Kamala Harris accepts VP nod, making history
"Kamala Harris -- for the people."
Democrats formally crowned Kamala Harris their candidate for vice president Wednesday (August 19).
Her acceptance - made history as the first Black and Asian-American woman on a major U.S. presidential ticket.
"Let's fight with conviction. Let's fight with hope. Let's fight with confidence in ourselves and a commitment to each other, to the America we know is possible."
The third night of the Democratic National Convention was led by a slate of female headliners building up to Harris' acceptance speech -- political powerhouses Senator Elizabeth Warren and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as well as 2016 presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
"I wish Donald Trump knew how to be a president."
In her speech Clinton implored Americans to vote in full force, warning them not to repeat the same mistakes of four years ago, when Democrats won the popular vote but lost the Electoral College to Trump.
"For four years, people have told me, "I didn't realize how dangerous he was." "I wish I could do it all over." Or worse - "I should have voted." Look, this can't be another woulda-coulda-shoulda election."
But the highlight of the evening came from Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama.
"Donald Trump hasn't grown into the job because he can't."
The former president spared no words in criticizing his successor, saying Trump had failed to meet the demands of the job.
"This president and those in power - those who benefit from keeping things the way they are - they are counting on your cynicism. They know they can't win you over with their policies. So they're hoping to make it as hard as possible for you to vote, and to convince you that your vote doesn't matter. That's how they win."
Obama closed his speech by making a final appeal to voters, asking them not to lose faith in American democracy despite the chaos of the Trump administration.
"You can give our democracy new meaning. You can take it to a better place. You're the missing ingredient - the ones who will decide whether or not America becomes the country that fully lives up to its creed."
Joe Biden will bring the Democratic National Convention to a conclusion when he formally accepts the presidential nomination on Thursday.
