In the process of his transition as president, Biden is expected to advocate for Harris, symbolizing the continuity of the Democratic leadership.
Biden's approach for his opening night speech at the Democratic National Convention remains consistent, yet the stakes have never been higher.
After influential Democrats, including lawmakers, financiers, and polls, pressured him to leave the race, Biden is now set to address his party. He'll be focusing on campaigning for Vice President Kamala Harris heavily in the upcoming months, as well as emphasizing his legacy and focusing on foreign policy. The end of his journey, they suggest, will come later.
Monday's speech in Chicago might be his last significant address before the election. After five decades in public service, it's one of his last chances to defend his legacy and demonstrate his view of the nation.
Close associates believe he'll want to discuss the progress the US made in the last three and a half years. This optimistic message is expected to be reinforced by visually striking images that showcase the transformation of the American economy, from Covid-19 school closures and remote work to a fully reopened business landscape.
Biden will argue that Harris is the best successor to this record, and he'll present his presidency as a foundation for her to build upon. In keeping with the themes of both his 2020 and 2024 campaigns, he'll issue warnings about the threat Donald Trump poses to democracy. He'll argue that Harris and her running mate, Governor Tim Walz, must be elected to protect the country from this continued danger.
As he explained to reporters before departing for Camp David, his message to Democrats before the election's final stretch will be simple: "Win."
According to White House communications director Ben LaBolt, Biden will make a powerful case for continuing progress and defeating efforts to undermine it by electing Vice President Harris and Governor Walz. He'll achieve this by reflecting on the accomplishments and challenges faced, and emphasizing the importance of the moment: from an economy on the brink to the world's strongest, overcoming a once-in-a-century pandemic, and defending democracy at home and abroad.
Originally, this wasn't the speech he was planning or hoping for. As recently as a month ago, Biden was preparing to headline the convention on Thursday night, not as a beloved figure stepping down but as the party's nominee.
The extended attempt to remove him from the Democratic ticket left scars. People close to him confess that Biden is still grappling with the circumstances of his withdrawal.
However, in his view, the complicated process that led to his exit had advantages for the Democrats. The party quickly rallied behind Harris, in part due to Biden's early endorsement of her. As a result, instead of entering the convention under criticism for his age and capabilities, the 81-year-old president is now arriving as the party leader who sacrificed his aspirations for the nation's benefit.
According to Biden advisors, his immediate endorsement of Harris was crucial for avoiding a fractured convention. The president has been genuinely impressed by the enthusiasm and energy behind the new Harris-Walz ticket.
For his advisers, helping make Harris possible is the political legacy they hope Biden will be remembered for in this moment. He chose her to be his vice president, selecting her over other options, and then endorsed her as soon as he left the race, preventing potential challenges from others. This move allowed Harris to become the first woman of color to lead a major-party ticket.
Some advisors also argue that Biden has provided Harris with policy successes, such as reducing prescription drug prices and reducing crime. The president has weakened traditional Republican criticism of the economy and crime, they reason, thereby protecting Harris from potential attacks.
However, it's not all generosity. Harris will still need to navigate an electorate that hasn't given Biden high marks on the economy and immigration.
By examining Harris's economic agenda, which she started to present last week, advisors perceive a candidate benefiting from improved sentiments about the economy and building upon Biden's ideas, such as renewing and expanding the child tax credit.
Nonetheless, Biden has accepted a supporting role for the remainder of the campaign. After leaving the stage on Monday night, advisors tell CNN he may campaign for Harris in Pennsylvania but will only join her on the trail if she and her team request it.
United Center attendees can anticipate an emotional outpouring for Biden, Dunn suggested, and this should also uplift Harris.
"He's been able to go back and recapture the emotion people felt about him, which tended to diminish as president because people didn’t feel they had the same personal connection," she said.
Leaving Marine One for Camp David on a Friday, with a brief stop in Philadelphia, Biden was accompanied by his longtime communications and political advisor, Mike Donilon, who returned to the White House to guide Biden through his last stages in public service.
Donlon has been leading the preparations for Biden's significant speeches, such as his recent address from the Oval Office, where he announced his decision to withdraw from reelection.
During this speech, Biden urged Americans to take the upcoming election seriously due to its high stakes. This message will be displayed on massive screens inside the convention hall on Monday.
Back in 2016, Biden had hinted at serving one term before handing over power, but a month ago, he explained his change of heart by citing the gravity of the economic and foreign policy challenges he inherited, as well as domestic division.
Despite this, his appearance at the convention is an implicit indication of a transition. Those involved in the planning expressed a desire to give Biden a platform to cement his legacy and his views on his presidency's accomplishments.
Throughout his political career, Biden has delivered speeches at over a dozen conventions but never held his own — not even when he was the party's nominee. In 2020, due to the pandemic, his nomination became a virtual event, with Biden delivering his acceptance speech from an empty room in a Wilmington, Delaware, convention hall.
The convention stage holds special significance for Biden, who has consistently elevated competitors while striving for the highest office.
In 2016, during his eighth year as vice president, despite being overlooked by the party's leaders, he set aside his personal pride to praise the outgoing Democratic leader. He described Barack Obama as "an embodiment of honor, resolve, and character" and praised him as "one of the finest presidents we've ever had."
The thousands of Philadelphia convention-goers that year were waving signs that read "Joe" and "Scranton," symbolizing Biden's working-class roots and his close ties to the city.
On Monday, references to Biden will be as prevalent as ever. One of his favorite phrases, "Spread the faith," will be seen on signs. Convention delegates will receive bags containing coffee as a nod to "Cup of Joe," along with other gifts from local partners and vendors.
Additionally, some of Biden's 2020 campaign staff have organized a post-speech gathering for alumni of the wide Biden network on Monday.
First lady Jill Biden, who had reportedly expressed her readiness to support Biden no matter his decision regarding his political future, will also speak at the convention on Monday.
Once the night concludes, Biden will travel to Southern California for vacation, allowing the convention to focus on his chosen successor.
Despite the high stakes in politics, Biden remains focused on promoting Vice President Kamala Harris and his legacy. He will argue that Harris is the best successor to his record, and her presidency will build upon his achievements.
The political landscape has put a spotlight on the importance of the 2022 elections, with critics arguing that the future of democracy hinges on the outcome.
