In his first comments since withdrawing from the 2024 election, US President Joe Biden convened a campaign staff meeting in Delaware on Monday as his team prepares to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president.
Biden, who is in quarantine after contracting Covid-19, thanked his aides and told them to “embrace” Ms Harris because “she’s the best”.
“I know yesterday’s news was surprising and difficult for you to hear, but it was the right thing to do,” Biden told them.
Ms. Harris and her team had gathered at the campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, a day after Mr. Biden withdrew from the race for the presidency and approved his vice president to replace him.
Since then, millions of dollars in donations have flocked to her campaign and leading Democrats have lined up to support her candidacy as democratic candidate.
For weeks, Mr. Biden has faced mounting pressure pressure to withdraw because of concerns about his ability to win another term, fueled by a poor performance in a debate against Republican Donald Trump.
In his call with his campaign team on Monday, Biden acknowledged that the team had “put their heart and soul” into helping him stay in office for a second term, but said “I’m not going anywhere” and pledged to remain “fully engaged” in the campaign.
“I hope you give Kamala all the heart and soul you gave me,” Biden told them.
“We still have to save this democracy,” he said. “Trump still poses a danger to this nation.”
After Mr. Biden addressed his staff, Ms. Harris took the stage at campaign headquarters and highlighted Mr. Biden’s accomplishments, saying his time as vice president was “one of the greatest honors of my life.”
Harris spoke of the “roller coaster” of “mixed emotions” they have all experienced because “I love Joe Biden, and I know we all do.” She vowed she would work hard to secure the presidential nomination and unite Democrats and the country as a whole.
“We have 106 days until Election Day and in that time we have a lot of work to do,” she told the campaign team.
Harris presented the team with her vision for the country and the perspectives that she believes distinguish this campaign from Trump’s, saying she would happily compare his record to hers.
“Our campaign has always been about two different versions of what we see as the future of our country,” she said. “One focuses on the future, the other focuses on the past. Donald Trump wants to take our country backwards… We believe in a better future that has room for all Americans.”
Mr Biden is due to return to the White House on Tuesday afternoon after going into isolation in Delaware.
