Joe Biden Passes the Torch to Kamala Harris in Emotional DNC Speech: 'Our Best Days Are Not Behind Us'

President Joe Biden took the Democratic National Convention stage on Monday, Aug. 19, to share his enthusiastic endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race.

Following a lengthy and emotional standing ovation, Biden, 81, reminded voters why they supported him in 2020, and made the case for them to once again keep Donald Trump out of the White House.

"My fellow Democrats, my fellow Americans, nearly four years ago in winter, on the steps of the Capitol on a cold January day, I raised my right hand and I swore an oath to you and to God to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, and to faithfully execute the office of the United States," the president said at the start of his 48-minute speech. "In front of me was a city surrounded by the National Guard. Behind me, a Capitol that two weeks before had been overrun by a violent mob."

He continued: "With a grateful heart, I stand before you now on this August night to report that democracy has prevailed. Democracy has delivered. And now democracy must be preserved."

Biden reflected on his administration's achievements since taking office, and when the crowd chanted "Thank you Joe," he responded, "Thank you Kamala, too."

"When I say 'we,' I mean 'Kamala and me,' " Biden said. "We both know we have more to do, but we’re moving in the right direction."

With five months left in his term, Biden's job isn't finished yet — but his ceremonial handoff to Harris, 59, on the first night of the convention emphasized the decision he made to step aside and let her run her campaign without obstruction.

“Our best days are not behind us, they’re before us," he said. “Selecting Kamala was the very first decision I made when I became the nominee, and it was the best decision I made in my whole career."

Calling Harris a close friend, and a woman with "enormous integrity," he vowed to be the Harris campaign's "best volunteer."

"Let me ask you. Are you ready to vote for freedom? Are you ready to vote for democracy and America?" he asked. "Let me ask you. Are you ready to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz?"

First lady Dr. Jill Biden, who spoke earlier in the program, also praised the vice president on Monday night, telling a story about how her late stepson, Beau Biden, warned her and Joe to keep an eye on Harris when the two were attorneys general of Delaware and California, respectively.

Biden's political career has spanned more than 50 years. He served as the senator of Delaware from 1973 until 2009, when he became vice president to Barack Obama. He sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988 and 2008, before his successful campaign in 2020.

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Following widespread concerns about his weak performance against Trump in a June debate, Biden announced he would be pulling out of the presidential race on July 21.

"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President," he said in a statement at the time. "And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term."

Biden also endorsed Harris that day on X (formerly Twitter).

"I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year," he wrote, sharing a picture of him and Harris at the White House. "Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this."