CHICAGO — In 2020, Joe Biden billed himself as a “bridge” candidate to a new generation of the Democratic Party. Now that the president has passed the torch to Kamala Harris, Wisconsin delegates expressed their admiration for Biden as he closed out DNC activities on Monday night at the United Center.
“America, I gave my best to you,” Biden said at the end of his speech, quoting Norah Jones’s “American Anthem.” Members of the crowd chanted “Thank you, Joe” and held up signs saying “We love Joe”.
“I thought it was very emotional,” said Ron Martin, a middle school social studies teacher from Eau Claire. “I think he really shared from his heart what he’s done for 50 years for this country… but all in all, he passed the torch. He gave it to Kamala. And I think that was so powerful.”
Racine resident Rey Villar said he thought Biden’s speech was “the perfect farewell.”
“He really did sacrifice himself for the good of the country. He’s been a great president, but he knew that he had to step down and let Kamala move forward in order to save the country,” Villar said. “That’s the big difference between him and Trump. He always puts the country before himself.”
Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who is attending the convention as a guest, said Biden clearly laid out where the country was when he took office and the accomplishments of his administration.
“This could have been one of those things, like, you know, a goodbye,” Barnes said. “It wasn’t a goodbye. It was more of a thank you than anything. The people in this audience showed how much admiration they have for him as a president and as a person.”
Barnes said Biden bowing out to pass the torch was a selfless act.
“I think it’s really exciting and I think it says so much about the president that he was willing to be selfless in that regard, to actually step away from the highest office in the land and office that he worked so hard to get to and say that we’re ready for a new generation of leadership,” Barnes said. “That’s what it’s all about.”
Delegate Trevor Jung,a former Racine alderman, said Biden’s speech was “a reflection on a career dedicated to the United States of America.”
“Here’s somebody who has committed himself to making this country a better place, whether it was his career in the Senate, Barack Obama’s vice president, the president of the United States now passing the torch to the person who will be the first female woman of color president,” Jung said. “It’s significant.”
Jung said he was touched by the remarks from Biden’s daughter, Ashley Biden.
“It was touching to hear his daughter come out and say, courage, my heart, being the theme of this evening,” Jung said. “That was powerful, knowing that we all have a responsibility to protect democracy, to protect a woman’s right to choose…It was a powerful, powerful event.”
Prior to Biden’s speech, delegates present at the DNC had said that they “love Biden”, praising his political achievements and character, but were “feeling great” about the Harris-Walz ticket.
“President Biden has laid the path for so many good things, and now we can just continue to move forward and add and build, and it’s exciting,” Martin said.
Martin said Biden’s endorsement of Harris played a big part in his support for Harris. “I was a true supporter of Biden, and when he endorsed or blessed Kamala Harris, I was like, I’m all in,” Martin said. “I’m in 100% because here’s a person who put the country first, and I just respect that so much that I was all in for Kamala.”
Yvonne Lumsden-Dill, a retired communications professional living in Milwaukee, said she was “very sad” when Biden dropped out of the race, but that she saw Harris greatly energizing the Democratic base.
“We all love Biden… Because of Biden, my insulin price has gone down to $35 a month from $200,” Lumsden-Dill said. “But when he handed it over to Kamala, it was amazing. I have never seen so many people come behind her so fast.”
She said the excitement that Harris inspired was “very similar” to that surrounding Barack Obama before he was elected in 2008, and said she saw an unexpected amount of voter enthusiasm for Harris while canvassing. “We didn’t run into doubt. We didn’t run into skepticism. We ran into, ‘Oh, my god, we’re so excited. We have somebody who is smart and ready and can represent the next generation.’”
Terrell Martin, who works with the City of Milwaukee Election Commission, echoed Lumsden-Dill’s read on the energy Harris has inspired.
“On the ground, people are excited. We are feeling a volunteer shift. We’re having people knocking on doors, money is being raised,” Martin said. “So we feel great, and we’re going to go to November and win this race.”
By Tiffany Li and David Wise
