Biden Rallies Behind Harris in Keynote Address on Convention’s First Night

CHICAGO—President Joe Biden, who was one month ago expected to secure his re-nomination at this week’s Democratic National Convention, instead delivered a speech passing the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris.

“I have five months left in my presidency, and I have a lot left to do. And I intend to get it done,” Biden said.

“I love my job, but I love my country more.”

Originally set to take the stage as the party’s nominee for a second term, Biden addressed the convention on its opening night, defending his track record and making the case for Harris as the Democratic nominee.

“Selecting Kamala was the very first decision I made when I became our nominee. It was the best decision I made in my whole career,” the president said.

“She will be a historic president who puts her stamp on America’s future.”

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Biden took the stage at 10:25 p.m. CT, greeted by a standing ovation and enthusiastic chants of “Thank you, Joe” that lasted for approximately 5 minutes before he began his remarks.

He opened his speech by referring to political tensions in the country, which he said partly influenced his decision to run for president.

“We came together in 2020 to save democracy,” he said. “I also ran to rebuild the backbone of America, the middle class.”

During his nearly 50-minute address, Biden touted his accomplishments, describing his administration as “one of the most extraordinary four years of progress ever.”

“Nowhere else in the world could a kid with a stutter and modest beginnings in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Claymont, Delaware, grow up to sit behind the resolute desk in The Oval Office,” Biden said before concluding his address.

“I promise I’ll be the best volunteer the Harris-Walz campaign has ever seen.”

In a whirlwind few weeks after Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race on July 21, Harris secured the Democratic nomination for presidential candidate in a virtual roll of delegates, which concluded on Aug. 5. The next day, Harris selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.

Biden’s decision to step aside marked the first time a sitting president had withdrawn from a presidential race since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968.

The 81-year-old president reversed his position after weeks of assuring the public that he would remain the Democratic nominee despite mounting pressure from some elected Democrats who had come to believe that he would not win reelection.

In a statement on July 21, Biden announced that “it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”

During a July 8 interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Biden voiced his frustration toward those who urged him to step aside, particularly party elites, pundits, and donors.

“I’m getting frustrated by the elites,” Biden said. “Any of these guys that don’t think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention.”

After he announced his decision to withdraw from the race, he reportedly continued to voice frustration with party elites, particularly former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

“I hope so. I pray so. I cry so,” Pelosi said in response. “I lose sleep on it.”

When asked about whether she thought Biden was upset with her, she said, “I don’t know. We haven’t had a conversation.”

Pelosi was seen during Biden’s speech at the convention, chanting “We love, Joe” together with the audience.

Prior to Biden’s speech at the convention, Harris made a surprise appearance on the convention stage on Monday night to honor Biden.

“Joe, thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation and for all you will continue to do. We are forever grateful to you,” she said in brief remarks.

Ludi Hughes, a Democratic National Convention delegate representing New Jersey, told The Epoch Times that history would judge Biden’s decision to step down from his re-election bid favorably.

Hughes, a Filipino-American, said Biden did the right thing by both stepping away and giving Harris his endorsement for the Democratic Party’s nomination.

Al Durante, a Texas delegate, believes that there is a certain percentage of the population who wouldn’t vote for Harris just because she’s a woman.

“I’ve heard people tell me that on both sides,” he said. “But I think we’re ready. I think, finally, we’ve grown as a country enough, and we’ve seen enough over the recent years to realize that everybody, anybody, deserves a chance. And there have been a lot of strong women leaders in state government and state leadership.”

Speaking on the first night of the convention, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also made the case for Harris.

“We are writing a new chapter in America’s story,” Clinton said.

In 2016, Clinton became the first woman to be nominated for president from a major political party when she challenged candidate Donald Trump.

“Kamala has the character, experience, and vision to lead us forward,” Clinton said.

“I know her heart and her integrity. We both got our start as young lawyers helping children who were abused or neglected. That kind of work changes you.”

Democrats who gathered for the first day of the convention in Chicago told The Epoch Times they’d seen renewed energy after Harris got into the race.

Philip Alagia, chief of staff to New Jersey’s Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, Jr., said that the Harris campaign is seeing enthusiasm from beyond the Democratic Party base.

“I do think we pick up a tremendous amount of energy among independent voters, among young voters,” Alagia told The Epoch Times.