Joe Biden nominated Democratic presidential candidate to challenge Donald Trump
Joe Biden has officially been nominated the Democratic presidential candidate at the party's unprecedented virtual convention
Washington: Joe Biden has officially been nominated the Democratic presidential candidate at the party's unprecedented virtual convention to challenge Republican incumbent President Donald Trump in the November 3 election.
Biden, 77, who served as vice president of the US for eight years from January 2009 to January 2017, would deliver his acceptance speech on Thursday.
“It is the honour of my life to accept the Democratic Party's nomination for President of the United States of America,” Biden said in a tweet.
“We have shown that the heart of this nation still beats with kindness and courage,” said his wife Jill Biden said.
Democratic Party delegates from across the country nominated him in the unprecedented virtual convention on Tuesday due to the raging coronavirus pandemic in the country that has killed over 170,00 people.
Biden, who played an important role in the Congressional passage of India-US civil nuclear deal and was a key player in strengthening bilateral ties with India during the eight years of Obama administration, has scripted history by nominating Indian-origin Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate.
“After a spectacular roll call that showed the heart and soul of our nation, it's official. Congratulations, Joe Biden,” Harris said in a tweet.
Harris, 55, is scheduled to deliver her remarks on Wednesday night.
Trump, 74, would be formally nominated by the Republican Party as its presidential candidate at its virtual convention next week.
Two Democratic former US presidents, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, and former Secretary of State Colin Powell, a Republican, endorsed Biden. Clinton told the virtual convention that Biden helped bring the United States back from a recession before, and he can do it again.
“Joe is committed to building America back again,” he said. Carter said that Biden is the right person for this moment in America’s history.
Powell said that Biden will be a president they will all be proud to salute.
“With Joe Biden in the White House, you will never doubt that he will stand with our friends and stand up to our adversaries—never the other way around. He will trust our diplomats and our intelligence community, not the flattery of dictators and despots,” he said.
“He will make it his job to know when anyone dares to threaten us. He will stand up to our adversaries with strength and experience. They will know he means business,” he added.