As Harris speaks, onlookers old and young are hanging on to every word of her historic acceptance speech.

Harris earlier mentioned Project 2025, which risks getting too wonky for the average viewer. But Democrats have been talking about it a lot this week, trying to tie it to Trump. The plan, a conservative roadmap for governance, is pretty unpopular with voters and is getting more so over time. In July, it was 32 points underwater on favorability. A majority of respondents also don't like the specific policies laid out, like "firing thousands of federal employees and replacing them with appointees loyal to the president," "reducing federal civil rights protections for lesbian, gay, and transgender people," and withdrawing federal approval for the abortion pill mifepristone.

— 538's Monica Potts

Harris, like Biden before her, is trying to balance support for Israel's security with condemnation of the violence in Gaza.

She said she and Biden are working around the clock for a hostage and cease-fire deal.

"I will always stand up for Israel's right to defend itself because the people of Israel must never again face the horror that a terrorist organization called Hamas calls on Oct. 7," she said. "At the same time, what has happened in Gaza over the past 10 months is devastating so many innocent lives lost."

1:51

Harris calls for cease-fire deal, says Israel must be able to defend itself

The vice president said she and Biden are "working around the clock" for a hostage and cease-fire deal.

Harris laid out her experience on the global stage as vice president, saying she has "confronted threats to our security, negotiated with foreign leaders, strengthened our alliances and engaged with our brave troops overseas."

"As commander-in-chief, I will ensure America always has the strongest, most lethal fighting force in the world. And I will fulfill our sacred obligation to care for our troops and their families, and I will always honor and never disparage their service and their sacrifice," she said, as the crowd broke out into a chant of "U.S.A.!"