CHICAGO ― There was lots of love for President Joe Biden when he walked on stage on the Democratic Nationwide Conference on Monday night time.
Hundreds upon hundreds of individuals greeted him with indicators that learn, “We love Joe!” He needed to wait a number of minutes earlier than he might even begin speaking as a result of folks wouldn’t cease cheering for him. He flashed his trademark grin. He waved at a few folks within the crowd. When he might lastly converse, he delivered a fairly customary stump speech, ticking off his accomplishments as president and warning of the grave risks of Donald Trump returning to the White Home.
“Think of the message he sends around the world when he talks about America being a ‘failing nation,’” Biden fumed at one level. “He says we’re losing. He’s the loser! He’s dead wrong.”
However in different moments, the president additionally regarded just a little unhappy. So did folks within the crowd.
Underneath regular circumstances, Biden would have spoken Thursday night time on the conference, accepting his get together‘s nomination for a second term. Instead, he is here kicking off the convention on day one, throwing his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris to be the party’s nominee.
Jacquelyn Martin/Related Press
“Selecting Kamala was the very first decision I made before I became the nominee, and it was the best decision I made in my whole career,” Biden mentioned. “She’s tough, she’s experienced and she has enormous integrity…. She will be a president we can all be proud of.”
“Thank you, Joe! Thank you, Joe!” the group periodically shouted in unison.
“Thank you, Kamala,” Biden would reply.
It was the bittersweet second of the conference that everybody had been bracing for: Biden working by way of his successes as president earlier than passing the torch to Harris.
It hasn’t even been a month since he dropped his reelection bid. And he initially resisted stepping apart after his disastrous debate efficiency in opposition to Trump in late June. However he by no means did recuperate after that debate. And as he tanked within the polls, donor cash dried up and voter enthusiasm plummeted, Biden lastly gave in to the Democratic strain marketing campaign geared toward nudging him out and clearing the trail for Harris to take the reins.
If the president does harbor sick will towards these Democrats, it wasn’t apparent in any respect on Monday night time. He enthusiastically threw his assist behind Harris and her working mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, to construct on the work he’s carried out and mentioned he’s nonetheless targeted on issues he desires to do as president.
“Folks, I’ve got five months left in my presidency, and I’ve got a lot to do,” he mentioned to cheers. “It’s been the honor of my lifetime to serve as your president. I love my job, but I love my country more.”
“All this talk about how I’m angry at those people who said I should step down, it’s not true,” he added.
CHARLY TRIBALLEAU by way of Getty Photographs
Home Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is extensively seen as a driving drive within the behind-the-scenes effort to push Biden out of the race. She has repeatedly denied she led any type of strain marketing campaign and insisted that he made his personal resolution.
However there’s clearly some stress between the 2. As of every week and a half in the past, at the least, they hadn’t spoken since Biden pulled out of the race. And in a sit-down interview with reporters earlier this month, Pelosi seemed to be grappling together with her position in Biden’s resolution.
“At some point, I will come to terms with … my own role in this,” Pelosi mentioned within the interview. She additionally mentioned she “loves” Biden and prays for him.
On Monday night time, as Biden ticked off his accomplishments as president, the cameras zoomed in on Pelosi within the crowd at one level. She was waving a “We love Joe” signal and was misty-eyed.
However whilst folks’s feelings have been scattered, Biden made it clear he’s targeted on the identical factor that Pelosi has mentioned is her precedence: defeating Trump.
“We saved democracy in 2020, and now let’s save it again in 2024,” the president informed the group, a few of whom have been overtly crying by the tip of his remarks.
“I promise I’ll be the best volunteer that Harris and Walz have ever seen,” he mentioned.
When he was completed talking, Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff got here on stage and hugged him. Biden’s household quickly joined them on stage. Everybody was all smiles with just a little little bit of tears, too.
