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Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to hold debut event as Democratic ticket Harris and Biden appear together for first time and excoriate 'failure' Trump
(about 2 hours later)
Running mates will appear at high school in Biden’s home town of Wilmington, Delaware Democratic pair say president has left America’s reputation ‘in tatters’ as Biden introduces Harris as ‘the next vice-president of the United States’
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are set to debut the Democratic presidential ticket the party hopes will defeat Donald Trump in November’s election with an in-person campaign event in Biden’s home state of Delaware. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris accused Donald Trump of leaving the US “in tatters” by failing to lead the country through the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout, as they debuted the Democratic presidential ticket the party hopes will defeat him in November’s election.
The former primary rivals will appear at a high school in Biden’s home town of Wilmington to discuss their shared vision for how to defeat Trump and then lead the country through a pandemic, its economic fallout and a national reckoning with racism. “My fellow Americans, let me introduce to you for the first time your next vice-president of the United States – Kamala Harris,” Biden said at a high school in his home town of Wilmington, Delaware, on Wednesday, in front of just a small gathering of reporters. The usual cheers from supporters were missing due to coronavirus precautions, which meant members of the public could not attend.
The daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, Harris is a California senator and former prosecutor, and the first Black woman and first person of Asian descent to join a major party presidential ticket. A day after announcing Harris as his running mate, Biden highlighted her career as a California senator and former prosecutor, and hailed her – the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants – as the first Black woman and first person of Asian descent to join a major party presidential ticket.
“I was raised to take action,” Harris said in a video she posted on Twitter on Wednesday. “My mother knew that she was raising two Black daughters who would be treated differently because of how they looked. “This morning, all across the nation, little girls woke up, especially little Black and brown girls, who so often feel overlooked and undervalued. Today, just maybe, they’re seeing themselves for the first time in a new way,” Biden said.
“Growing up, whenever I got upset about something, my mother would look me in the eye and ask: ‘So what are you gonna do about it?’” “Her story is America’s story. Different from mine in many particulars, but also not so different in the essentials.”
In another election year, Biden and Harris might have appeared before a roaring crowd in a diversifying battleground state like Arizona or Georgia, raising their clasped hands skyward in a projection of victory. But the event on Wednesday, like nearly every aspect of the 2020 race, has been upended by the coronavirus pandemic. But the pair soon began to excoriate the Trump administration and lay out their vision to lead America through the pandemic, the economic crisis, and a national reckoning on racism.
Harris took to the stage in front of the unusually quiet hall, and delivered an assured speech that accused Trump of “failures in leadership” and running the economy “straight into the ground”.
“I am incredibly honored by this responsibility – and I am ready to get to work,” she said, adding that Biden’s “empathy, his compassion, his sense of duty to care for others … is why I’m so glad to be on this ticket.”
She said: “America is crying out for leadership. Yet we have a president who cares more about himself than the people who elected him. A president who is making every challenge we face more difficult to solve.”
Pointing to the crises that have gripped the country, Harris said: “This is what happens when we elect a guy who just isn’t up for the job. Our country ends in tatters and so does our reputation around the world.”
In another election year, Biden and Harris might have appeared before a roaring crowd in a diverse battleground state like Arizona or Georgia, raising their clasped hands skyward in a projection of victory. But the event on Wednesday, like nearly every aspect of the 2020 race, has been upended by the pandemic.
Despite a thunderstorm, dozens of supporters arrived at the high school hoping to glimpse the new presidential ticket. Most lived in Delaware and were longtime supporters of the Bidens. Two women sat in lawn chairs holding a sign that said “Delaware loves Biden-Harris”. Some wore Black Lives Matter T-shirts while others wore the signature green and pink of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, which Harris joined as a college student at Howard University in Washington DC.Despite a thunderstorm, dozens of supporters arrived at the high school hoping to glimpse the new presidential ticket. Most lived in Delaware and were longtime supporters of the Bidens. Two women sat in lawn chairs holding a sign that said “Delaware loves Biden-Harris”. Some wore Black Lives Matter T-shirts while others wore the signature green and pink of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, which Harris joined as a college student at Howard University in Washington DC.
Dina Griffin, who wore a pink dress with a matching blazer and a pin that said “VOTE”, said she had hoped Biden would choose Harris but seeing an image of them together for the first time after the announcement brought “tears of joy”.Dina Griffin, who wore a pink dress with a matching blazer and a pin that said “VOTE”, said she had hoped Biden would choose Harris but seeing an image of them together for the first time after the announcement brought “tears of joy”.
“A lot of people have lost hope and are feeling upset and depressed about the way this country has gone in the last few years,” said Griffin. “So this moment is just a renewed spark and hope that we can come together to heal our divisions.”“A lot of people have lost hope and are feeling upset and depressed about the way this country has gone in the last few years,” said Griffin. “So this moment is just a renewed spark and hope that we can come together to heal our divisions.”
Like Clark Benjamin, a retired educator and Delaware resident, most who turned out on Wednesday had already voted for Biden many times over as senator and then as the vice-president – and planned to do so again in 2020. Though Biden already had her vote, Benjamin said choosing Harris added energy and dynamism to the Democratic ticket.Like Clark Benjamin, a retired educator and Delaware resident, most who turned out on Wednesday had already voted for Biden many times over as senator and then as the vice-president – and planned to do so again in 2020. Though Biden already had her vote, Benjamin said choosing Harris added energy and dynamism to the Democratic ticket.
“It’s historic,” she said, explaining why she chose to spend her afternoon outside in the summer humidity. “That’s why I had to be here.”“It’s historic,” she said, explaining why she chose to spend her afternoon outside in the summer humidity. “That’s why I had to be here.”
But the choice, some said, also revealed something new about the candidate.But the choice, some said, also revealed something new about the candidate.
“It showed that he was listening to the people who are speaking up around the world and asking for equity, justice and fairness,” said Debbie Harrington, another member of the AKA sorority, referring to the nationwide anti-racism protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May. “His pick said: I hear you. And not only did I hear you, I understand you and I’m going to do something about it.” “It showed that he was listening to the people who are speaking up around the world and asking for equity, justice and fairness,” said Debbie Harrington, another member of the AKA sorority, referring to the nationwide anti-racism protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May.
“His pick said: I hear you. And not only did I hear you, I understand you and I’m going to do something about it.”
In response to the wave of protests this spring against racism and police brutality, Harris emerged as a prominent voice on issues of racial justice. Her advocacy in favor of criminal justice legislation has eased some concerns among progressives over her record.In response to the wave of protests this spring against racism and police brutality, Harris emerged as a prominent voice on issues of racial justice. Her advocacy in favor of criminal justice legislation has eased some concerns among progressives over her record.
They will deliver the speech on the third anniversary of white supremacist violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, an event that Biden said motivated him to run for president to “restore the soul of the nation”. They delivered the speech on the third anniversary of white supremacist violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, an event that Biden said was, for him, a “call to action”.
If they prevail in November, Biden and Harris are likely to inherit a country still reeling from the public health and economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic that the Trump administration has failed to contain. Young protesters are demanding sweeping change to political and economic power as well as a governing agenda that addresses systemic racism, the climate crisis and economic inequality. If they prevail in November, Biden and Harris are likely to inherit a country still reeling from the pandemic that the Trump administration has failed to contain. Young protesters are demanding sweeping change to political and economic power as well as a governing agenda that addresses systemic racism, the climate crisis and economic inequality.
The president’s campaign has launched a scattershot assault on Harris, attacking her as “radical” and leftwing, even though progressives in her party view her as more moderate. Trump himself is also searching for a line of attack. On Tuesday he assailed her as “nasty” – a word he used to describe Hillary Clinton, which became a rallying cry for Democratic women.The president’s campaign has launched a scattershot assault on Harris, attacking her as “radical” and leftwing, even though progressives in her party view her as more moderate. Trump himself is also searching for a line of attack. On Tuesday he assailed her as “nasty” – a word he used to describe Hillary Clinton, which became a rallying cry for Democratic women.
Trump also said he was surprised Biden would choose Harris, after her attack on the former vice-president during the debate. But the choice draws a sharp contrast between their leadership styles: while Trump prizes unwavering loyalty above all else, Biden showed that he welcomes opposing viewpoints. Harris also brings to the ticket a compelling resume and personal biography, a dynamic campaign style and prosecutorial skills that many Democrats are eager to see her unleash on the vice-presidential debate stage with Mike Pence in October.
Harris also brings to the ticket a compelling personal biography, a dynamic campaign style and prosecutorial skills that many Democrats are eager to see her unleash on the vice-presidential debate stage with Mike Pence in October.
Though Harris was viewed as a conventional choice, her nomination faced some resistance from Biden advisers and allies, who harbored reservations about her campaign performance and her commitment to being a governing partner. Progressives criticized her prosecutorial record as San Francisco district attorney and later as California attorney general.
In a statement on Tuesday, Biden noted that his eldest son, Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015, held her in high esteem after working with her as the state attorney general of Delaware.
“There is no one’s opinion I valued more than Beau’s and I’m proud to have Kamala standing with me on this campaign,” he said.
The selection of Harris is a reflection of the party’s diversifying base, and an acknowledgment of the political debt owed to Black women, who helped resurrect Biden’s flailing campaign and deliver him the nomination.The selection of Harris is a reflection of the party’s diversifying base, and an acknowledgment of the political debt owed to Black women, who helped resurrect Biden’s flailing campaign and deliver him the nomination.