A Historic Transition at the Democratic National Convention
CHICAGO, IL — In a poignant and historic farewell address at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday, U.S. President Joe Biden is set to pass the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris, the party’s nominee for the upcoming November election.
A hero’s send-off amidst a changing guard
Less than a month after his unexpected withdrawal and Harris’s remarkable rise, the 81-year-old Biden can anticipate a hero’s send-off. This farewell will come from many of the same supporters who had once urged him to step down due to concerns over his age.
Biden is expected to declare that Harris—America’s first female, Black, and South Asian vice president—is the ideal person to continue his mission of safeguarding American democracy from Republican rival Donald Trump. Harris will join Biden briefly on stage during his primetime speech in a symbolic gesture of party unity and continuity.
Controversy lingers: Protests planned in Chicago
Despite the celebration, Biden’s tenure is overshadowed by a significant planned protest in Chicago against the administration’s support for Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza. This lingering controversy underscores the complexities of his presidency.
Biden, who spent the weekend at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland, remarked on Sunday that he felt “good, real good” about his forthcoming speech, which he has been meticulously preparing with his top aides.
No longer seeking re-election, Biden is acutely aware that his legacy is tied to Harris’s ability to defeat Trump. Should she fail, the blame may fall on him for remaining in the race too long.
First Lady Jill Biden, a steadfast supporter of her husband, will also address the convention. The ageing president, who has seen Harris galvanize voters in ways he could not, will step aside as the warm-up act for Harris. She is scheduled to deliver her keynote speech on Thursday, a slot that would have been Biden’s just weeks ago.
An emotional farewell
Biden will depart for a six-day vacation in California immediately after his address, leaving the convention to proceed without him. As he nears the end of his five-decade political career, Biden is expected to receive a warm reception from Democrats in Chicago.
“I’m nostalgic,” remarked LaurieBeth Hager, a state representative from North Dakota. She praised Biden as a “great president,” adding, “I’ll have Kleenexes packed along with me tomorrow, but I also am amazed at the courage, political courage it took for him to make this decision.”
Biden is fondly remembered by his party for defeating Donald Trump in 2020 and for leading America through the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, Capitol assault and the Covid pandemic. While his initial insistence on staying in the race despite a poor debate performance against Trump in June may have seemed prideful, there is widespread appreciation for his eventual sacrifice.
Harris’s new momentum
Since Biden stepped aside, Harris has revitalized the White House race, engaging young, female, and Black voters who had previously disengaged from the contest between two older men. Meanwhile, Trump has struggled to adapt his campaign to counter Harris, resorting to personal attacks and disjointed speeches despite calls from top Republicans to stay focused.
Trump on the campaign trail
As Democrats convene in Chicago, Trump will be campaigning across the country, with rallies planned in key battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, and Arizona throughout the week.
In a momentous and emotionally charged speech, President Joe Biden will mark the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter with Kamala Harris at the helm, setting the stage for a historic election battle.