Biden DNC speech live updates: Joe Biden passes the torch to Kamala Harris on Day 1 of Democratic convention

Joe Biden has taken the stage at the DNC to pass the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris to rapturous applause.

He was introduced by First Lady Jill Biden and his daughter Ashley Biden.

“Let me ask you, are you ready to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz?” Biden asked the crowd.

This comes after Hillary Clinton returned to the Democratic National Convention on Monday night, eight years after she was the nominee in 2016.

In a fiery speech, Clinton said, “My friends, when a barrier falls for one of us, it falls and clears the way for all of us. So for the next 78 days, we need to work harder than we ever have.”

Harris made a surprise appearance at the convention ahead of Biden’s speech.

“Joe, thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation, and for all you will continue to do. We are forever grateful to you,” Harris said.

Harris has enjoyed an astonishing boom in popularity since Biden made his historic decision not to pursue another term in the White House a month ago in the wake of his disastrous debate performance against Trump in Atlanta on June 27.

Biden ran through a number of his accomplishments during his speech at the DNC.

“Covid no longer controls our lives. We got from economic crisis to the strongest economy in the entire world,” the president said. “Record 16 million new jobs, record small business growth, record high stock market, record high 401Ks, wages up, and inflation down.”

“The smallest racial wealth gap in 20 years. And yes, we both know we have more to do, but we're moving in the right direction… More Americans have health insurance today than ever before in American history,” he added.

“After, as a young senator, beginning to fight for 50 years to give