'I Promise to Be a President for All Americans': Harris Accepts Presidential Nomination | Excerpts

Washington: It's the D-day for Kamala Harris as she made the biggest speech of her career. The Democratic presidential candidate formally accepted the party's nominations. Succeding the cheerful crowd, Harris began her speech with "Let's get to business." She also wished her husband, Doug Emhoff, a happy anniversary, as the couple celebrates their 10th wedding anniversary.

Acknowledging her 'unexpected journey' after President Joe Biden's sudden exit from the presidential race, she said, "The path that led me here in recent weeks was no doubt unexpected." She also thanked Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. 

Here are the highlights from Kamala Harris's speech at DNC Day 4:

'I Had a Cheerful Childhood': Harris

Recalling fond childhood memories, Harris said it was "joyful," listening to music such as Aretha Franklin.

She furthermore described her mother's teachings as an "encouraging" mom. She said mother Shyamala - an immigrant to the United States from India - "never lost her cool" no matter how the world treated her.

"My mother was a five-foot-tall, brown woman with an accent. And as the eldest child … I saw how the world would sometimes treat her, but my mother never lost her cool," she said.

"She taught us to never complain about injustice but to do something about it."

'A President for All Americans'

Ahead of accepting her nomination, Harris made a plea to all across the aisle, saying that she pledges to uphold the rule of law.

"I accept your nomination to be President of the United States of America. And with this election, our nation has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism, and divisive battles of the past, a chance to chart a new way forward...I promise to be a president for all Americans. You can always trust me to put country above party and self, to hold sacred America's fundamental principles from the rule of law to free and fair elections to the peaceful transfer of power," she said. 

'We're Not Going Back'

Laying her case against Trump Harris said that his prior willingness to violate the law indicates his willingness for a reckless second term if he's elected to the White House again.

"Just imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails and how he would use the immense powers of the presidency of the United States, not to improve your life, not to strengthen our national security but to serve the only client that he has ever had: himself," she warned.

"We are not going back" chants broke when Harris laid out her national vision.

Harris Promises for an 'Opportunity Economy'

In a speech focused on unity and working-class aspiration, Harris pledges to create an "opportunity economy"

"We are charting a new way forward, forward to a future with a strong middle class," Harris said.

"The middle class is where I come from," with describing to delegates how her mother kept a 'strict' budget and ‘lived within our means.’

'Trump Handpicked Members of SC to Take Aways Reproductive Rights'

In her speech, Harris blasted Trump over his stand on abortion rights, saying that he 'handpicked members of the US Supreme Court to take away abortion rights.'

Abortions, which has been a central policy issue of her vice presidency and now her campaign: the risk to reproductive rights, she said, "Tonight in America, too many women are not able to make those decisions."

"And let’s be clear about how we got here: Donald Trump handpicked members of the United States Supreme Court to take away reproductive rights."

She added, "One must ask why exactly is it that they don’t trust women? Well, we trust women."

'I Refuse to Play Politics With Our Security': Harris Addresses Immigration

Addressing the hot topic of the presidential elections, 'immigration,' Harris said, "Donald Trump believes a border deal would hurt his campaign, so he ordered his allies in Congress to kill the deal."

Harris Says Her Administration Will Protect Voting Rights

Noting the importance of voting rights in the US, she promised to pass legislation that would protect those rights.

"This election we finally have the opportunity to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Freedom to Vote Act."

"Well I refuse to play politics with our security," she added. 

'Now is the Time...': Harris Vows Strong Support For Ukraine and Israel

Asserting strong support for the US's allies including Israel and Ukraine, she said that we will continue "to stand strong with Ukraine and our NATO allies".

She further emphasised that now is the time to get a hostage deal and defend Israel.

"Now is the time to get a hostage deal and a ceasefire deal done."

“At the same time, what has happened in Gaza in the last 10 months is devastating, so many innocent lives lost,” she added.

“Desperate, hungry people fleeing to safety over and over again. The scale of suffering is heartbreaking.”

'Let's Fight for it': Harris Finishes off Her Speech with Optimism

Concluding her speech, Harris called her voters to be "guided by optimism" ahead of the presidential elections.

She took pride in being an American and called it the "greatest privilege on earth."

"Let's fight for it," she said, before ending the speech.