Democratic Convention: 'Kamala will be historic president': Biden hands torch to Harris

Joe Biden has told a cheering, whooping crowd that choosing Kamala Harris as his successor was the 'best decision I've made in my whole career,' and urged voters to 'save democracy,' as he farewelled Democrats on the first day of their national convention.

The Australian's rolling coverage of the first day of the Democratic National Convention has now finished. This is how the day unfolded.

Updates

2:17 pm August 20, 2024 Highlight

Kamala will be 'historic president'

Anne Barrowclough

Joe Biden has told the crowd that Kamala Harris will be a "historic president," adding that choosing her as his successor was the "best decision I've made in my whole career."

Talking of his decision to stand down from his role, he says: “It’s been the honour of my life time; I love the job, but I love my country more,” and promises to be “The most volunteer for the Harris Walz campaign”.

“Like many of our best presidents, she was also vice president,” he joked.

He has pleaded with voters to "save democracy," saying: "We saved democracy in 2020 and now we must save it again in 2024."

"History is in your hands, America's future is in your hands," he says. "Nowhere else in the world could a kid in a stutter grow up to sit behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.

"That's because America is and always has been a nation of possibilities.

"Kamala and Tim understand that this nation must continue to be a place of possibilities."

2:11 pm August 20, 2024 Highlight

Biden spruiks accomplishments in stump-style speech

Agency writers

Joe Biden arrives on stage. Picture: AFP.

Joe Biden credited Vice President Kamala Harris will helping his administration oversee “one of the most extraordinary periods of progress,” touting their record on lifting the nation out of the Covid-19 pandemic, growing the economy and bringing down healthcare costs.

“When I say we, I mean Kamala and me,” Mr Biden said.

Much of the president’s remarks were a version of the stump speech he gave while campaigning for re-election, ticking off a checklist of his administration’s accomplishments on issues ranging from environmental policy and college affordability to chip manufacturing and drug prices.

The remarks appeared designed to cement Biden’s legacy as he prepares to leave the White House after a single term in office.

He drew several contrasts to former President Donald Trump and accused the Republican nominee of “putting himself first and America last.”

Recalling the role of women voters in the 2022 midterms, when Democrats outperformed expectations, Biden warned that Trump and Republicans were “going to find out the power of women in 2024.”

Dow Jones

2:05 pm August 20, 2024

'I'm so damn old'

Adam Creighton

Joe Biden has been speaking for over 35 minutes as the clock nudges 11pm in Chicago and midnight in New York, but has stumbled over some sentences and words.

“Donald Trump is going to find out the power of women in 2024,” he yells at one point, singling out the demographic group most supportive of Democrats and in particular Kamala Harris.

He adds that Mr Trump has “never built a damn thing.”

“Folks, how can we have the strongest economy in the world without the best infrastructure in the world? Donald Trump promised infrastructure week every week after four years, and he never built a damn thing,” Mr Biden said.

He also cracked a joke about his age, telling the crowd he knew so many world leaders "because I'm so damn old."

1:53 pm August 20, 2024

'Most pro-union president in history'

Adam Creighton

After extolling the well-paying union jobs his various industry subsidy schemes, including of semi-conductor manufacturing, had created, Joe Biden claimed he was proud that he was “the most pro-union president in history… because if the unions do well we all do well”.

"Wall Street didn’t build America," he said. "Unions built the middle class." He also recounted his commitment to “rebuild the backbone of America — the middle class.”

Mr Biden claimed the bills he passed “did more for red states than blue” because a president must deliver for all Americans.

“Because of you — and I’m not exaggerating — because of you, we’ve had one of the most extraordinary four years of progress ever, period. And when I say we, I mean Kamala and me,” he added.

1:52 pm August 20, 2024 Highlight

'Democracy has been delivered, now it must be preserved'

Agency writers

US President Joe Biden speaks on stage. Picture: AFP.

In his speech, Joe Biden touted the nation’s economic progress, including that inflation is “way down and continuing to go down.” Inflation has indeed cooled markedly in recent months – after climbing to a 40-year high two years ago. In July the consumer-price index rose 2.9% from a year earlier, the lowest reading since 2021 and not far off the Federal Reserve’s target rate of 2%.

Many voters say they don’t feel any relief, however, because they’re still paying significantly more for groceries and other everyday items than they did before the pandemic.

The President, who until just over a month ago was posed to accept his party’s renomination at the convention, asked a rapturous crowd if they were ready to elect Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, as he recalled the political climate against which he took office nearly four years ago.

“We were in the grip of a once in a century pandemic, historic joblessness, a call for racial justice long overdue, clear and present threats to our democracy,” he said.

“With a grateful heart, I stand before you now on this August night to report that democracy has prevailed. Democracy has delivered. And now democracy must be preserved.”

Dow Jones

1:42 pm August 20, 2024 Highlight

'In a battle for America's soul': Biden

Adam Creighton

Joe Biden speaks onstage. Picture: Getty Images via AFP.

Joe Biden’s remarks began almost 40 minutes later than flagged earlier, prompting speculation among cynics without evidence that the Democratic party had deliberately moved his speech late into the evening, beyond prime time so fewer voters would be reminded of the transition to Kamala Harris.

Mr Biden, 81, returned to his theme of how the world was facing an “inflection point”.

“We’re in a battle for the very soul of America,” he told the adoring crowd.

Recalling that the winter he took office was full of “peril and promise,” Mr Biden said his presidency turned the page on a dark era in America. “Now it’s summer. The winter is passed,” he said.

Mr Biden suggested Donald Trump had said during the Capitol riots that Nazis were “very fine people”, a repeatedly debunked fallacy that has nevertheless motivated Democrats ever since.

Recounting his achievements, he declared: “We finally beat big pharma,” getting the line right this time after wrongly saying Medicare instead during his disastrous debate with Mr Trump in June, which ultimately lead to the unravelling of his re-election campaign a few weeks later.

1:34 pm August 20, 2024 Highlight

'You can't say you love your country only when you win'

Adam Creighton

Joe Biden tears up after his daughter Ashley introduces him.

Joe Biden strode onto the stage to raucous cheers a little before 10.30pm local time to the R&B classic Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and Higher.

He recalled how he had sworn to uphold the constitution in 2020; "Behind me a capitol that two weeks before was over-run by a violent mob.

"I knew then from the bottom of my heart as I know now: there is no place for political violence.

"You cannot say you love your country only when you win."

1:32 pm August 20, 2024 Highlight

Biden: 'America, I love you'

Anne Barrowclough

Joe Biden hugs his daughter Ashley Biden after she introduced him. Picture: AFP..

Joe Biden has taken the stage, after an emotional introduction by his daughter Ashley.

Mr Biden wiped away tears as he hugged Ashley, who had spoken of how he encouraged her to be courageous in the face of grief and adversity.

The crowd waved placards saying; "We love Joe" and chanting the phrase as he repeatedly thanked them: "Thank you thank you thank you."

"I love you!" he told them in response as they kept chanting.

"That was my daughter!" he told them, needlessly.

He adds that Jill Biden is his rock: "Everyone know I love her more than she loves me," he says, saying the First Lady could still leave him speechless.

"And America," he adds: "I love you!"

1:23 pm August 20, 2024 Highlight

'Kamala and Tim, you will win': Jill Biden

Adam Creighton

Jill Biden speaks onstage. Picture: Getty Images via AFP.

First Lady Jill Biden, wearing a shimmering grey dress, explained how Kamala Harris was a worthy successor to her husband, who for weeks resisted standing aside in favour of his vice president.

“Joe knows that our nation’s strength doesn’t come from intimidation or cruelty, but small acts of kindness,” she said in what was a relatively short speech.

It would have been a little awkward for Dr Biden, who publicly insisted for weeks on numerous occasions that her husband was mentally fit enough to seek a second term.

“Joe and I know Kamala, we have seen her courage determination and leadership up close: Kamala and Tim, you will win!”

1:18 pm August 20, 2024 Highlight

Jill: 'I still fall in love with Joe all over again'

Anne Barrowclough

US First Lady Jill Biden does a stage check before the start of the first day of the Democratic National Convention. Picture: AFP.

Jill Biden is now speaking at the Democratic National Convention, telling the audience that even after 50 years together there are "still moments when I fall in love with him(Joe Biden) all over again."

She says those moments come when he stops on a walkabout to speak to someone grieving, or a child who has a stutter – as he has.

Another came "weeks ago when I saw him dig deep into his soul and decide to no longer seek re-election and endorse Kamala Harris," she adds.