Harris’ speech teems with promises, but not on climate

By Scott Waldman | 08/23/2024 06:27 AM EDT

The vice president devoted only half a sentence to the climate crisis, capping off a convention that included a brief segment on the topic.

Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris speaks during the last night of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago on Aug. 22, 2024.

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris speaks Thursday during the last night of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago. Francis Chung/POLITICO

Climate change finally but briefly took center stage at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday.

Before Kamala Harris accepted the presidential nomination, a string of speakers highlighted the Biden administration’s climate achievements, including the 2022 landmark climate law.

But Harris only devoted half of a sentence to climate policy in her speech, saying that “fundamental freedoms” were at stake in the election, including “the freedom to breathe clean air and drink clean water and live free from the pollution that fuels the climate crisis.”

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It’s part of a pattern: Harris has largely avoided the subject since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race a month ago.

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