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US President Joe Biden used his headlining speech at the opening night of the Democratic National Convention Monday to symbolically pass the torch to nominee Kamala Harris.
In what is one of his last major addresses as the American president, Biden highlighted his major legislative achievements, while also shining the spotlight on Harris, who has rapidly gained momentum in the presidential race against Donald Trump.
“Are you ready to vote for freedom?” an energized Biden asked the crowd, referring to Harris’ campaign theme. “Selecting Kamala [as vice president] was the best decision I made in my whole career,” the president said, quipping, “Like many of our best presidents, she was also a vice president.”
Biden also frequently attacked Trump’s record in his speech, calling him a “loser” and citing his involvement with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and his response to the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville.
In a memorable line from the night, the president said, “America, I gave my best to you,” in a nod to his decades-long public service to the country.
High-profile Democratic speakers hailed Harris in their speeches on Monday, but also paid tribute to Biden’s legacy ahead of his address. Harris herself made a surprise appearance on stage to rousing cheers from the crowd, and thanked the president for his “historic leadership” and years of public service.
In her primetime address in Chicago, and to loud chants of “AOC,” Progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, hammered home the theme of Harris’ pro-working class policies and thanked Biden for his leadership.
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton received one of the longest and loudest ovations of the night, as she first acknowledged Biden’s “lifetime of service and leadership.”
“Let’s salute President Biden,” Clinton said. “He has been democracy’s champion at home and abroad. He brought dignity, decency, and competence back to the White House and he showed what it means to be a true patriot.”
Clinton’s speech had the Chicago crowd on their feet, as she criticized Trump’s felony conviction, prompting the audience to chant “Lock him up,” in the familiar refrain used by Trump supporters against Clinton.
In her short address, First Lady Jill Biden recalled the moment her husband decided to quit the presidential race, saying, “I saw him dig deep into his soul.”
Introducing President Biden, his daughter Ashley Biden gave an emotional tribute to her father, calling him “one of the most consequential leaders in history,” and underlining his personal and professional support for women through his life.
She shared a long embrace with her father as he arrived on stage. The president appeared visibly emotional as the crowd cheered him on for several minutes, chanting, “We love Joe” and “Thank you Joe.”
SIGNALS
Biden expected to be crowned American hero in Chicago
Democrats have put the deep divisions that threatened to riven the party in late June and July far behind them, and Biden’s speech is symbolic of that renewed unity. As they rally behind Harris, they are also celebrating Biden for putting party before personal ambition, and he was expected “to get a hero’s welcome in Chicago,” The Hill noted. Biden’s appearance will also likely be one of his last major political speeches in more than 50 years of public service. “It feels like a Hall of Fame athlete that’s making the tour to stadiums in the final season,” said the founder of one center-left think tank, though he added it is as much of a “torch passing” ceremony to Harris.
Biden to focus on common themes uniting Democrats
Ahead of Biden’s speech, aides told The Washington Post that the focus was on the themes that guided his presidency and that Harris is expected to carry forward: Bolstering the middle class, promoting diplomacy, and protecting democracy. The goal was to perform a “difficult balancing act between celebrating his own role in moving the country ahead and paying tribute to his vice president and heir apparent,” The Post noted.
Biden to hide ‘bitterness’ toward Democrats who broke with him
The president was expected to “hide his bitterness” toward Democrats who pushed him to leave the race, The Daily Beast wrote. In his speech, Biden said that reports about him being angry at people who said he should step down were not true. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been pinned as a central figure in Biden’s decision, and the two have reportedly not spoken since he suspended his campaign, according to The New York Times. Biden also reportedly is frustrated with former President Barack Obama, who is speaking at the convention on Tuesday, for not directly telling him that he should leave the race, Politico reported.