US Elections: Harris steps up as Biden gives farewell speech today at DNC

US President Joe Biden will give a bittersweet farewell address at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday, passing the torch to Kamala Harris as the party’s nominee for the upcoming election. Less than a month after his surprising withdrawal and Harris’s rapid rise, Biden can expect a hero’s send-off from many of the same people who urged his departure due to concerns about his age.

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At 81, Biden is expected to endorse Harris, America’s first female, Black, and South Asian vice president, as the best person to continue his work of protecting American democracy from Republican rival Donald Trump. Harris will join him on stage briefly during his primetime speech, symbolizing unity among Democrats over his succession.

However, a significant protest against the Biden-Harris administration’s support for Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza is planned in Chicago.

Biden stated on Sunday that he felt “good, real good” about his speech after spending the weekend at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland fine-tuning his address with top aides.

Now a lame-duck single-term president, Biden is acutely aware that his legacy depends on whether Harris can defeat Trump — and if she doesn’t, many will blame him for holding on too long. First Lady Jill Biden, 73, a staunch defender of her husband who supported him throughout the final stages of his decision on July 21, will also take to the stage in Chicago.

There will undoubtedly be mixed emotions for Biden, who has seen Harris energize voters and gain momentum in the polls in ways he never managed as a candidate. Biden now finds himself as the warm-up act for Harris, who will give her headline speech on Thursday in a slot that would have been his a few weeks ago.

He won’t stay for her big night, heading off immediately after his speech for a six-day holiday in California while the conference continues without him. Yet, as he enters the final stretch of a five-decade political career, Biden will be welcomed warmly by Democrats in Chicago.

“I’m nostalgic,” said LaurieBeth Hager, a state representative from North Dakota attending the convention. She hailed Biden as a “great president” and praised his political courage in stepping aside.

Biden is fondly remembered by his party as the man who defeated Trump in 2020 and guided America through the January 6 Capitol assault and the Covid pandemic. While Biden’s initial decision to remain in the race despite a poor debate performance against Trump in June appeared prideful, there is widespread gratitude for his eventual sacrifice.

Harris has revitalized the White House race since Biden stepped aside, engaging young, female, and Black voters who had lost interest in a contest between two elderly men. Meanwhile, former president Trump, facing what he calls a “coup” by Democrats, has been struggling to adjust his campaign to counter Harris, relying on personal attacks and rambling speeches despite appeals from top Republicans to stay focused.

As Democrats gather in Chicago, Trump will be campaigning across the country with rallies in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, and Arizona throughout the week.