”At a time when the other party had turned into a cult of personality, we needed a leader who was steady and brought people together, and was selfless enough to do the rarest thing there is in politics — putting his own ambition aside for the sake of the country,” Obama gushed.
“History will remember Joe Biden as an outstanding president who defended democracy at a moment of great danger — and I am proud to call him my president, but I am even prouder to call him my friend.”
Obama, 63, took the stage as U2’s “City of Blinding Lights” — a staple of his historic 2008 presidential campaign — blared in the United Center. He said that what he admired most about his former VP was “his empathy and his decency and his hard-earned resilience.”
“And over the last four years, those are the values America has needed most,” said Obama, going on to praise Biden’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the languishing economy when he took office.
But Biden, who addressed the DNC on the opening night of the Democratic gathering on Monday, was on the other side of the country as Obama delivered his remarks — vacationing at a Democratic donor’s multimillion-dollar California ranch.
Obama is reportedly not on Biden’s “good side,” with the president holding his ex-boss responsible for the mutiny against him following his disastrous debate against former President Donald Trump, according to Fox News.
Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Obama waited four days to endorse after Biden’s July 21 withdrawal from the 2024 race, was also absent Tuesday — accepting the ceremonial Democratic nomination for president nearly 100 miles away, in Milwaukee.
Publicly, the 44th president had downplayed the significance of Biden’s halting June 27 debate performance, which triggered the Democratic revolt against the president’s candidacy.
However, behind closed doors, Obama privately confided to his allies that he believed Biden was politically wounded by the debate, as he fielded calls from anxious Democrats, according to a Washington Post report.
When he caught wind of Hollywood movie star and Democratic megadonor George Clooney’s plans to call for Biden to step aside in a New York Times op-ed, he did not object, according to Politico.
The ex-president’s wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, also spoke at the DNC Tuesday and made numerous references to her husband’s 2008 campaign while never once mentioning Biden — as if to rub more salt in the wound just one night after the president’s fiery and emotional swan song.
“Something wonderfully magical is in the air,” Michelle said.
“It is the contagious power of hope,” the 60-year-old Chicago native added, alluding to her husband’s famous campaign slogan.
“Something wonderfully magical is in the air,” Michelle said.
Michelle — who polled better against Trump than Harris and all other Democrats in the weeks before Biden dropped out of the race — argued that the vice president is up to the task of replacing Biden on the Democratic ticket.
“Kamala Harris is more than ready for this moment,” she said. “She is one of the most qualified people to ever seek the office of the presidency.”
The former first lady also accused Trump of “going small” in his attacks on Harris, calling his barbs “unpresidential” and indicative of “backward leadership.”
She slammed voters who are “eager to spread lies” and unwilling to “vote for a woman,” and urged Democrats to “do something” when they see attacks on Harris.
Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.
Please provide a valid email address.
By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use
and Privacy Policy.