Democratic convention, day 4: Joe Biden poses as guarantor of America's values

After four days of virtual convention, the Democrats were still entitled to their fireworks, Thursday, August 20. They were pulled from a parking lot in Wilmington, Delaware, where the public was able to follow in "drive-in" mode, each in their car, Joe Biden accepting the party nomination. The candidate for the White House even pointed the tip of his mask on a platform installed for the occasion, alongside his wife Jill and his running mate Kamala Harris. 

No balloon drop, no problem. The #DemocraticConvention closes out with fireworks pic.twitter.com/32uRp2DX8H

During his speech, a few minutes earlier, he presented himself as the guarantor of America's values: "Character, compassion, decency, science, democracy, all of this is at stake," he said. he warned. Without ever pronouncing the name of his rival Donald Trump, Joe Biden called for unity, in order to "overcome a dark era". "There is too much anger, too much fear, too much division," he regretted.

FR NW SOT BIDEN 05H

28000

The former vice-president attacked the leadership of the Republican, unable according to him to face "four historic crises at the same time": health, economic, racial and climatic. He also sought to pose as commander-in-chief: "The time for flirting with dictators is over," he warned.

FR NW SOT 2 BIDEN 06H

27000

"I will be an American president"

Without going into the details of his program - it is not really the subject of such a speech - the septuagenarian has promised to represent all his fellow citizens without exception. "Although I am a Democratic candidate, I will be an American president", he assured, anxious to attract the votes of the progressive camp as of the centrist camp.

During the two hours leading up to this speech, which was more controlled than many feared, the focus was on the candidate's personality. "Joe is empathetic, he's honest, he's a decent man and at this particular moment in American history, my God, that's what our country absolutely needs," said Bernie Sanders, his socialist rival during the primaries.

As if to counter the attacks of Donald Trump, who had recently claimed that Joe Biden was "against God", the party sought to paint a portrait of a man of faith. Coming from a Catholic family originating in Ireland, he would be the second American president of this denomination, after John F. Kennedy, if he were elected in November.

Stuttering and sacrifice

"Joe Biden goes to church so often that he doesn't even need tear gas or federal troops to help him get there," quipped the evening's mistress of ceremonies, actress Julia. Louis-Dreyfus, known for her role of sassy vice-president in the "Veep" series. A barely veiled reference to the moment when Donald Trump violently chased anti-racist protesters from the vicinity of the White House in June to go to a church, an upside down Bible in his hand.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus: “Just remember Joe Biden goes to church so regularly that he doesn't even need tear gas and a bunch of federalized troops to help him get there” pic.twitter.com/AFDGo7uFoL

The performance of Julia Louis-Dreyfus allowed to brighten up an evening often marked by heavy moments. Like the moving intervention of this young boy who recounted how Joe Biden helped him control his stuttering by reading poems aloud. The candidate suffered - and seems to still sometimes suffer - from the same speech problem. Joe Biden "told me we belong to the same club: we stutter. It was really amazing to hear someone like him become vice-president."

“I'm just a regular kid, and in a short amount of time, Joe Biden made me more confident about something that's bothered me my whole life. Joe Biden cared. ”
- Brayden Harrington # DemConvention pic.twitter.com/KoPprXXwCQ

The evening was also an opportunity to discuss the great dramas in the candidate's life: the death, in 1972, of his first wife Neilia and of his daughter Naomi, then a baby, then that of his son Beau, who died. to cancer in 2015. Painful experiences that allowed Joe Biden to deliver a heartwarming message to the families of Covid-19 victims. "I understand it's hard to have hope right now. I know what it feels like to lose someone you love," he said, saying his loved ones were "always with him "and that these trials had enabled him to find a purpose in his life.

His goal today is the Oval Office. “The end of this dark chapter in America starts here tonight,” he proclaimed. "It's a battle for the soul of this nation," said Pete Buttigieg, a former primary candidate, before him, taking up what has become Joe Biden's unofficial campaign slogan. After spending months emphasizing this soul and these values, the White House suitor has ten weeks left to convince voters, this time by articulating concrete proposals.

The summary of the week France 24 invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

Take international news everywhere with you! Download the France 24 application