Biden begins long goodbye to half a century in politics

US president Joe Biden was supposed to have spent the evening watching the start of a convention built around propelling him to four more years in the White House.

- ANDREW FEINBERG, ALEX WOODWARD

Instead, he was on stage delivering an emotional address as an animated crowd inside Chicago’s United Center poured out their gratitude at his decision to stand aside and pass the torch to Kamala Harris.

In remarks that revisited many of his campaign themes, and as Ms Harris looked on from a box alongside running mate Tim Walz, Mr Biden told the Democratic National Convention that despite the threats that inspired his 2020 presidential run, “democracy has prevailed” and “democracy has delivered”. He added: “And now, democracy must be preserved.”

“Are you ready to vote for freedom?” Mr Biden asked the audience. “Are you ready to vote for democracy and for America? Let me ask you, are you ready to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz?”

After an introduction by his daughter Ashley, Mr Biden walked on stage and embraced her to the sounds of Jackie Wilson’s “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher” and deafening chants of “Thank you Joe!” He took a tissue from his pocket to wipe his eyes. “Family is the beginning, the middle, and the end,” he said after praising his daughter and his “rock”, first lady Jill Biden. “And America, I love you.”

His remarks championed his support for labour unions, his major economic and infrastructure-boosting accomplishments, and the democratic advocacy that puts him in stark contrast to Donald Trump. “Because of you, we’ve had one of the most

His remarks championed his support for labour unions, his major economic and infrastructure-boosting accomplishments, and the democratic advocacy that puts him in stark contrast to Donald Trump. “Because of you, we’ve had one of the most extraordinary four years of progress ever, period,” he said. “And when I say ‘we,’ I mean Kamala and me.”