MILWAUKEE: US Democrats nominated Joe Biden as their 2020 presidential candidate on Tuesday, offering the Washington veteran as a “man of courage” who would sweep away the “chaos” of four years under Donald Trump.

Viewers tuning in to Day 2 of the four-day Democratic National Convention saw presenters affirm Biden’s character and leadership while drawing a sharp contrast with the brash Republican scrambling to remain in the White House after November’s election.

In an unprecedented and elaborate roll call vote that took place entirely online due to the coronavirus pandemic, all 50 states and seven territories announced their vote tallies that cemented Biden’s role as the party flag-bearer.

It was a diverse array of politicians, everyday Americans and even some of Biden’s erstwhile rivals who helped nominate the 77-year-old Biden.

“Well thank you very, very much, from the bottom of my heart,” a beaming Biden said in a live video link.

Republican former secretary of state Colin Powell also endorses the candidature of former vice-president

“It means the world to me and my family,” he added, reminding viewers he would deliver a formal acceptance speech on Thursday at the conclusion of the four-day jamboree.

The nomination was a formality as he had already won the majority of the more than 3,900 delegates back in June.

The roll call came on Day 2 of the mostly virtual Democratic National Convention aimed at celebrating the party’s candidate and welcoming independents and frustrated Republicans into their political movement to oust Trump from the White House.

The proceedings included a series of presentations by party leaders, past and future, who unleashed their own arguments against the White House incumbent and urged voters to rally around Biden.

The lineup featured 95-year-old president Jimmy Carter, who served one term from 1977, and commander-in-chief Bill Clinton of the 1990s, who warned that the Trump White House is swirling with chaos instead of the competence necessary to address the nation’s crises.

“At a time like this, the Oval Office should be a command centre. Instead, it’s a storm centre. There’s only chaos,” Clinton said.

“Just one thing never changes — his determination to deny responsibility and shift the blame,” he said. “The buck never stops there.”

The night’s emotional underpinning was delivered by Jill Biden, who closed out the night with a compelling profile of the man she married in 1977.

The educator from Pennsylvania delivered a personal, high-stakes prime-time testimonial describing how the personal tragedy of the death of Biden’s first wife and daughter in a 1972 car crash has shaped him.

“How do you make a broken family whole?” she said. “The same way you make a nation whole. With love and understanding — and with small acts of compassion. With bravery. With unwavering faith.”

Americans, she said, were “coming together” despite Trump divisiveness. “We have shown that the heart of this nation still beats with kindness and courage,” she added.

“That’s the soul of America Joe Biden is fighting for now.”

The president faced a barrage of criticism on opening night too, notably from former first lady Michelle Obama who said Trump lacks the character and skills for the job.

In its effort to appeal to middle-of-the-road voters and frustrated Republicans, the convention featured a video highlighting the unlikely friendship between Biden and late Republican senator John McCain, narrated by his widow Cindy McCain.

Republican former secretary of state Colin Powell also delivered videotaped remarks in which he endorsed Biden.

Tuesday’s keynote was notable in that it featured 16 mostly young current and former elected Democrats seen as upcoming leaders including Stacey Abrams, a woman of colour who narrowly lost the Georgia governor’s race in 2018.

“Faced with a president of cowardice, Joe Biden is a man of proven courage who will restore our moral compass by confronting our challenges, not by hiding from them or undermining our elections to keep his job,” Abrams said.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2020