It is not the convention Joe Biden was originally planning for.
The president will give the keynote address on Monday night, opening the Democratic National Convention but, by the time it closes on Thursday night with Kamala Harris as the party nominee, he will be thousands of miles away, watching the balloons drop on television like most of Americans.
One month after he decided to exit the presidential race – after intense public and private pressure from his fellow Democrats – Biden will make his last bow before his party.
His remarks will focus on his legacy and make the case why Harris is the best person to succeed him in the Oval Office.
Just after the speech, Biden will leave Chicago Monday night for vacation in Southern California.
He will spend the rest of the week behind-closed-doors, watching the convention on television like most Americans.
‘After saving democracy in 2020, President Biden is determined defeat the threat to democracy posed by Donald Trump, who says he would terminate the constitution and be a dictator on day one,’ a Biden aide said.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at an event in Maryland last week
Biden’s swift endorsement of Harris sealed the deal for her in terms of the Democratic nomination. It also stopped a potential floor fight that could have led to chaos in Chicago.
On Monday night he will pass the torch to her. Harris will be in the United Center as Biden delivers his remarks and Reuters reports she will join him on stage.
After his disasterous June 26th debate performance against Trump, Democrats went into full panic mode about the president. They worried he would not only lose the White House but would drag down candidates for the House and Senate with him.
Dozens of them publicly called for him to exit the race.
Under the crushing pressure he did so. Aides say Biden is still convinced he could beat Trump in November but put party and country first.
Ironically, in dropping out of the race, Biden can ride into Chicago on Monday as the conquering hero: the man who put aside vanity and his own personal ambitions for the betterment of his country.
Instead of facing questions about his age, stamina and mental capabilities, the 81-year-old will be cheered from the rafters.
The president is expected to receive a warm welcome from delegates who are feeling much more hopeful about the party’s chances of beating Trump with Harris atop the ticket.
Aides insist his remarks on Monday are not a farewell address but there is no denying the fact that, while Biden will be the Democratic National Convention’s opening act, his vice president will be the main attraction.
The president spent the weekend at Camp David, huddling with aides to draft his remarks.
He’ll talk about the talk about the progress the U.S. has made in the last three and a half year, particularly in the recovery from COVID.
He will also mention the fight for democracy – which was the cornerstone of his re-election campaign – making the case that Harris and running mate Tim Walz are the best to preserve it.
Upon his trip back to the White House on Sunday, Biden was asked by a reporter how he was feeling about his Monday night address. ‘Good, real good,’ he said.
President Biden will pass the torch to Kamala Harris at the convention on Monday night
Jill Biden, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff at the White House on Fourth of July
Monday night at the convention will be all about him.
Inside the United Center, the arena will feature digital banners with Biden quotations, including, ‘History is in your hands. Let’s win this!’ and ‘Spread the faith.’
Delegates will receive a gift bag that includes ‘Cup of Joe’ coffee.
The rest of the programming for the week will feature Biden’s accomplishments in office, with careful note about how Harris helped him.
First lady Jill Biden will also speak on Monday night, setting the stage for her husband with her remarks. She knows him best and has been a constant presence at his side.
In her remarks, she will ‘speak about the President’s strength and character, in a way that only a spouse of nearly 50 years can do, and she’ll reiterate her support for Vice President Harris, calling on Americans to come together ‘with faith in each other, hope for a brighter future, and love for our country,” a source familiar told DailyMail.com.
Both Bidens will be on the road for Harris this fall.
But, first, Joe Biden will have his moment in the spotlight.
Then he’ll exit the arena. He won’t be in the arena on Thursday night when Harris is crowned the Democratic presidential nominee.
