CHICAGO: President Joe Biden will deliver a poignant farewell address at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday, officially handing over the party’s nomination for the November election to Kamala Harris.
Just weeks after his unexpected withdrawal and Harris’s surprising rise, Biden is expected to receive a hero’s farewell from many of the same supporters who had concerns about his age. The 81-year-old will likely endorse Harris—America’s first female, Black, and South Asian vice president—as the best candidate to continue his efforts to protect American democracy from Republican challenger Donald Trump.
Harris is scheduled to make a brief appearance alongside Biden during his primetime speech, symbolizing a unified front among Democrats regarding his succession.
However, Biden’s departure comes amid significant controversy. There is a planned major protest in Chicago against the Biden-Harris administration’s support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
On Sunday, Biden expressed confidence about his speech after spending the weekend at Camp David fine-tuning his address with top aides. As a now-lame-duck president, he understands that his legacy depends largely on Harris’s ability to defeat Trump. If Harris does not succeed, Biden may face criticism for not stepping down sooner.
First Lady Jill Biden, a dedicated supporter, will also speak at the convention, sharing the stage with her husband.
Despite the emotional weight of his final address, Biden will not stay for Harris’s keynote speech on Thursday, which was originally slated for him. Instead, he will depart immediately after his speech for a six-day vacation in California.
As he approaches the end of his long political career, Biden will be welcomed warmly by Democrats in Chicago. He remains a cherished figure within the party for his role in defeating Trump in 2020 and steering the nation through the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol assault and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Harris has revitalized the White House race, connecting with younger, female, and Black voters and shifting the dynamics since Biden stepped aside. Meanwhile, Trump, who had been riding high after an assassination attempt and a triumphant Republican convention appearance, has struggled to adjust his campaign strategies in response to Harris, falling back on personal attacks and disjointed speeches.
As Democrats convene in Chicago, Trump will be on the campaign trail, holding rallies in key battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, and Arizona throughout the week.
