Biden begins long goodbye to half century in politics as he rallies Democrats around Harris in rousing speech

President Joe Biden was supposed to spend the evening watching the start of a convention built around propelling him to four more years in the White House.

Instead, an animated crowd inside Chicago’s United Center poured out their gratitude at the president’s decision to stand aside and pass the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris with an emotional address celebrating his accomplishments.

In remarks that revisited many of his campaign themes, as Harris looked on from a box in the crowd alongside her running mate Tim Walz, Biden told the Democratic National Convention that despite the antidemocratic threats that inspired his 2020 presidential run, “democracy has prevailed” and “democracy has delivered.”

“And now, democracy must be preserved,” he said.

“Are you ready to vote for freedom?” Biden said. “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, Biden walked onstage and embraced hsd 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 labor unions, his major economic and infrastructure-boosting accomplishments, and the democratic advocacy that he puts 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.”

Biden raged at his Republican rival for his efforts to tank