Harris accepts Democratic presidential nomination with Gaza truce pledge

Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic presidential nomination in Chicago on Thursday before a rapturous crowd, pledging a "new way forward" if she beats Republican Donald Trump in November's blockbuster election.

The 59-year-old sought to strike a presidential tone as she delivered a message of unity and opportunity for Americans following one of the most extraordinary turnarounds in US political history.

She lashed out at Trump, accusing him of trying to "take our country" backwards and of cozying up to foreign "tyrants" like Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"On behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on earth, I accept your nomination to be president of the United States of America," the vice president said to huge cheers.

"I will be a president who unites us around our highest aspirations," she vowed.

She also called the scale of suffering of people in Gaza "heartbreaking" and vowed to get a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas "done".

The convention became a giant party to celebrate Harris's astonishing ascent from something of a political afterthought to Democratic standard bearer upon President Joe Biden's surprise decision to end his reelection bid.

A sea of waving Stars and Stripes flags and chants of "USA" filled the arena as jubilant Democrats anointed Harris.

She was later joined on stage by her running mate Tim Walz and their families, as they held their arms aloft while 100,000 red, white and blue balloons tumbled from the ceiling.

Country act The Chicks sang a version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" while pop star Pink also performed as the Democrats rolled out a list of celebrity backers.

- 'President for all Americans' -

Harris pledged to be a "president for all Americans" in a bid to reach out to undecided voters.

With the November election, Americans have a "fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past -- a chance to chart a new way forward," she promised.

Harris then took aim at 78-year-old Trump, whose campaign has been upended by having to face a woman two decades younger, rather than the increasingly frail Biden, 81.

"We know what a second Trump term would look like," she said, referring to a right-wing think tank's blueprint for a future Republican government. "It's all laid out in 'Project 2025,' written by his closest advisors, and its sum total is to pull our country back to the past."

She laid out her personal story as a child of a single working mother, and her career as a prosecutor, saying she has the background and experience to serve the country in contrast to Trump who she said only works for himself and "his billionaire friends."

Harris also laid out her stall on key foreign policy issues.

Going further than Biden's rhetoric, she called the scale of suffering of people in Gaza "heartbreaking" and vowed to get a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas "done".

Cheers erupted when she vowed "self-determination" for the Palestinian people.

Harris promised to "stand strong" with Ukraine as it fights Russia's invasion  and support NATO allies -- again all in stark contrast to Trump's isolationist stance on both issues.

- 'Proud' -

The Democrats have been riding a wave of energy and enthusiasm since Harris took on the mantle from Biden a month ago.

The first Black woman nominee for a major party, Harris has wiped out former president Trump's lead in the polls, drawn enormous crowds and raised record funds.

Now her challenge is to introduce herself to a country is still getting used to the new Democratic candidate.

The torch having well and truly been passed, Biden gave a farewell speech on the first day of the convention and said he had called Harris to wish her luck.

"I am proud to watch my partner Kamala Harris accept our nomination for president. She will be an outstanding president because she is fighting for our future," Biden, who is on holiday in California, said on X.

Yet Democrats will also be trying to temper their hopes, knowing that Harris faces a tough sprint to a nail-biting election on November 5, which as in 2020 may be decided by a handful of votes in key states.

From Barack and Michelle Obama to Bill Clinton, senior figures have warned all week that Harris has a brutal fight on her hands to beat Trump.

Trump is increasingly resorting to personal insults, racially charged attacks, and dark rhetoric.

His campaign described Harris's performance as the "worst speech ever."

And on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote in his characteristic all-caps style: "SHE HAS LED US INTO A FAILING NATION STATUS!"

Fighter for middle class

Harris vowed to be a president who "unites" Americans, as she slammed White House rival Donald Trump for wanting to "pull our country back to the past."

The US vice president insisted she would be a stronger fighter for the middle class than Republican Trump, advocate for reducing gun violence, and help "reform our broken immigration system" to reduce undocumented border crossings.

"I will be a president who unites us around our highest aspirations, a president who leads and listens -- who is realistic, practical and has common sense and always fights for the American people," Harris told cheering supporters.

"The future is always worth fighting for. And that's the fight we are in right now. A fight for America's future."

Harris, 59, told the crowd she would bring together labor, small business owners and American companies to create jobs, and that she would endeavor "to grow our economy and to lower the cost of everyday needs like health care and housing and groceries."

She also vowed to create an "opportunity economy" for all to compete and succeed, "whether you live in a rural area, small town or big city."

"Building that middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency," she said.

Harris has caught flak from Trump's campaign for failing to clearly lay out a series of policy positions in the month since President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid and endorsed his deputy.

She took aim at Trump's domestic agenda, saying he does not fight for the middle class or everyday Americans. "Instead, he fights for himself and his billionaire friends, and he will give them another round of tax breaks."

Harris also warned of the hard-right "Project 2025," a radical governing blueprint drawn up by a think tank.

"Its sum total is to pull our country back to the past," she said.