President Biden will deliver a speech he never intended Monday evening, addressing the Democratic National Convention as he attempts to pass the mantle to Vice President Kamala Harris while burnishing his own legacy as a rare one-term president who is not seeking reelection.
While many of the evening’s speakers focused on describing the historic nature of Harris’ run and describing their personal relationships with her, the vice president, in a surprise appearance at the convention Monday, focused on Biden’s legacy.
“I want to kick us off by celebrating our incredible president, Joe Biden, who will be speaking later tonight,” Harris said, after receiving a rapturous response when she stepped on stage in Chicago. “Joe, thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation and for all you will continue to do. We are forever grateful to you. Thank you.”
Before Biden spoke, many of the speakers on Monday struck a strong populist tone. Sean Fain, leader of the United Auto Workers, led the crowd in a “Trump’s a scam” chant as he praised Biden and Harris for joining workers on strike and cast Trump as a plutocrat, bent on helping “the other side.”
“We have to help her win, because we know that Donald Trump” being reelected would result in him selling out the nation with the goal of “lining his own pockets and greasing the palms of his Wall Street friends,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
Biden’s speech will bookend one of the more unusual months in modern American politics as Biden, 81, was nudged aside by his own party four weeks ago over concerns he lacked the vigor to defeat former President Trump. Instead of speaking Thursday night, as the nominee, he will speak on the opening night, along with failed 2016 nominee Hillary Clinton, before heading off for vacation in Santa Barbara County.
The party is now trying to celebrate him, while acknowledging that his exit has added excitement to a race that seemed headed toward failure just four weeks ago.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who helped orchestrate the effort to persuade Biden to drop out, called him “selfless” and “one of the greatest, most consequential presidents in our country’s history” while speaking to reporters Monday at the California delegation breakfast. “I just wanted to win this election,” she said, when asked about her now-frayed relationship.
Democrats are planning on welcoming Biden as a hero. But he remains unpopular with the nation at large, with approval from 38% of voters compared with 56% who disapprove of him, according to the Fivethirtyeight.com polling average.
Biden is hoping those numbers will improve over the next several years, as they often do for former presidents, when they retreat from the daily news cycle. Since announcing his departure from the campaign, Biden has tried to boost Harris by pointing to his legacy projects, including trillions spent on infrastructure, the social safety net and environmental projects.
President Biden will deliver a speech he never intended Monday evening, addressing the Democratic National Convention as he attempts to pass the mantle to Vice President Kamala Harris while burnishing his own legacy as a rare one-term president who is not seeking reelection.
While many of the evening’s speakers focused on describing the historic nature of Harris’ run and describing their personal relationships with her, the vice president, in a surprise appearance at the convention Monday, focused on Biden’s legacy.
“I want to kick us off by celebrating our incredible president, Joe Biden, who will be speaking later tonight,” Harris said, after receiving a rapturous response when she stepped on stage in Chicago. “Joe, thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation and for all you will continue to do. We are forever grateful to you. Thank you.”
Before Biden spoke, many of the speakers on Monday struck a strong populist tone. Sean Fain, leader of the United Auto Workers, led the crowd in a “Trump’s a scam” chant as he praised Biden and Harris for joining workers on strike and cast Trump as a plutocrat, bent on helping “the other side.”
“We have to help her win, because we know that Donald Trump” being reelected would result in him selling out the nation with the goal of “lining his own pockets and greasing the palms of his Wall Street friends,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
Biden’s speech will bookend one of the more unusual months in modern American politics as Biden, 81, was nudged aside by his own party four weeks ago over concerns he lacked the vigor to defeat former President Trump. Instead of speaking Thursday night, as the nominee, he will speak on the opening night, along with failed 2016 nominee Hillary Clinton, before heading off for vacation in Santa Barbara County.
The party is now trying to celebrate him, while acknowledging that his exit has added excitement to a race that seemed headed toward failure just four weeks ago.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who helped orchestrate the effort to persuade Biden to drop out, called him “selfless” and “one of the greatest, most consequential presidents in our country’s history” while speaking to reporters Monday at the California delegation breakfast. “I just wanted to win this election,” she said, when asked about her now-frayed relationship.
Democrats are planning on welcoming Biden as a hero. But he remains unpopular with the nation at large, with approval from 38% of voters compared with 56% who disapprove of him, according to the Fivethirtyeight.com polling average.
Biden is hoping those numbers will improve over the next several years, as they often do for former presidents, when they retreat from the daily news cycle. Since announcing his departure from the campaign, Biden has tried to boost Harris by pointing to his legacy projects, including trillions spent on infrastructure, the social safety net and environmental projects.
President Biden will deliver a speech he never intended Monday evening, addressing the Democratic National Convention as he attempts to pass the mantle to Vice President Kamala Harris while burnishing his own legacy as a rare one-term president who is not seeking reelection.
While many of the evening’s speakers focused on describing the historic nature of Harris’ run and describing their personal relationships with her, the vice president, in a surprise appearance at the convention Monday, focused on Biden’s legacy.
“I want to kick us off by celebrating our incredible president, Joe Biden, who will be speaking later tonight,” Harris said, after receiving a rapturous response when she stepped on stage in Chicago. “Joe, thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation and for all you will continue to do. We are forever grateful to you. Thank you.”
Before Biden spoke, many of the speakers on Monday struck a strong populist tone. Sean Fain, leader of the United Auto Workers, led the crowd in a “Trump’s a scam” chant as he praised Biden and Harris for joining workers on strike and cast Trump as a plutocrat, bent on helping “the other side.”
“We have to help her win, because we know that Donald Trump” being reelected would result in him selling out the nation with the goal of “lining his own pockets and greasing the palms of his Wall Street friends,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
Biden’s speech will bookend one of the more unusual months in modern American politics as Biden, 81, was nudged aside by his own party four weeks ago over concerns he lacked the vigor to defeat former President Trump. Instead of speaking Thursday night, as the nominee, he will speak on the opening night, along with failed 2016 nominee Hillary Clinton, before heading off for vacation in Santa Barbara County.
The party is now trying to celebrate him, while acknowledging that his exit has added excitement to a race that seemed headed toward failure just four weeks ago.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who helped orchestrate the effort to persuade Biden to drop out, called him “selfless” and “one of the greatest, most consequential presidents in our country’s history” while speaking to reporters Monday at the California delegation breakfast. “I just wanted to win this election,” she said, when asked about her now-frayed relationship.
Democrats are planning on welcoming Biden as a hero. But he remains unpopular with the nation at large, with approval from 38% of voters compared with 56% who disapprove of him, according to the Fivethirtyeight.com polling average.
Biden is hoping those numbers will improve over the next several years, as they often do for former presidents, when they retreat from the daily news cycle. Since announcing his departure from the campaign, Biden has tried to boost Harris by pointing to his legacy projects, including trillions spent on infrastructure, the social safety net and environmental projects.
President Biden will deliver a speech he never intended Monday evening, addressing the Democratic National Convention as he attempts to pass the mantle to Vice President Kamala Harris while burnishing his own legacy as a rare one-term president who is not seeking reelection.
While many of the evening’s speakers focused on describing the historic nature of Harris’ run and describing their personal relationships with her, the vice president, in a surprise appearance at the convention Monday, focused on Biden’s legacy.
“I want to kick us off by celebrating our incredible president, Joe Biden, who will be speaking later tonight,” Harris said, after receiving a rapturous response when she stepped on stage in Chicago. “Joe, thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation and for all you will continue to do. We are forever grateful to you. Thank you.”
Before Biden spoke, many of the speakers on Monday struck a strong populist tone. Sean Fain, leader of the United Auto Workers, led the crowd in a “Trump’s a scam” chant as he praised Biden and Harris for joining workers on strike and cast Trump as a plutocrat, bent on helping “the other side.”
“We have to help her win, because we know that Donald Trump” being reelected would result in him selling out the nation with the goal of “lining his own pockets and greasing the palms of his Wall Street friends,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
Biden’s speech will bookend one of the more unusual months in modern American politics as Biden, 81, was nudged aside by his own party four weeks ago over concerns he lacked the vigor to defeat former President Trump. Instead of speaking Thursday night, as the nominee, he will speak on the opening night, along with failed 2016 nominee Hillary Clinton, before heading off for vacation in Santa Barbara County.
The party is now trying to celebrate him, while acknowledging that his exit has added excitement to a race that seemed headed toward failure just four weeks ago.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who helped orchestrate the effort to persuade Biden to drop out, called him “selfless” and “one of the greatest, most consequential presidents in our country’s history” while speaking to reporters Monday at the California delegation breakfast. “I just wanted to win this election,” she said, when asked about her now-frayed relationship.
Democrats are planning on welcoming Biden as a hero. But he remains unpopular with the nation at large, with approval from 38% of voters compared with 56% who disapprove of him, according to the Fivethirtyeight.com polling average.
Biden is hoping those numbers will improve over the next several years, as they often do for former presidents, when they retreat from the daily news cycle. Since announcing his departure from the campaign, Biden has tried to boost Harris by pointing to his legacy projects, including trillions spent on infrastructure, the social safety net and environmental projects.
President Biden will deliver a speech he never intended Monday evening, addressing the Democratic National Convention as he attempts to pass the mantle to Vice President Kamala Harris while burnishing his own legacy as a rare one-term president who is not seeking reelection.
While many of the evening’s speakers focused on describing the historic nature of Harris’ run and describing their personal relationships with her, the vice president, in a surprise appearance at the convention Monday, focused on Biden’s legacy.
“I want to kick us off by celebrating our incredible president, Joe Biden, who will be speaking later tonight,” Harris said, after receiving a rapturous response when she stepped on stage in Chicago. “Joe, thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation and for all you will continue to do. We are forever grateful to you. Thank you.”
Before Biden spoke, many of the speakers on Monday struck a strong populist tone. Sean Fain, leader of the United Auto Workers, led the crowd in a “Trump’s a scam” chant as he praised Biden and Harris for joining workers on strike and cast Trump as a plutocrat, bent on helping “the other side.”
“We have to help her win, because we know that Donald Trump” being reelected would result in him selling out the nation with the goal of “lining his own pockets and greasing the palms of his Wall Street friends,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
Biden’s speech will bookend one of the more unusual months in modern American politics as Biden, 81, was nudged aside by his own party four weeks ago over concerns he lacked the vigor to defeat former President Trump. Instead of speaking Thursday night, as the nominee, he will speak on the opening night, along with failed 2016 nominee Hillary Clinton, before heading off for vacation in Santa Barbara County.
The party is now trying to celebrate him, while acknowledging that his exit has added excitement to a race that seemed headed toward failure just four weeks ago.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who helped orchestrate the effort to persuade Biden to drop out, called him “selfless” and “one of the greatest, most consequential presidents in our country’s history” while speaking to reporters Monday at the California delegation breakfast. “I just wanted to win this election,” she said, when asked about her now-frayed relationship.
Democrats are planning on welcoming Biden as a hero. But he remains unpopular with the nation at large, with approval from 38% of voters compared with 56% who disapprove of him, according to the Fivethirtyeight.com polling average.
Biden is hoping those numbers will improve over the next several years, as they often do for former presidents, when they retreat from the daily news cycle. Since announcing his departure from the campaign, Biden has tried to boost Harris by pointing to his legacy projects, including trillions spent on infrastructure, the social safety net and environmental projects.
President Biden will deliver a speech he never intended Monday evening, addressing the Democratic National Convention as he attempts to pass the mantle to Vice President Kamala Harris while burnishing his own legacy as a rare one-term president who is not seeking reelection.
While many of the evening’s speakers focused on describing the historic nature of Harris’ run and describing their personal relationships with her, the vice president, in a surprise appearance at the convention Monday, focused on Biden’s legacy.
“I want to kick us off by celebrating our incredible president, Joe Biden, who will be speaking later tonight,” Harris said, after receiving a rapturous response when she stepped on stage in Chicago. “Joe, thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation and for all you will continue to do. We are forever grateful to you. Thank you.”
Before Biden spoke, many of the speakers on Monday struck a strong populist tone. Sean Fain, leader of the United Auto Workers, led the crowd in a “Trump’s a scam” chant as he praised Biden and Harris for joining workers on strike and cast Trump as a plutocrat, bent on helping “the other side.”
“We have to help her win, because we know that Donald Trump” being reelected would result in him selling out the nation with the goal of “lining his own pockets and greasing the palms of his Wall Street friends,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
Biden’s speech will bookend one of the more unusual months in modern American politics as Biden, 81, was nudged aside by his own party four weeks ago over concerns he lacked the vigor to defeat former President Trump. Instead of speaking Thursday night, as the nominee, he will speak on the opening night, along with failed 2016 nominee Hillary Clinton, before heading off for vacation in Santa Barbara County.
The party is now trying to celebrate him, while acknowledging that his exit has added excitement to a race that seemed headed toward failure just four weeks ago.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who helped orchestrate the effort to persuade Biden to drop out, called him “selfless” and “one of the greatest, most consequential presidents in our country’s history” while speaking to reporters Monday at the California delegation breakfast. “I just wanted to win this election,” she said, when asked about her now-frayed relationship.
Democrats are planning on welcoming Biden as a hero. But he remains unpopular with the nation at large, with approval from 38% of voters compared with 56% who disapprove of him, according to the Fivethirtyeight.com polling average.
Biden is hoping those numbers will improve over the next several years, as they often do for former presidents, when they retreat from the daily news cycle. Since announcing his departure from the campaign, Biden has tried to boost Harris by pointing to his legacy projects, including trillions spent on infrastructure, the social safety net and environmental projects.
President Biden will deliver a speech he never intended Monday evening, addressing the Democratic National Convention as he attempts to pass the mantle to Vice President Kamala Harris while burnishing his own legacy as a rare one-term president who is not seeking reelection.
While many of the evening’s speakers focused on describing the historic nature of Harris’ run and describing their personal relationships with her, the vice president, in a surprise appearance at the convention Monday, focused on Biden’s legacy.
“I want to kick us off by celebrating our incredible president, Joe Biden, who will be speaking later tonight,” Harris said, after receiving a rapturous response when she stepped on stage in Chicago. “Joe, thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation and for all you will continue to do. We are forever grateful to you. Thank you.”
Before Biden spoke, many of the speakers on Monday struck a strong populist tone. Sean Fain, leader of the United Auto Workers, led the crowd in a “Trump’s a scam” chant as he praised Biden and Harris for joining workers on strike and cast Trump as a plutocrat, bent on helping “the other side.”
“We have to help her win, because we know that Donald Trump” being reelected would result in him selling out the nation with the goal of “lining his own pockets and greasing the palms of his Wall Street friends,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
Biden’s speech will bookend one of the more unusual months in modern American politics as Biden, 81, was nudged aside by his own party four weeks ago over concerns he lacked the vigor to defeat former President Trump. Instead of speaking Thursday night, as the nominee, he will speak on the opening night, along with failed 2016 nominee Hillary Clinton, before heading off for vacation in Santa Barbara County.
The party is now trying to celebrate him, while acknowledging that his exit has added excitement to a race that seemed headed toward failure just four weeks ago.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who helped orchestrate the effort to persuade Biden to drop out, called him “selfless” and “one of the greatest, most consequential presidents in our country’s history” while speaking to reporters Monday at the California delegation breakfast. “I just wanted to win this election,” she said, when asked about her now-frayed relationship.
Democrats are planning on welcoming Biden as a hero. But he remains unpopular with the nation at large, with approval from 38% of voters compared with 56% who disapprove of him, according to the Fivethirtyeight.com polling average.
Biden is hoping those numbers will improve over the next several years, as they often do for former presidents, when they retreat from the daily news cycle. Since announcing his departure from the campaign, Biden has tried to boost Harris by pointing to his legacy projects, including trillions spent on infrastructure, the social safety net and environmental projects.
President Biden will deliver a speech he never intended Monday evening, addressing the Democratic National Convention as he attempts to pass the mantle to Vice President Kamala Harris while burnishing his own legacy as a rare one-term president who is not seeking reelection.
While many of the evening’s speakers focused on describing the historic nature of Harris’ run and describing their personal relationships with her, the vice president, in a surprise appearance at the convention Monday, focused on Biden’s legacy.
“I want to kick us off by celebrating our incredible president, Joe Biden, who will be speaking later tonight,” Harris said, after receiving a rapturous response when she stepped on stage in Chicago. “Joe, thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation and for all you will continue to do. We are forever grateful to you. Thank you.”
Before Biden spoke, many of the speakers on Monday struck a strong populist tone. Sean Fain, leader of the United Auto Workers, led the crowd in a “Trump’s a scam” chant as he praised Biden and Harris for joining workers on strike and cast Trump as a plutocrat, bent on helping “the other side.”
“We have to help her win, because we know that Donald Trump” being reelected would result in him selling out the nation with the goal of “lining his own pockets and greasing the palms of his Wall Street friends,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
Biden’s speech will bookend one of the more unusual months in modern American politics as Biden, 81, was nudged aside by his own party four weeks ago over concerns he lacked the vigor to defeat former President Trump. Instead of speaking Thursday night, as the nominee, he will speak on the opening night, along with failed 2016 nominee Hillary Clinton, before heading off for vacation in Santa Barbara County.
The party is now trying to celebrate him, while acknowledging that his exit has added excitement to a race that seemed headed toward failure just four weeks ago.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who helped orchestrate the effort to persuade Biden to drop out, called him “selfless” and “one of the greatest, most consequential presidents in our country’s history” while speaking to reporters Monday at the California delegation breakfast. “I just wanted to win this election,” she said, when asked about her now-frayed relationship.
Democrats are planning on welcoming Biden as a hero. But he remains unpopular with the nation at large, with approval from 38% of voters compared with 56% who disapprove of him, according to the Fivethirtyeight.com polling average.
Biden is hoping those numbers will improve over the next several years, as they often do for former presidents, when they retreat from the daily news cycle. Since announcing his departure from the campaign, Biden has tried to boost Harris by pointing to his legacy projects, including trillions spent on infrastructure, the social safety net and environmental projects.
