Washington: Kamala Harris, who accepted the Democratic nomination for President, said that now is the time to chart a new way forward — to build an America where everyone's work is rewarded and talents are valued, where we work with labor and business to strengthen the American economy, and where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Before she spoke these words, US President Joe Biden, former First Lady Hillary Clinton, and former President Barack Obama said the US is ready for a new chapter with Harris in the lead role. Biden stated that Harris and Tim Walz (Minnesota Governor) understand that this nation must continue to be a place of possibilities, “not just for the few of us, but for all of us”.
Walz formally accepted the Democratic party's nomination for vice president, saying that he was "ready to turn the page on former President Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance".
Obama said, “America is waiting for a new chapter, America is waiting for a better story. We are ready for president Kamala Harris, and Kamala Harris is ready for the job". He added that Harris and Walz believe in an America "where we the people include everyone… And despite what our politics might suggest, I think most Americans understand that… That sense of mutual respect has to be part of our message.” The former US president told Democrats that "Harris will be focused on your problems" and "won't just cater to her own voters and punish those who refuse to bend the knee.”
On the third day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the chants of "Om Shanti, Shanti" echoed in the hall and the priest conducting the prayers urged Americans to choose a leader who believes in the concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.
In an example of inclusivity in the US and the growing influence of the Indian community there, a senior Hindu priest from the Sri Siva Vishnu Temple in Maryland, Rakesh Bhatt conducted Vedic prayers, seeking blessings for unity across the nation. At the Convention, Rakesh Bhatt remarked, "Even if we have differences, when it comes to the nation, we have to be united.”
