“America, America, I gave my best to you,” were poignant words from the song American Anthem and part of what could probably one of US President Joe Biden’s last addresses to his nation as he formally handed over charge of his Democratic Party to his deputy Kamala Harris.
Biden, 81, had a moment entirely to himself as received an emotional standing ovation when he came on stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday night.
Perhaps the crowds applauded him for a decision that had been undoubtedly painful to him – to give up his fight for a second term as US President even when he was determined to carry on, until the chorus for him to step down because of his age grew too loud to ignore.
He was generous however, as promoted his deputy, Kamala Harris, saying she will be a "historic president" and describing her as the best person to save democracy.
Harris, 59, is scheduled to formally accept the Democratic Party's presidential nomination on Thursday to take on Republican rival Donald Trump, 78, in the November 5 presidential election.
“Are you ready to elect Kamala Harris as the President of the United States of America," Biden said, amidst cheers from thousands of members and leaders of the Democratic Party at its national convention here in this windy city as he urged his countrymen to vote and elect his deputy of four years.
Biden said Harris would be a "historic president".
“I love my job. I love my country more. We need to preserve our democracy. We need you to beat Donald Trump and elect Kamala and Tim as President and Vice President of the United States," Biden said.
He said Trump was going to find out how powerful women were in 2024.
Harris will soon serve as the 47th President of the United States, Biden said, amidst cheers from his party members and leaders.
“We saved democracy in 2020 and we must do it again in 2024,” he said, telling his countrymen that America’s future is in their hands.
“America, America, I gave my best to you. I made a lot of mistakes in my career. But I gave my best to you,” he said, quoting a line from American Anthem, opera librettist Gene Scheer’s patriotic hymn, made famous by opera star Denyce Graves.
“Let me ask you: Are you ready to vote for freedom? Are you ready to vote for democracy and for America? And let me ask you: Are you ready to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Waltz as president and vice president?” he asked.
Biden appeared to wipe away a tear as he hugged his daughter Ashley Biden who introduced him at the four-day convention.
Observing that the decisions that were being made now would determine the fate of the world and the country, Biden said he and Kamala had four years of extraordinary progress in the United States.
Then Donald Trump was attacked as Biden said he had promised infrastructure week every week for four years. He never built a damn thing, he alleged.
“Together, we are building a better America,” he said as he listed out some of the key achievements of the Biden-Harris Administration.
“You cannot say you love your country only when you win,” he said.
“More Americans have health insurance today than ever before. And after fighting for 50 years to give Medicare the power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices, we finally beat Big Pharma. Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking vote," he said.
“He (Trump) is the loser,’ Biden said.
"America is winning. America is prosperous. America is safer today than was under Donald Trump," he said as he accused Trump of killing the strongest border security bill in the history of the country.
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