Chicago, the convention begins. Biden in tears passes the baton to Harris –

Chicago hosted the first day of the Democratic National Convention, which culminated in a long speech by President Joe Biden. The White House tenant, who last month withdrew his candidacy for a second presidential term, publicly handed over the baton to Vice President Kamala Harris at the culmination of an evening marked by speeches by numerous prominent members of the party, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The theme of generational handover was at the center of numerous speeches given during the evening. With the speeches of Clinton and Biden, the last two Democratic presidential candidates before Harris, the Democrats wanted to demonstrate how the party is opening a new chapter in its history, which should be embodied, in the name of diversity, by Vice President Harris: the first woman of African-Asian descent to lead the presidential list of a major US party. Another common thread throughout the evening was the attacks on former President and Republican candidate for the White House Donald Trump, described by all the speakers as a danger to democracy and an enemy of civil rights, starting with the right to abortion.

The presidential elections next November “will shape our future and the world’s future. We are at war for the soul of the country,” Biden warned, claiming that he decided to run for the White House four years ago after witnessing the far-right demonstrations in Charlottesville in August 2017. “I ran because I believed in an America where honesty, dignity and decency still matter, an America where everyone has a chance and where hate has no safe harbor.” Biden forcefully claimed the work of his administration, citing progress in fighting inflation and providing health care for citizens. The president also claimed the work of modernizing infrastructure and the “800,000 new jobs” created in the manufacturing sector, including high-paying jobs in sectors such as electronics. “We still have a lot of work to do. Trump talks a lot but has built nothing,” he stressed.

President Joe Biden, the last speaker late in the evening, was introduced to the stage of the convention by his daughter Ashley, and was greeted by prolonged applause and cheers. Visibly emotional, the president repeatedly thanked the convention attendees. “My father used to tell me that family is the beginning, the middle and the end. I love you,” Biden said, addressing first lady Jill and her children. “And America, I love you too.” The White House occupant spoke at length about the reasons that drove him to serve the country, describing his four-year term and the elections scheduled for November as a fight to preserve freedom and democracy in the United States. “Four years ago, I swore an oath before God to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, in the face of a Congress being breached by a violent mob,” Biden said, referring to the assault on Congress on January 6, 2021. “I was as certain then as I am today: there is no place for political violence in this country. You can’t just say you love your country when you win,” Biden said.