skip to main content

Biden accepts nomination to challenge Trump in White House race

Updated / Friday, 21 Aug 2020 22:24

Joe Biden has accepted the Democratic Party nomination for the White House, vowing to heal a United States battered by a deadly pandemic and divided by four years of Donald Trump's presidency.

"The current president has cloaked America in darkness for much too long. Too much anger. Too much fear. Too much division," Mr Biden said.

"Here and now, I give you my word: if you entrust me with the presidency, I'll draw on the best of us, not the worst."

Mr Biden's speech - the capstone of nearly five decades in politics - was delivered inside a largely empty arena in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, at the conclusion of a Democratic convention held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Describing the current moment as one of the most difficult times the country has ever faced, Mr Biden offered himself as a uniter who would work "just as hard" for those who do not support him - drawing a stark contrast with the Republican Trump, who has kept the focus on his base of voters.

"While I'll be a Democratic candidate, I'll be an American president," said Mr Biden, who faces Mr Trump in the 3 November election.

"This is not a partisan moment. This must be an American moment .It's a moment that calls for hope, and light, and love."

"This is a life-changing election. This will determine what America is going to look like for a long, long time".

Mr Biden ended his speech by quoting Irish poet Seamus Heaney, saying this was the moment for America to make hope and history rhyme.

Boy shares bond with Biden over stammer  

Democrats used the convention to highlight the broad coalition working to oust Mr Trump, showcasing liberals and moderates, elder statesmen and rising stars - and even some high-profile Republicans, who urged their fellow conservatives to place patriotism above party.

While the party laid out plenty of areas in which Mr Biden would pursue dramatically different policies than Mr Trump, including immigration, climate change and gun safety, much of yesterday's programme was devoted to themes such as faith and integrity.

The programme also emphasised Mr Biden's personal experience with tragedy - his first wife's and infant daughter's deaths in a car accident, and the death of his son Beau from cancer - to underscore his ability to empathise with people.

Mr Trump has been accused of failing to offer solace at a time of crisis.

Mr Biden spoke directly to those who had lost someone to the pandemic and offered a withering assessment of Trump's responset o the months-old health crisis.

"Our current president has failed in his most basic duty to the nation: he's failed to protect us," Mr Biden said.

Mr Trump responded on Twitter, writing: "In 47 years, Joe did none of the things of which he now speaks". 

Earlier, several Democrats who challenged Mr Biden for the nomination, including US Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and billionaire Michael Bloomberg, pressed the case for Mr Biden.

Mr Bloomberg said Mr Trump had failed both as a businessman and as a president.

"I'm not asking you to vote against Donald Trump because he's a bad guy. I'm urging you to vote against him because he's done a bad job," said Mr Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York.

"And let me tell you a little secret. Donald Trump's economic plan was to give a huge tax cut to guys like me, who didn't need it. And then lie about it to everyone else," he said.

As they have throughout the week, Democrats focused on the importance of voting amid the pandemic.

Mr Trump's repeated, unsubstantiated claims that mail-in ballots are rife with fraud, coupled with cuts to the US Postal Service, have fuelled fears that some voters may be disenfranchised.

"All elections are important. But we know in our bones this one is more consequential. As many have said, America's at an inflection point, a  time of real peril, but also extraordinary possibilities," Mr Biden said.

"This is a life-changing election. This will determine what America is going to look like for a long, long time.

"Character's on the ballot, compassion is on the ballot. Decency, science, democracy - they're all on the ballot.

"Who we are as a nation, what we stand for most importantly, who we want to be - that's all on the ballot," Mr Biden continued.

The programme offered some light-hearted moments from its moderator, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who portrayed a US vice president in the comedy show 'Veep', and took some digs at both Mr Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.

Mr Biden, 77, heads into the general election campaign leading in opinion polls over Mr Trump, 74, who will accept the Republican nomination for a second White House term at his own convention next week.

Mr Trump has campaigned across the country to offer counter-programming to the Democrats, a break with tradition in which candidates limit their activities during their opponents'conventions.

His party's convention is next week.

The Chase Convention Centre in Wilmington, Delaware, was like a fortress.

A high steel fence surrounded the entire complex with Secret Service agents and police patrolling the perimeter.

Because of social distancing, Joe Biden was always going to be delivering a speech inside an empty room.

But how do you drum up enthusiasm at a virtual convention during a pandemic?

The Democratic Party decided to set up an invite-only, drive-in watch party in the car park in front of the convention centre where Joe Biden made his speech.

Party officials and Biden family friends were among those who watched the address on big screens in a scene that resembled a drive-in movie theatre.

Supporters were glued to Joe Biden's speech as if it were the latest Hollywood blockbuster but there was also plenty of drama on the street outside.

A group of Donald Trump supporters had gathered to protest against the Democratic nominee.

They wore 'Make America Great Again' hats and t-shirts and waved Trump flags. Chants included 'four more years', 'U-S-A' and 'Sleepy Joe has got to go!'

Bruce Wilmoth is from Wilmington, Delaware, Joe Biden's home city. The former vice president is popular in this town but Bruce is not a fan and came to the Democratic convention holding a large Trump flag.

"We love our president and we do not like Joe Biden. He has been in this state for many, many years and he has done nothing for Delaware," he said.

Sam Chick is the chair of Delaware Young Republicans.

"Donald Trump represents what this country is all about, which is freedom. People able to make their own choices without the government getting involved, that's why need to keep Joe Biden away from the levers of power," he said.

Vicki Santoro is also a Donald Trump supporter and said she is not concerned by Joe Biden's lead in the opinion polls.

"It was the same four years ago, they kept saying Donald Trump was behind but he won.  I think it will be the same this time. There are more silent Trump voters out there than we can imagine," she said.

The Biden voters certainly weren't silent last night, cheering as their candidate appeared on a stage outside the convention centre to view a fireworks display.

There will be fireworks of a different kind over the coming weeks as Election 2020 gets into full swing.

More stories on

Accreditation: Reuters