Chicago:
He met Kamala Harris on a blind date, and on Tuesday her husband Doug Emhoff tried to persuade People to like her too after an equally whirlwind introduction. The primary “Second Gentleman” in US historical past wooed the Democratic Nationwide Conference in Chicago with a speech that highlighted the human aspect of the get together’s presidential nominee.
Delegates chanted “Doug” because the 59-year-old — who gave up his high-flying authorized profession to assist Harris as vp — regaled them with the story of how they met and the way she then grew to become the stepmother to his children.
“I like you and I am so happy with the way you’re stepping up for all of us,” Emhoff mentioned.
And he mentioned their private historical past confirmed she was able to be the nation’s first feminine commander-in-chief — which might make him its first ever First Gentleman.
“Kamala Harris was precisely the appropriate individual for me at an vital time in my life. At this second on this nation’s historical past she is precisely the appropriate president.”
Harris posted an image of herself on Air Drive Two, watching him converse whereas she returned from a rally in Milwaukee. “Love you Dougie,” she wrote.
‘Heyyyy, it is Doug’
The Harris marketing campaign regards Emhoff as one thing of a secret weapon, a ready-made speaker who can familiarize People with the vp after her fast rise following Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the White Home race.
He has taken a really seen position as cheerleader-in-chief for his 59-year-old spouse ever since Biden first picked her as his operating mate again in 2020.
Extra just lately, the father-of-two has been her assault canine in opposition to Donald Trump because the Republican former president unleashes private and racially tinged insults on the Democrat.
However his speech in Chicago centered on the private as a lot because the political.
As the group waved “Doug” indicators, Emhoff instructed the story of how he and Harris have been arrange on a blind date by one among his authorized shoppers.
The day after, Emhoff known as Harris early within the morning, bought her answerphone and “simply began rambling. ‘Heyyyy, it is Doug… I used to be attempting to seize the phrases out of the air and simply put them again in my mouth.”
Harris, nonetheless, thought the message was “lovely”, saved it, they usually married the next yr. Now she performs the message to him each anniversary, he mentioned.
“This Thursday might be our tenth wedding ceremony anniversary… that very same evening I will be listening to my spouse, Kamala Harris settle for your nomination for President of the USA.”
‘Momala’
Their marriage made Kamala Harris a stepmother to Emhoff’s then-teenage youngsters Cole and Ella — who each dubbed her “Momala”.
Cole Emhoff launched him on stage, after narrating a video exhibiting snapshots from Emhoff’s life and gently ribbing his dad.
His son mentioned their “blended household wasn’t used to politics,” however when Harris grew to become first a California senator after which vp, all of them stepped up.
“It felt like Doug was a bit misplaced on Capitol Hill, I assumed ‘what’s my goofy dad doing right here?’ However he embraced it.”
Emhoff himself has admitted that it did not all come simply, particularly when he took a go away of absence from his leisure legislation job, which was incomes him round $1 million a yr.
Biden helped him on the time, saying to him “I do know this should have been robust.”
Since then, Kamala has known as Emhoff her rock as Harris blazed a path as the primary feminine, Black and South Asian vp in US historical past
He too set a milestone, turning into the primary ever Jewish partner of a US president or vp.
Below the Biden administration, Emhoff took on an more and more excessive profile position, giving speeches calling out anti-Semitism after the October 7 assaults by Hamas on Israel.
He additionally carried out ceremonial duties together with main the US delegation on the closing of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
However for one individual at the very least, Emhoff does not take the again seat.
“My mom is the one individual in the entire world who thinks Kamala is the fortunate one for marrying me,” he quipped.
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
