US President Joe Biden, forced by his allies to abandon his re-election bid a month ago, took centre stage on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention, aware that his party has moved on quickly without him.
Wiping away tears after being introduced by his daughter Ashley and waving to a crowd that gave him a prolonged standing ovation, a smiling Biden said: “I love you.”
Instead of his expected high-profile speech on Thursday to accept the Democratic nomination for another four-year term, Biden was the main event at the start of the Chicago convention on Monday before traveling to California for a vacation. In his speech, Biden was expected to tout his accomplishments — boosting the American economy and strengthening U.S. alliances abroad — and make the case for Americans to elect his vice president, Kamala Harris, as his successor in the White House.
Earlier in the evening, Harris made a surprise appearance, drawing cheers from the crowd as she vowed to defeat Republican rival Donald Trump, 78, in the Nov. 5 election. Harris, 59, will formally accept the nomination on Thursday. “Let us fight for the ideals we hold dear and always remember that when we fight, we win!” Harris said to a roar from the crowd.
Biden’s reluctant decision to step aside on July 21 came after intense pressure from party leaders who feared the 81-year-old incumbent was too old to win or serve another four years.
Biden, who served as second-in-command to the nation’s first Black president, Barack Obama, has urged Democrats to unite around a candidate who, if successful, would become the first woman, Black woman or South Asian woman to be elected U.S. president. The party’s chances of victory have improved dramatically with Harris’ candidacy, according to opinion polls, fundraising and the large crowds she has drawn.
During a tour of the convention center on Monday, Biden was asked if it had been a bittersweet moment for him. “It’s a memorable moment,” he told reporters. In his speech, Biden planned to portray Trump as a threat to American democracy while touting the accomplishments of the Biden-Harris administration.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the post for any purpose.
We respect the intellectual property rights of content creators. If you are the owner of any material featured on our website and have concerns about its use, please contact us. We are committed to addressing any copyright issues promptly and will remove any material within 2 days of receiving a request from the rightful owner.