Biden to Open Democratic Convention with Support for Harris

Joe Biden will take the stage in Chicago on Monday to be lauded for his accomplishments and given a send-off.

The first day of the Democratic National Convention is designed to showcase the sitting President’s achievements in office: improving an economy strained by the pandemic, persuading Republicans to approve $550 billion in new infrastructure investments, negotiating lower drug prices for seniors, and freeing Americans and democracy activists imprisoned abroad.  

Biden himself will make the case in primetime for why Vice President Kamala Harris is the best person to continue this work after he stepped aside from running for a second term, says a White House aide. Biden will criticize Donald Trump, referencing the struggling economy and weakened international alliances Biden inherited from his predecessor, and warning that Trump has stated he will act as a dictator on “day one.” Biden will also promote improved public safety, pointing to the higher murder rate under Trump and arguing that Biden-era investments in policing under the American Rescue Plan and gun reform have contributed to a national decrease in homicides. 

However, don’t expect a farewell address—Biden plans to save that for January, say those close to him. Instead, he intends to use his time on stage Monday evening to kickstart the week’s events with a call to action. 

“The main reason he is there is to get everybody to understand how important this race is, how important the election is, and how important it is that Kamala Harris be the next President of the United States.” says Ted Kaufman, the former Senator from Delaware and a close friend of Biden’s.

Biden doesn’t plan to remain for the rest of the convention. After his remarks, he is expected to leave Chicago and go on vacation for two weeks.

Democrats are preparing to honor Biden on Monday for his decision last month to step back from seeking four more years in power, a move that came after weeks of pressure from party leaders.

“Here we’re seeing that baton passed. We’re seeing someone selflessly giving up the most powerful office in the world for the betterment of a party and for the betterment of America,” says Doug Jones, a former Democratic senator from Alabama and a close ally of Biden’s. 

The party is also expected to acknowledge Biden’s more than 50 years of public service. “It is a celebration of someone the Democratic Party can look to with great great pride, where the country can look too, or should look to, regardless of political persuasion, with some pride,” says Jones.

Biden’s withdrawal from the campaign ended weeks of Democratic party internal conflicts following his disappointing debate performance in late June. That setback compelled Biden, 81, to fulfill his campaign promise to be a “bridge” candidate to a new generation of Democratic leaders.

That passing-the-torch theme is reflected in the convention schedule. The ages of the week’s speakers is set to roughly shift from an older generation to a younger group of leaders. Hillary Clinton, 76 and the party’s 2016 nominee for president, will speak Monday before Biden. That will be followed on Tuesday by former President Barack Obama, who is 63. Then Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’s 60-year-old pick for a running mate, speaks on Wednesday. Harris, 59, will accept the party’s nomination during prime time on Thursday night.

Even if Monday’s remarks aren’t a farewell speech, there were moments this month when it felt like Biden had begun his farewell tour. When Harris and Biden spoke Thursday in Largo, Md., about steps they’d taken through the Inflation Reduction Act to reduce drug prices, the crowd chanted, “Thank you Joe!” 

“There’s a lot of love in this room for our President,” Harris told the crowd as she handed the microphone over to him.

“I served in the Senate for 270 years,” joked Biden, who was sworn in at the age of 30 and represented Delaware for 36 years. “The longest time–I was too damn young. Now, I’m too damn old,” Biden said. 

Pointing to Harris, he added: “She’s going to make a hell of a President.”