This was supposed to be Biden's convention. Instead, tonight, he's the opening act

CHICAGO—This was supposed to be President Biden’s convention. Instead, this week he finds himself the opening night speaker at his party's coronation of Vice President Harris.

Biden, 81, did something last month that few presidents before him have ever done. He stepped aside when he had one more race to run.

So Biden tonight will address the Democratic National Convention instead of closing it out on Thursday. He's expected to give a speech where he argues former President Donald Trump is a danger to democracy, and ticks through the accomplishments of his administration.

But he's going to be giving his vice president a lot of the credit, and urging voters to support her, instead of advocating for his own reelection bid.

"It's not going to be a farewell speech, in my opinion," said Ted Kaufman, Biden's longtime friend. He said Biden will make the case that it is "really, really, really important that we elect a President Harris on Election Day."

Biden's brand was overcoming obstacles. But this one, he couldn't beat

Biden's decision last month was made all the more stunning because he is someone who has made a career of digging in and proving the doubters wrong.

Biden’s defiance was often his superpower during his decades-long career in politics.

But as withering criticism from his own party built day by day after his very bad debate against former President Donald Trump, that stubbornness became his Achilles’ heel.

To understand what made Biden believe he could hang on, you have to understand what else he’s survived.

“Joe Biden has been knocked down harder by life and gotten back up more, stronger, better than any … person I’ve known in my life,” said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., a close friend of Biden.

Biden overcame a