Democratic Party Convention: Biden received with great cheers

At the Democratic Party Convention in Chicago, several party bigwigs appeared on the first day – even the new presidential candidate made a surprise, unplanned appearance. The incumbent US Vice President Kamala Harris used the opportunity to prepare the delegates for the upcoming election campaign against her Republican rival Donald Trump. “Let us fight for the ideals that are dear to us, and let us always remember that when we fight, we will win,” Harris shouted to thunderous applause from those present.

With her surprise appearance at the start of the four-day party convention in Chicago, Harris sent a signal of the party’s unity and determination to mobilize all forces in the fight for the White House. Her brief appearance was not originally planned; Harris will give her main speech in Germany on Friday night.

Joe Biden swears in Democrats to Kamala Harris

On this first evening, however, Joe Biden is the main speaker of the first day. It was supposed to be his coronation mass, but he is greeted with cheers. For minutes on Monday evening (local time), people shouted “We love Joe!”. “I love you,” said Biden.

This – and the greeting from his daughter Ashley – made him visibly emotional. When his daughter Ashley greeted him on the party conference stage, the 81-year-old wiped his eyes. The 43-year-old had spoken about her childhood and her father in an equally emotional speech. She described him as her “best friend” and a “fighter who was underestimated his entire life”. Joe Biden stepped up to the lectern after her and clutched his heart as the audience cheered him. “I love you,” he said to his daughter.

Then, after he had withdrawn from the election campaign, Biden swore the Democratic Party in on the new front woman. “Are you ready to vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz?” Biden called out to the thousands of delegates at the Democratic Party convention in Chicago. “Are you ready to vote for freedom?” He emphasized: “The best days are not behind us, but ahead of us.” His speech was repeatedly interrupted by cheers.

Biden dropped out of the race for a second term in July. The Democrat had come under massive pressure in his own party because of his age and doubts about his mental fitness. Harris took over and was able to rally the party behind her in a short time. Walz is her vice presidential candidate.

“The future is here”

Hillary Clinton was another prominent Democrat on the stage on the first day. The former US Secretary of State sees Harris’ nomination as a groundbreaking step for the country. America is close to breaking through the highest and hardest glass ceiling, said Clinton, who ran for president herself in 2016. “We are writing a new chapter in America’s history,” said the 76-year-old to great cheers. “The future is here.”

Harris wants to become the first female president in US history. In 2016, Hillary Clinton was the first presidential candidate of one of the major parties in the USA. She wanted to make history and become the first woman to occupy the top seat in the White House. However, she lost to her Republican opponent Donald Trump, against whom Harris will now also run in November.

Clinton said of Trump: “He makes fun of her name and her laugh – sounds familiar.” She argued that the contrast between the two candidates could hardly be greater. “Kamala cares about children, families and America. Donald only cares about himself.” Harris is fighting for the people of the country. “I know her heart and her integrity.”

The wife of former US President Bill Clinton was First Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001. She later served as Senator and Secretary of State under then President Barack Obama. Hillary Clinton was born in Chicago, where the party convention took place.

Former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle are scheduled to perform in the evening, and there is also speculation that singer Beyoncé will appear. She donated the first song of Harris’ campaign, “Freedom.”