Chicago: Joe Biden took the stage at the Democratic National Convention to pass the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris to rapturous applause on Monday night.
The president, who was introduced by First Lady Jill Biden and his daughter Ashley Biden, ran through his accomplishments on the Covid recovery, the economy, healthcare, and infrastructure before making a forceful case against the candidacy of former President Donald Trump.
An emotional Joe Biden won a huge ovation as he gave a farewell speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday after Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance to thank him for being an “incredible” president.
“I love you,” the tearful 81-year-old president told the crowd to deafening cheers, less than a month after dropping out of the White House race against Donald Trump and passing the torch to his vice president.
Biden took to the stage to chants of “We love you Joe” from the same party which had pushed him out over concerns about his age, in one of the biggest political shocks in US political history.
“We both know we have more to do, but we’re moving in the right direction,” he said, referring to himself and the 59-year-old Harris, who, in the space of a few breathtaking weeks, has turned the presidential race upside down.
America’s first female, Black and South Asian vice president has quickly breathed new life into the Democratic Party and wiped out Republican rival Donald Trump’s lead in the polls.
She heaped lavish tribute to Biden at what must be one of the toughest moments of his career, even breaking with tradition to speak on the first night of the convention in praise of her boss.
“I want to kick us off by celebrating our incredible president Joe Biden,” said Harris, who was wearing a tan suit and took to the stage to Beyonce’s “Freedom.”
“We are forever grateful to you.”
As he has been so often in his five-decade-long political journey, Biden was surrounded by family, with wife Jill Biden and their daughter Ashley introducing him.
“Joe and I have been together for almost 50 years. And still, there are moments when I fall in love with him all over again,” the first lady said.
