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U.S. President Joe Biden will deliver a bittersweet farewell speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday, handing the torch to Kamala Harris as the party’s nominee for the November election.
Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance as a new presidential candidate at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday, saying the Democratic Party will be “forever grateful” to US President Joe Biden.
Thousands of delegates gave Vice President Joe Biden a warm welcome before the 81-year-old will deliver a bittersweet farewell speech as he has decided to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.
“First and foremost, I want to celebrate our outstanding president, Joe Biden,” Harris said during her remarks on stage.
“Joe, thank you for your lifetime of service to our country and your historic leadership. We are forever grateful to you.”
In the space of a few weeks, the nation’s first female, Black and South Asian vice president has upended the presidential race, breathing new life into the Democratic Party and erasing Republican rival Donald Trump’s lead in the polls.
She will deliver the keynote address at the end of the conference on Thursday.
Later Monday, Biden will face the party that pulled him out of the race over concerns about his age, but he received a hero’s welcome as Democrats thanked him for making way for Harris.
Despite reports that he was still angry about being forced to step down, Biden insisted he was at peace with his decision.
“I do,” Biden told reporters when asked during sound check at the convention center if he was prepared to pass the torch to Harris.
– Protesters breach fence –
Earlier, protests against the Gaza war enveloped the opening day of the Democratic National Convention, with thousands of demonstrators marching through Chicago.
On the first day of the rally, a small group of about 100 protesters broke away from the massive march of thousands and directed their attacks against the metal barriers surrounding the United Center.
Police wearing blue helmets, holding shields and black batons prevented protesters from entering the inner cordon. A protester dressed in black was grabbed by the arms and legs and led away by several police officers.
Following a deadly attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Oct. 7, activists called for mass demonstrations this week against the Biden-Harris administration’s support for Israel’s war on Hamas.
But they did little to dampen the mood among Democrats, who were celebrating a swift turnaround in an election they had until recently feared they were losing.
The White House said Biden continued to refine his speech after arriving in Chicago and “looks forward to speaking to the party and the nation.”
“It’s a gratifying moment for him, he’s excited,” press secretary Karina Jean-Pierre told reporters as she traveled with Biden on Air Force One.
The aging president will also be supported by his family, with his daughter Ashley and wife Jill delivering a prime-time speech to thousands of delegates.
Former Secretary of State and First Lady Hillary Clinton, who lost the 2016 election to Trump, will also speak at the convention on Monday.
– ‘Very sad’ –
The day will undoubtedly bring mixed emotions for Biden.
But as the final months of his presidency pass, he will be well aware that his legacy depends on Harris’s ability to defeat the 78-year-old Trump — and if she can’t, many will blame him for sticking with it so long.
The delegates gathered in Chicago were ready for a reluctant farewell ceremony.
“Tonight we honor President Joe Biden and his legacy,” said Luciano Garza, 61, of South Texas.
“It’s so surreal and so sad, but we are hopeful that what he’s doing is passing the torch to Kamala Harris and she’s going to carry on his legacy and her own policies.”
Trump, meanwhile, is reeling from what he calls a Democratic “coup.”
He tried to draw attention back to himself on Monday with a rally in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, where he highlighted Harris’ “craziness” and said she has “no idea what the hell she’s doing with the economy.”
While Democrats are meeting in Chicago, Republicans are crisscrossing the country, holding rallies this week in Michigan, North Carolina and Arizona.
In an effort to deflect attention from Harris, House Republicans filed a formal impeachment report against Biden.
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