Joe Biden passed the torch to Kamala Harris to the cheers and tears of the delegates at the Democratic convention, with a long speech with testamentary overtones.
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Just a month ago, the 81-year-old president was planning to come to Chicago to collect his party’s nomination.
On Monday night, he promised to be the “best volunteer” in the campaign of the 59-year-old vice president, who joined him on stage for an embrace.
Joe Biden called for the election of Kamala Harris, “a prosecutor,” over Republican Donald Trump, a “repeat criminal.”
“We love Joe!” and “Thank you Joe!” delegates chanted throughout his speech, as tears streamed down many faces.
“I gave you everything”
“We are fighting a battle for the very soul of America,” he proclaimed, using one of the emblematic expressions of his presidency.
“We are forever grateful” to an “incredible” president, Kamala Harris had said earlier, during a brief surprise solo appearance on stage.
“For 50 years, I gave my heart and soul to the country,” said the Democratic leader, who was in a way saying goodbye after a half-century of political career.
“America, for you I gave everything. I made a lot of mistakes in my career. But I gave you everything,” he assured, drawing inspiration from the song “American Anthem,” which he had already quoted during his inauguration ceremony in January 2021.
Joe Biden’s speech was immediately marked by emotion.
“Dad”
“Joe and I have been together for almost 50 years. Yet there are times when I fall in love with him all over again,” First Lady Jill Biden said.
“Dad, (…) we don’t tell you often enough that you are the love of our lives,” said their daughter Ashley, speaking of a “fighter who was underestimated his whole life.”
His entire family came on stage at the end of the speech.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as your president. I love this job, but I love my country even more,” Biden said of his decision to withdraw from the race for the White House.
For about an hour, Joe Biden also wanted to praise all the achievements of his mandate, to which he associated Kamala Harris.
His speeches sometimes sounded strikingly like those he gave when he was still campaigning.
“Anger”
“All this talk about me being angry at people who said I should step down, that’s not true,” the Democrat said.
For Joe Biden, however, there was something quite cruel in this outpouring of affection.
On Tuesday, delegates will crown Kamala Harris in a symbolic vote, after having already formally invested her in an online ballot.
Democrats expected to campaign without passion for the octogenarian president, who is mired in the polls.
But since her incredible withdrawal on July 21, they have begun to dream again of a victory thanks to their 59-year-old candidate, who is ahead of Donald Trump in the majority of opinion polls.
“Down”
“I love (Joe Biden) but I was absolutely delighted when he dropped out because he was dragging us down,” said Harry Pascal, a Democratic activist.
Donald Trump, in an attempt to halt this momentum, will visit several strategic states this week.
In one of them, Pennsylvania, the former Republican president attacked Kamala Harris’ “communist” plans on Monday and claimed without any proof that she had staged a “putsch” against Joe Biden.
Hillary Clinton, the unsuccessful candidate against him in 2016, reminded Chicago that nothing was won.
“Don’t get distracted and don’t rest on your laurels,” said the former secretary of state, who was the favorite that year.
“Arguments”
On Tuesday, former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama will headline the convention in their Chicago home turf.
The American vice-president will campaign for the day in Wisconsin, another “swing state”.
The Democratic high mass has so far not been really disrupted by pro-Palestinian demonstrations, the first of which on Monday brought together several thousand people.
These protesters have “arguments to make,” Joe Biden said. He would like to seal a final diplomatic success by securing a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
