CHICAGO — The words flashing on the large screens behind President Joe Biden at the conclusion of his speech Monday night were instructive: “Thank you, Joe.”
Yes, Democrats wanted to express their gratitude for Biden’s five-decade-long career, especially his nearly four years as president. But it could’ve also served as a “Thank you” for his decision to step aside as the party’s nominee and pass the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris.
This is what Senate and House Democrats wanted ever since Biden’s disastrous June 27 debate performance. They were certain that Biden would not only lose to Trump, but he’d bring the party down with him.
Yet even though Biden didn’t address the matter directly during his remarks at the party’s convention, the drama surrounding that chaotic period in Democratic politics was still playing out on Monday in the hours before the president spoke.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s role in pushing for Biden to step aside has very much roiled Biden’s inner circle. Appearing on CNN, Biden’s longtime adviser Anita Dunn declined to comment on the Pelosi beef, saying “Nobody wants to have a fight with Nancy Pelosi at this time.”
Pelosi was on CNN later in the day and was asked about Dunn’s comments. Pelosi said simply, “That’s their problem — not mine.” The California Democrat added that if some people are upset about the situation, “I’m sorry for them, but the country is very happy.”
“Sometimes you just have to take a punch for the children,” Pelosi said, employing a favorite line from her new book, “The Art of Power.”
After his big speech, Biden told reporters he hadn’t spoken to Pelosi. “No one made the decision but me,” Biden said. “No one knew it was coming.”
When asked whether he would have defeated Trump again, Biden added: “You always think you could’ve won.”
Then the president left Chicago for vacation in California.
The speech: Biden made no overt reference to his decision to abandon his reelection bid, but there were certainly some undertones. At one point, Biden lamented that he went from being “too young” to serve in the Senate to “too old to stay as president.” Biden later joked that he knows so many foreign leaders by first name “because I’m so damn old.”
Speaking well past midnight on the East Coast, Biden vigorously defended his record and legislative achievements as president and attacked Trump in what could largely have been considered a reelection pitch for himself.
Biden mentioned much of what he would talk about when he was still running — infrastructure, NATO, the $35 insulin cap, the CHIPS and Science Act and more. Biden opened by touching on democracy and the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, as well as some familiar lines about how the antisemitic Charlottesville riots made him want to run in 2020.
To be sure, Biden did make an effort to boost Harris even as he was touting his record as president. When the crowd chanted “Thank you, Joe,” Biden responded with, “Thank you, Kamala, too.”
Biden eventually pivoted to what “Kamala and Tim” will do over the next four years, referring to Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Biden pledged to be the “best volunteer” for the Harris-Walz campaign over the next 77 days.
“America, I gave my best to you,” Biden said, in what will likely be one of the most memorable lines from the address. “For 50 years, I have given my heart and soul to our nation.”
Happening today: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Pelosi will both appear on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” They’ll appear separately.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is speaking during the prime time convention programming in the 9 p.m. EST hour. This morning, Schumer will headline the New York state breakfast and hold a media availability.
Schumer is also attending a Tech:NYC event as well as gatherings for the DSCC, unions and climate groups.
