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DNC 2024 Day 4 live updates: Harris says she will 'fight for America's future'

Harris set her agenda in a rousing speech at the DNC.

ByAlexandra Hutzler, Ivan Pereira, Meredith Deliso, Tal Axelrod, and Brittany Gaddy
Last Updated: August 22, 2024, 2:23 PM EDT

The moment that millions around the country have been waiting for took place Thursday at the Democratic National Convention as Vice President Kamala Harris accepted the nomination for the presidency.

Harris took the stage to a roaring standing ovation and soon set her agenda in a rousing speech.

Whether it was immigration, reproductive rights or foreign security, the vice president showcased a sharp contrast in policies to former President Donald Trump.

Harris's speech was preceded by a who's who of leaders from both sides of the aisle who all made the case that she is the best person to be the nation's leader.

Photos: 2024 Democratic National Convention

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Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris takes the stage on Day 4 of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, Aug. 22, 2024.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

    Latest headlines:

    Here's how the news is developing:
    2:23 PM EDT

    How Harris prepares for big speeches

    Former campaign managers and senior staffers who worked Harris through the years shed light on how she prepares for big speeches.

    They said she’s a trial lawyer at her core, and so preparation was key as well as being ready for audience reactions.

    U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Aug. 20, 2024.
    Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

    In crafting a speech, she would start with themes, outline and then focus in on what she wanted to say well in advance. She would be intimately involved in every speech, making edits and collaborating with those around her.

    They said like most people she gets nervous, but would relax, review the remarks, save her voice, conserve energy and rest up.

    -ABC News' Zohreen Shah

    2:21 PM EDT

    What some of Chicago's young voters think about the 2024 election

    Three young voters -- one liberal, one moderate and one conservative -- discussed their thoughts on the 2024 election while in Chicago for the DNC.

    -538's Nathaniel Rakich

    1:42 PM EDT

    Trump to do live play-by-play of Harris' speech on Truth Social

    Former President Donald Trump said he will do a “LIVE PLAY BY PLAY on TRUTH Social” of Vice President Kamala Harris’s speech at the DNC Thursday night.

    “We will start at 10 P.M., Eastern, and be covering and commenting on some of the earlier Speeches made, prior to hers,” Trump posted on his social media platform before going on to slam the dropout of President Joe Biden and saying he was going to "expose" Harris' policies.

    -ABC News Lalee Ibssa

    Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally, July 20, 2024, in Grand Rapids, Mich.
    Evan Vucci/AP
    1:41 PM EDT

    Harris campaign dodges question on why there isn’t a Palestinian speaker at DNC

    The Harris campaign at a briefing Thursday morning dodged a question from ABC News on why there isn't a Palestinian speaker at the convention and why simply saying former President Donald Trump would be worse for Arab-Americans is not the campaign taking their votes for granted.

    "No, we're absolutely not taking their votes for granted," campaign spokesman Michael Tyler said. "I think, as it relates to uncommitted delegates at this convention, we're proud, glad that they are here. We've worked to engage them throughout the convention."

    Tyler noted a panel conversation that was held with members of the uncommitted movement and said Harris recently engaged with the movement's leadership in Michigan. He also emphasized that the vice president is working toward a resolution to the Israel-Hamas conflict "with a permanent cease-fire that allows Israel to fully secure itself, that fully continues and make sure that we have full humanitarian aid, but also make sure that Gazans are able to peacefully live and prosper in Gaza."

    Read more here

    -ABC News' Fritz Farrow, Gabriella Abdul-Hakim and Will McDuffie

    Rep. Ilhan Omar, right, comforts Asma Nizami, an uncommitted delegate from Minnesota, as they listen to Dr. Tammy Abughnaim speak about the atrocities she's witnessed while working in Gaza, at Park 578 on Aug. 21. 2024, in Chicago.
    Stacey Wescott/TNS/Newscom

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