It was the night last March when Joe Biden knew in his heart he had seen off his Democratic rivals and earned the right to go head-to-head with Donald Trump in the presidential election. Back then, the coronavirus had yet to devastate America. Big gatherings were not considered a health hazard. So the former Vice President celebrated his string of victories on a date in the US political calendar known as Super Tuesday, in front of a packed crowd of supporters at an outdoor rally in Los Angeles. With his wife Jill and sister Valerie at his side, the 50-year Washington veteran’s trademark grin seemed wider and brighter than ever.
Five minutes into his victory speech, however, there was a commotion behind him, and the future President’s face betrayed concern, even alarm. A protester had somehow evaded security and jumped on the stage. Alert to the danger, Jill managed to block the protester from reaching her husband. Then, as the first protester was bundled away by security, another rushed the podium. This time, Jill leapt to her husband’s defence, raising her arms to stop what turned out to be an anti-dairy activist.
Her poise in that dramatic moment was extraordinary. “We’re okay, it’s okay,” she reassured her husband, as campaign aides belatedly managed to restore order. Then she started clapping, like a mother on the sidelines encouraging a child who has just been tackled to get on with the game. Her broad smile was the signal for Joe to resume his speech.
Within seconds, Jill had gone viral. She was trending on Twitter. She became the heroine of a torrent of admiring memes.
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