats are trying to recover it.“

Kamala Harris also spoke about foreign policy, including the conflict in Gaza, an issue close to the hearts of many Democratic voters.This is an important moment.” Kamala Harris said she wanted “to try to end this war, and to work towards the Palestinian state realizing this right to self-determination. We had a direct response from the delegates“, explains Frédéric Arnould, from Radio-Canada. “There is a fringe, quite to the left of the party, which is still hesitant to support it because of Gaza, but with this message it will have an impact.“

One voter said that he believed this speech would reassure those who found his program too vague, particularly the undecided.I think her speech was effective. She addressed the weaknesses that undecided voters could point out.“

Actress Eva Longoria, Stevie Wonder, singer Pink…were present, but the real stars of the week were Barack and Michelle Obama. The latter “raised the room while warning Democrats not to get carried away by their enthusiasm, their joy, and that something had to be done, to motivate people, to turn enthusiasm into votes. She was the best of the whole week.“, estimates Guillaume Naudin of RFI.

According to the polls, Kamala Harris now has a slight lead in the polls. The next big step is the debate that will oppose Kamala Harris to Donald Trump on September 10.

“Washington d’ici” is a podcast from the French-language public media. Once a month, correspondents from franceinfo, RTBF, Radio-Canada, RTS and RFI decipher, in their own way, the latest news from the campaign for the 2024 American presidential election. With Sébastien Paour (franceinfo), Jordan Davis (RTS), Frederic Arnould (Radio-Canada), Sonia Dridi (RTBF) and Guillaume Naudin (RFI). Directed by: Philippe Benoît (RTBF) and Régis De Rath (RTBF).