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Chicago: It was a hero’s goodbye for a man who began his career as one of the youngest senators in Washington and will end it as the oldest US president in history.
Four weeks after withdrawing from the 2024 election, President Joe Biden appeared at the Democratic National Convention to pass the torch to Kamala Harris and make the case that democracy was at risk if Donald Trump returned to power.
Chants of “We love Joe” rang out during President Biden’s valedictory speech at the Democratic National Convention.Credit: Bloomberg
In a bittersweet moment for the departing president, a teary Biden entered the stadium to thunderous applause and gave a keynote address far removed from the acceptance speech he wanted to make, had age and politics not intervened.
Instead, he acknowledged that Harris was the best person to take on Trump now, telling the raucous crowd: “Our best days are not behind us, they are before us.”
“Are you ready to vote for freedom?” a fired-up Biden shouted, as Democrats roared back with an emphatic “Yes!”
Biden entered the United Centre convention hall just before 10.30pm (1.30pm AEST) and was repeatedly greeted with chants of “We love Joe” as he spoke.
Delegates gave Biden a rapturous welcome onstage.Credit: AP
But those chants were part reverence and part relief – from the very people who had wanted him out only a few weeks ago, unconvinced the 81-year-old had the capacity to lead them to victory.
Among them was Minnesota congressman Dean Phillips, who unsuccessfully challenged Biden during the presidential primaries and had repeatedly warned that he was too old and would not be able to beat Trump.
Asked how he felt with Harris and Tim Walz at the top of the ticket, Phillips replied: “Like a kid in a candy store.”
“I think this wave is going to ride all the way until election day, and I’m really excited about it,” he told this masthead.
But while this was no longer Biden’s convention, it was nonetheless one that rightly paid tribute to America’s 46th president as he prepared to end half a century in public service: firstly as a US senator, then as vice president to Barack Obama, and finally as commander in chief.
First lady Jill Biden spoke of the things he accomplished “in the name of something bigger than himself” – including a few weeks ago – “when I saw him dig deep into our soul and endorse Kamala Harris”.
Introducing him to the stage, his daughter Ashley Biden told the convention her father was “the OG girl dad”.
“And he wasn’t just a girl dad,” she added. “I could see that he valued and trusted women.”
Joe Biden’s daughter, Ashley Biden.Credit: AP
Harris, the woman he has entrusted to take his place, also made a surprise appearance, thanking Biden for his “historic leadership” and “lifetime of service to our nation”.
United Automotive Workers boss Shawn Fain – wearing a T-shirt that read, “Trump is a scab” – noted that Biden had made history by being the first US president to join a picket line.
Hillary Clinton – who won the popular vote against Trump in 2016 only to lose the election thanks to America’s electoral college system – told the convention that Biden had restored “dignity, decency and confidence” to the White House.
“You have been democracy’s champion at home and abroad,” she said.
Clinton says the Democrats have Donald Trump “on the run”.Credit: Bloomberg
But while Democrats tried to demonstrate unity inside the convention centre, outside the venue not everyone was happy.
As the event got under way on Monday (Tuesday AEST), thousands of protesters took to the streets to demand an immediate ceasefire and an end to US aid to Israel. One woman held a sign that read: “Kamala, words alone won’t save Palestinians.” Another held up a banner declaring, “Both Democrats and Republicans have blood on their hands”.
“Neither of the two parties are serving the people,” said Gloria Santiago, describing the war in Gaza as the critical issue that would determine her vote for the election.
While the protest was mostly peaceful, some demonstrators broke through a security fence near the convention, resulting in several arrests.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators assembled outside the convention venue at the United Centre in Chicago.Credit: Bloomberg
Inside, however, the enthusiastic crowd barely mentioned the war in Gaza. Instead, they spoke of the “joy”, “hope”, and “optimism” they now felt over their election prospects.
Biden, on the other hand, offered some sympathy, saying that anti-war protesters “have a point” because too many innocent people had died.
Most of the president’s speech focused on what had been achieved over the past four years – from gun safety reform and lower prescription drug prices to record infrastructure and climate change investment.
And much of it took aim at his predecessor and the “need to preserve our democracy in 2024”.
Biden blows a kiss as his grandson, Beau Biden, makes the peace sign at the Democratic National Convention.Credit: AP
“We need you to keep the Senate. We need you to win back the House of Representatives. Above all, we need you to beat Donald Trump,” he told the crowd before quoting from the song American Anthem by Norah Jones.
“The work and prayers of centuries have brought us to this day. What shall be our legacy? What will our children say?… Let me know in my heart when my days are through. America, America, I gave my best to you.”
As Biden closed his speech, Kygo’s remix of Whitney Houston’s Higher Love blasted through the speakers as Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, joined him and Jill Biden on stage.
It was the same song that played after Biden and Harris gave their victory speeches as president-elect and vice president-elect in November 2020.
Biden helped shape history then by appointing Harris – the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Indian mother – as his vice presidential running mate. Now, he has helped shape history again by stepping aside and putting her one step closer to becoming the first woman to occupy the Oval Office.
“It’s been the honour of my lifetime to serve as your president,” he said. “I love this job. But I love my country more.”
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