President Biden will kick off next month’s Democratic National Convention with opening remarks, rather than closing the convention as was expected before he dropped out of the race earlier this month.
A source familiar with the plans confirmed to The Hill that the president is scheduled to deliver a prime-time speech on the first day of the convention, which runs from Aug. 19-22 in Chicago.
The speech is expected to discuss the country’s transition from the COVID-19 pandemic era and focus on Vice President Harris as she figuratively “hands over the keys.” CNN reported. It cited three sources familiar with the plans.
The convention comes less than a month after Biden endorsed Harris as his lead candidate after announcing his retirement. The incumbent’s decision comes after a tumultuous few weeks for the Democratic Party. Some Democrats publicly called on Biden to withdraw after his poor performance in a debate with former President Trump in late June. The debate raised concerns about whether Biden could serve another term and beat the former president in November.
Harris has quickly solidified her position in the Democratic Party in both endorsements and fundraising, and is the only candidate to have won enough delegates to take part in the Democratic National Committee’s online vote to name the party’s official presidential candidate, which is due to begin on Thursday.
If the vice president wins the virtual vote, he or she will officially become the candidate just weeks before the Democratic National Convention begins, after which the vice president will pre-select his or her running mate on August 7.
This is not the first time that an outgoing president has delivered the opening speech at a convention. In 2000, outgoing President Bill Clinton, who was not seeking reelection, delivered the opening speech. He gave the opening speech The baton was then passed to then-Vice President Al Gore, who ultimately lost to former President George W. Bush.
Former President Obama did not deliver an opening address at the 2016 convention, but he did speak on the final day, praising former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s qualifications for the presidency.
Harris is scheduled to visit battleground states next week with her running mate, according to her campaign, but told reporters on Tuesday that a vice presidential candidate has not yet been selected.
Amy Parnes contributed.
