Startling Biden truth Democrats are whispering

There has been an outpouring of love for Joe Biden as he steps down in favour of Kamala Harris – but the whispers behind the scenes are now deafening.

Joe Biden symbolically passed the torch to Kamala Harris on the first night of the Democratic National Convention.

Thousands of the party faithful gathered in Chicago roared their approval at the soon to be former US President. Hundreds of placards read “We Love Joe”.

But there was another sentiment in the vast auditorium. Something uttered far more quietly, whispered between many of the delegates.

Relief. Sheer, unabated relief that Mr Biden had stepped down. Many are now conceding he has become an electoral liability.

“If Biden would have stayed his legacy would have been he lost the election,” Ernest Renteria, from Temple in Texas, told news.com.au.

“Biden’s legacy now is that he saved democracy.”

“He made the right decision,” the self-proclaimed “political warrior of equality” said bluntly.

US President Joe Biden and US Vice President and 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris hug on stage after his farewell convention speech on the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP)

Others were less forthright. But the feeling the Democrats may have just snatched victory from possible defeat was raw.

“Very much something has changed,” Jan Pelosi, from Austin, Texas, told news.com.au.

“Before, people would tell you that they were just not excited about either candidate.

“There is excitement now”.

Asked if she thought Mr Biden could still have won the November election, Ms Pelosi paused momentarily and looked away.

“It would have been a harder struggle, a harder battle.”

Ernest Renteria said Biden had to go. Picture: Benedict Brook/news.com.au.

‘Would have been a squeaker’

Ms Pelosi was at the DNC with Kim Gilby, the chair of the Democratic Party branch in Williamson County, just north of Austin, Texas.

“I do think Biden could have won, but it would have been a squeaker,” Ms Gilby told news.com.au.

If Mr Biden had pulled it off, it would have been a squeaker indeed.

The final average of all polls around late July, when Mr Biden threw in the towel, had him on 43.3 per cent of the national vote and Mr Trump on 46.6 per cent.

Kim Gilby (left) and Jan Pelosi, from Austin, Texas. Picture: Benedict Brook/news.com.au.

Susan Glass, from Evergreen, west of Denver in Colorado, was once a United Airlines cabin crew member who served passengers on 747s flying across the Pacific from the US to Australia.

“I love Biden and he did a fantastic job,” she said.

“He pulled the country out of Covid and I think were on the upswing”.

But, she confided, a feeling of unease that he was not the man to beat former president Trump had been “slowly developing”.

“It was time to pass the torch and Kamala is a fantastic person – and we love Tim Walz of course”.

Echoing around the corridors of the United Centre, the basketball and hockey stadium where the convention (DNC) is being held, the sentiment was similar.

“This time a month ago I wasn’t feeling confident,” said one delegate.

“But now I’m just happy to be happy.

“The difference (since Ms Harris) is palpable. People are skipping down the hallway rather than trundling”.

US President Joe Biden speaks with the media before boarding Air Force One at Chicago O'Hare International Airport after his DNC speech. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)

Not everyone at the DNC was negative about Mr Biden’s chances.

“I was confident,” said Jim Henderson, a veteran from Maryland.

“I’m a Biden fan and I’m a Kamala fan as well, so I’m good.”

Yet Mr Henderson admitted to news.com.au that discussions of Mr Biden’s performance in the disaster if a debate against Mr Trump that directly led to his down fall stung,

“It seemed as though everyone was talking about Biden’s age and I’m the same age as so I was disinterested in that as he was still doing a good job,” he added.

He conceded though that there was a new “energy” that had reinvigorated the campaign sine Mr Biden pulled out.

Jim Henderson said he still thought Joe Biden could have won. Picture: Benedict Brook/news.com.au.

It was remarks echoed by Democrat activist Ms Gilby.

“The volunteers since the change to Kamala Harris is incredible,” she said,

“Now we have too many volunteers to fit in our office”.

Mr Biden’s almost hour long speech on Monday night at the DNC weighed heavily on his achievements. It felt like the words may not have been that much different to the speech he wanted to give were he the nominee.

But there were undoubtedly late edits to more comprehensively praise his Vice President.

“Selecting Kamala was the very first decision I made when I became our nominee and it’s the best decision I made my whole career,” he said.

“She’s tough, she’s experienced, and she has enormous integrity.”

“It’s been the honour of my life to serve you as your president,” Mr Biden added.

“I love my job. But I love my country more.”

Kamala Harris speaks on the first day of the Democratic National Convention. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP)

‘Think Kamala will win’

The polls have shifted significantly since Ms Harris became the presumptive and then official Democratic nominee for president.

The national poll of polls now has her on 49.4 per cent to Donald Trump’s 46.4 per cent.

Ms Harris has also clawed back votes in a number of critical swing states that will likely clinch the election for with the candidate.

But the polls are still incredibly close. It could go either way.

“I was behind Joe Biden, I was going to vote for Joe Biden, I will vote blue until the day I leave this earth,” Ms Pelosi told news.com.au.

But, she admitted, she was relieved Kamala Harris was now the candidate

“I think Kamala will win it.

“But then, I’m a very positive person,” Ms Pelosi added.

Originally published as Startling Biden truth Democrats are whispering