Biden reflects on career, ‘modest beginnings in Scranton,’ credits Kamala Harris and looks to the future in DNC speech; Harris makes surprise appearance

In President Joe Biden’s inaugural address in January 2021, he said America was in a “winter of peril and possibility.” It was nearly a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, months of racial unrest, and just weeks after a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Now, less than four years later, Biden used his valedictory address to share a hopeful update: it’s summer in America, and winter has passed.

“With a grateful heart, I stand before you now on this August night to report that democracy has prevailed,” Biden said, with tearful eyes. “Democracy has delivered. And now, democracy must be preserved.”

After touting his record, attacking Donald Trump, and promoting Kamala Harris, President Joe Biden closed his speech at the Democratic National Convention by reflecting on his biography and career.

“No where else in the world could a kid with a stutter and modest beginnings in Scranton, Pa., and Claymont, Del., grow up to sit behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office,” Biden said. “That’s because America is and always has been a nation of possibilities. Possibilities. We must never lose that. Never."

Biden noted the poetic bookends of his career in federal government. The man who was asked by his party to step down due to his old age was first elected as a senator from Delaware at 29 years old. The minimum age to serve in the Senate is 30, and Biden became eligible that year on his birthday, Nov. 20 — past the election but before he was sworn in, making him one of the youngest senators ever.

In his speech on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention, outgoing President Joe Biden cracked a joke about his age — but it also ended up being a presidential flex.

Biden's comment came in the middle of a riff on how he detests how former President Donald Trump “calls America a failing nation.” That prompted Biden to note that he’s qualified to assess how such comments impact U.S. foreign relations.

“I’m going to say something outrageous: I know more foreign leaders by their first names and know them better than anybody alive,” he said. “That’s because I'm so damn old.”

In remarks that re-played familiar lines from his stump speeches over the last five years, Biden said the country was at an inflection point, in the “battle for the soul of America.”

He said he ran to rebuild the backbone of America, the middle class, and lauded the work his administration did during the COVID pandemic, and to create jobs and boost manufacturing.

“Democracy has prevailed. Democracy has delivered and now democracy must be preserved.”

First Lady Jill Biden reflected on her nearly 50 years married to President Joe Biden, as he prepared to pass the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris.

Jill Biden, doing a final lap of her own after decades in the public eye, was welcomed to the arena with thousands of people waving green “Jill” signs. Delaware’s delegation started a “Dr. Jill” chant.

In her brief remarks to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday, Jill Biden remarked on many times she has fallen back in love with her husband over the years, one of which happened a few weeks ago, when “I saw him dig deep into his soul” and decide to drop out and endorse Harris.

President Joe Biden’s daughter Ashley Blazer Biden gave a personal and emotional tribute to her father as she introduced him Monday night at the Democratic National Convention.

She introduced herself as a social worker from Philadelphia and called her father, who was more emotional on her wedding day than she “the OG girl dad.”

She recalled a memory from her 8th birthday when she and her brothers and her mother drove to the Wilmington Amtrak to celebrate with him and a cake at the train station.

Eight years after she stood on the Democratic National Convention stage to accept the nomination in Philadelphia, Hillary Clinton returned to the DNC podium to stump for Vice President Kamala Harris, the second woman to be chosen as a major party’s presidential nominee.

But this time, she said, is different.

“Something is happening in America. You can feel it. Something we’ve worked for and dreamed of for a long time,” Clinton said, in opening her remarks to an extended standing ovation in Chicago.

The Pennsylvania delegation has front row seats at the Democratic National Convention.

The commonwealth’s roughly 200 delegates and other officials have a section on the convention floor immediately in front of the stage and to the speaker’s left.

It’s an appropriate place for a state that could determine the outcome of the election.

Rev. Charles Quann, an 85-year-old pastor from Montgomery County and Pennsylvania delegate, said President Joe Biden “saved America," when he dropped out of the race.

“In all honesty he probably would have lost to Donald Trump," Quann said from the floor of the convention as he waited for Biden to speak on the first night of the Democratic National Convention. "But Kamala Harris has really put a lot of energy back in a short span of time and given us hope so we can win this election, that’s because Biden did a remarkable thing to step down and save America.”

Justin Douglas another delegate and a Dauphin County Commissioner recalled getting a call from Biden's campaign to speak at a kickoff event in Montgomery County last year. He said Biden “treated him like royalty.”

Vice President Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance at the Democratic National Convention on Monday night, three days before she is set to formally accept the party’s nomination.

Harris used her brief remarks to thank President Joe Biden, who dropped out of the presidential race and quickly endorsed Harris to fill his shoes.

“Joe, thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation and for all you will continue to do,” Harris said. “We are forever grateful to you.”

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis made his national stage debut at the Democratic National Committee to boast the infrastructure investments made under President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Davis, 34, is the youngest lieutenant governor in the nation and Pennsylvania’s first Black lieutenant governor. But when he took the stage in Chicago, he was quick to highlight his humble upbringing in McKeesport, a small city outside Pittsburgh.

“I’m the proud son of a Pittsburgh bus driver. Every day, my dad would come home and tell me about how our roads and bridges were in disrepair,” Davis said.

Cherelle L. Parker’s campaign emailed supporters Monday to say she is “honored and excited to take the stage this week at the Democratic National Convention.”

But it turns out the mayor does not have a speaking slot at the DNC itself.

“Clarification: As a testament to the importance of the city of Philadelphia, Mayor Parker will be taking the stage to speak at a half dozen events so far,” Parker campaign spokesperson Mustafa Rashed said in a statement. “She will be speaking to different constituencies of people across the country to get everyone excited for the Harris Walz ticket.”

Democrats are ready to give President Joe Biden a grand send-off on the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Even before the convention gaveled in, officials were thanking Biden for his decision to leave the presidential race. Minyon Moore, the chair of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, as part of her opening remarks, praised Biden’s presidential tenure.

“Throughout his term, he has brought us together and revived our country and our country’s soul,” Moore said. “Last month, in a true act of patriotism, he passed the torch to the next generation and the next president of the United States, Kamala Harris.”

After Sen. JD Vance’s appearance in North Philadelphia, the Harris campaign honed in on his response to a question from a reporter about how much money the Trump-Vance ticket believes the federal minimum wage should be set at.

Vance did not say a number and instead claimed that work visas granted to undocumented people are to blame for low wages, regardless of what the minimum wage is. He also said that the best way to raise wages is through “tight labor markets” in which employers pay well to attract workers.

The Harris campaign slammed Vance for “refusing” to commit to a minimum wage increase.

About two hours before the Democratic National Convention was scheduled to begin, Gov. Josh Shapiro spoke to supporters at a private event nearby, waxing poetic about the founding fathers gathering in Philadelphia in 1776 and calling on Democrats to work to elect Kamala Harris as president.

"That spirit that was born in Pennsylvania is now all across this great nation, and we have work to do to defend our rights,” Shapiro said to more than 100 people at the Epiphany Center for the Arts. “I want you to know I could not be more faithful in Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to pick up that work that needs to be done to protect our real freedom.”

A finalist to be Harris’ running mate and a likely future White House contender, Shapiro is making the rounds this week at the Democratic National Convention, speaking at breakfast meetings of several state delegations and other engagements.

Former President Donald Trump said Monday that Pennsylvania would be rendered to “third world” status if he is not elected in November, saying the state’s energy production would plummet under four more years of Democratic leadership.

“You're going to go from being one of the largest producers in terms of fracking, the energy produced, into a non-factor,” Trump said as explained what would happen if his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, won the election. “Your state's going to be third world. Like much of our country, it’s being made third world by these people. They don't have a clue.”

Trump’s remarks came during a campaign stop in York, Pa., Monday, where he delivered a speech at a manufacturing plant and spent much of his time on energy policy. He hit Harris for calling for a ban on fracking when she ran for president in 2020 — her campaign said she no longer supports a fracking ban.

Former President Donald Trump defended himself and Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance from popular Democratic messaging that has sought to label the pair as “weird.”

“We are extremely normal people,” Trump during his remarks on the economy in York, Pa.

“He’s weird,” Trump added of President Joe Biden. He falsely claimed that Biden’s withdrawal from his reelection bid — and endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris — was a “coup.”

Former President Donald Trump on Monday campaigned on a House GOP report that accused President Joe Biden of “impeachable conduct” but did not offer direct evidence.

Trump slammed Biden and leaned on the report during a campaign stop in York, Pa., Monday, attempting to tie the president to the business dealings of his son, Hunter Biden. The GOP-commissioned report suggested the president improperly used his influence while he was vice president to help his son secure business from foreign actors.

The Biden family has repeatedly denied the president was involved in Hunter Biden’s business ventures.

Most of the action at the convention in Chicago is only open to delegates or convention guests, who have meetings and parties around the city before official convention business starts in the evenings at the United Center.

DemPalooza, an expo set up at McCormick Place, is open to the public.

There’s Kamala Harris swag for sale, a bracelet making station, and a manicure station, along with dozens of Democratic organizing groups tabling.

Former President Donald Trump slammed Vice President Kamala Harris as “an economy wrecker and a country destroyer” during a campaign stop at a manufacturing plant in York, Pa., Monday.

The former president’s event was billed by his campaign as policy-focused and about ending inflation, implementing policies to help American workers, and establishing America as “the dominant energy producer in the world.” It was the third event Trump hosted in the last week that was billed as a chance for him to address the economy.

Trump spent most of the first 10 minutes speaking on-script and sticking to those topics, saying Harris and President Joe Biden were responsible for inflation, higher gas prices, and increased mortgage rates since he left office in 2021.

U.S. Sen. JD Vance wanted to know why Pat’s King of Steaks didn’t have Swiss cheese.

“Why do you guys think Swiss cheese is insulting?” the Republican vice presidential nominee asked at the counter Monday afternoon.

Following a campaign stop in North Philadelphia, Vance headed down to Pat’s for a cheesesteak.

Introduced to the group for her roles in The Parent Trap and Abbott Elementary, Lisa Ann Walter made an appearance at the Democratic National Convention to endorse Kamala Harris for president and down-ballot Democratic candidates.

Speaking for nearly 15 minutes, Walter spoke at the conference's Ethnic Council meeting about her Italian-American heritage and its ties to immigration advocacy and freedoms.

"I'm here for less than one day before I go back to work on Abbott tomorrow morning," Walter — an honorary Philadelphian for her beloved portrayal as South Philly teacher Melissa Schemmenti — said. "There's nothing more important in my life than being here and making sure our next president is one that will support policies that protect all of us."

Thousands of protesters began gathering Monday afternoon at Chicago’s Union Park, the beginning of what is expected to be the largest pro-Palestinian demonstration during the Democratic National Committee this week.

The park is a 15-minute walk to the United Center, where Democratic delegates will nominate Vice President Kamala Harris to be president, and organizers with the Coalition to March on the DNC fought with the city to be near the venue.

The crowd chanted, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” as helicopters circled above and numerous police officers stood at the edge of the park.

Following a campaign stop in North Philadelphia Monday afternoon, Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R., Ohio) headed down to Pat's King of Steaks for a cheesesteak.

Vance ordered a whiz wit — or, for non-locals, a cheesesteak with Cheez Whiz and fried onions.

During his remarks at DiSorb Systems Monday, Vance mentioned he would be getting a cheesesteak following the event. He did not respond to an Inquirer reporter's question about what cheesesteak shop he would be visiting.

U.S. Sen. JD Vance took a few swipes at his opponent, Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, during his remarks at DiSorb Systems Monday.

He launched yet another verbal attack at Walz’s service record — which has become a major Trump campaign talking point since Walz was tapped as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, charging him with “stolen valor."

“Before the end of the campaign, Tim Walz is going to be talking about how he was carrying an M-16 through the jungles of Vietnam,” Vance said.

Carolyn Bunny Welsh, a Republican delegate from Chester County, said it’s important that former President Donald Trump and his running mate Sen. JD Vance are visiting majority-Democrat Philadelphia — what she called the “belly of the beast,” where “traditionally, Republicans don’t go.”

“Both Trump and JD Vance now have shown they will go anywhere to spread their message,” she said.

She said that Vance is visiting “a neighborhood that looks like it's a bit impoverished and maybe not as successful" and bringing "a message of hope.”

U.S. Sen. JD Vance said he plans to be in Pennsylvania “a lot, taking our message to the whole state.”

“Pennsylvania is an incredibly important state to me and President Trump,” Vance said.

The Republican vice presidential nominee told the crowd at DiSorb Systems in North Philly that it’s important for him and the Trump campaign to emphasize manufacturing and energy policy in the commonwealth.

Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance said to the crowd at DiSorb Systems in North Philadelphia Monday that a Trump administration would “unleash Pennsylvania energy workers.”

“We are going to drill, baby drill,” Vance said.

Vance’s comments come as former President Donald Trump continuously targeted Vice President Kamala Harris’ record on fracking, which is a popular industry in the commonwealth, during his rally in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday.

Angie Gialloreto, 95, from Allegheny County, has attended every Democratic National Convention since Jimmy Carter was the nominee in 1976.

She proudly wears the pins to prove it. The oldest member of Pennsylvania’ delegation in Chicago, Gialloreto got to know President Joe Biden over the years and became one of his most ardent defenders when enthusiasm for him was lagging in the Spring.

She had “Joe’s Girls” shirts made to show support. When Harris became the nominee, she had someone add: “For Harris” to the back of the Ts.

Pennsylvania’s Democratic delegates got a heavy dose of responsibility with their eggs and bacon this morning.

The delegation in a ballroom at the Palmer Hotel might have been the most popular spot at the convention Monday morning with appearances from Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz, three other governors, and DNC Chair Jamie Harrison.

All delivered some version of the same message: Pennsylvania will decide this thing.

On day one of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, organizers of the event say viewers will hear from “everyday people” as well as a slate of elected officials, including a headlining appearance by President Joe Biden that will serve as a celebration of his record in office.

Among the speakers: United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain; Hillary Clinton; Reps. Grace Meng, Jamie Raskin and Jasmine Crockett; as well as Sens. Chris Coons and Raphael Warnock; and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.

Much of the programming will focus on Biden’s record of achievements during his time in the White House, which includes passing major pieces of legislation that included policies Democrats had dreamed of enacting for a generation.

Gov. Josh Shapiro lambasted Donald Trump for comments the former president made on a stage in Wilkes-Barre this weekend suggesting that Vice President Kamala Harris didn’t pick Shapiro to be her running mate because he is Jewish.

“Donald Trump is completely full of it, and he's trying to use me, and he's trying to use other Jews to divide Americans further,” Shapiro told reporters at the Palmer Hotel in Chicago on the first day of the Democratic National Convention.

“We have seen this with Donald Trump over and over and over again. He is the least credible person when it comes to standing up against hatred and bigotry.”

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman is skipping the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to spend more time with his three children at home, he told the Free Press in a story published Sunday.

“I’ve got three young kids, and they’re out of school,” the Pennsylvania Democrat said. “That’s four days I can spend with my children.”

Fetterman said he decided not to attend the convention before Joe Biden’s fate-sealing presidential debate on June 27.

Gov. Tim Walz made a surprise visit to the Pennsylvania delegation breakfast Monday, the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Introduced as “coach,” by state party chair Sharif Street, Walz got a standing ovation from the ballroom of delegates who had just heard from Gov. Josh Shapiro, who was in close consideration for the VP nod.

Walz said Monday that when President Joe Biden speaks, it would be an opportunity “to say thanks to the best president of my lifetime.”

President Joe Biden left the presidential race last month after mounting concerns from Democrats looking at his slumping approval ratings and stagnant poll numbers who had become convinced he was incapable of winning a rematch with former President Donald Trump.

His speech Monday night caps nearly half a century in politics and is expected to stress that Harris is the right person to continue the campaign against former President Donald Trump. It will also set the tone for his final months in office, in which Biden will aim to shore up his legacy. First lady Jill Biden, who grew up in Montgomery County, is also expected to speak Monday.

While Biden’s popularity has not increased in polls, on Monday he’s due to get a hero’s welcome as he addresses the convention on its first day and sets the tone by passing a historic torch to Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris is the first Black woman and the first Asian American to serve as a major party nominee, and she’ll make history as the first woman elected president if she wins in November.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro got a warm welcome from Arkansas delegates, his first stop in a week where he is slated to speak to at least six state delegations.

Jannie Cotton, vice chair of the Arkansas Democratic Party, introduced Shapiro as the “favorite” VP pick “among the delegates.”

Shapiro talked about his often-used motto for good government, “GSD, and since you’re all from Arkansas I’ll use the actual pronunciation, get s— done,” Shapiro said.

Vice President Kamala Harris will be in the spotlight this week as the 2024 Democratic National Convention begins Monday in Chicago.

Harris has only been the Democratic presidential nominee for about a month, jumping to the top of the ticket after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race. So the DNC will serve as a platform to inform voters where she stands on important issues and offer a contrast to the policies pushed by her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump.

President Joe Biden will be the featured speaker Monday night, delivering a speech that will both help highlight the candidacy of his vice president and offer a goodbye to politics after having served more than 50 years in Washington.

Former President Donald Trump will be back in Pennsylvania Monday, looking to garner a bit of attention as the Democratic National Convention gets underway in Chicago. 

Trump will deliver remarks on the economy at Precision Custom Components in York at 3 p.m., according to his campaign. 

It will be his second attempt at focusing on an economic message in the past week after a news conference at his New Jersey golf club on inflation — complete with props — diverged into a rambling event filled with falsehoods and personal attacks. He also strayed off message during a rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Saturday, where he went on an extended riff about Harris' physical appearance.

Sen. JD Vance (R., Ohio), Donald Trump's running mate, will return to Philadelphia Monday as part of a strategy to counter-program the Democratic National Convention

Vance will attend an event at DiSorb Systems, Inc., a waste management product manufacturer in North Philly, according to the Trump campaign. Doors will open at 10 a.m., and Vance is scheduled to speak at 1 p.m.

Vance was in Pennsylvania Thursday, where he spoke at a campaign event at a VFW post in New Kensington in Westmoreland County. He also campaigned in South Philly earlier this month, where he invited Pennsylvanians who had been affected by crime and the opioid crisis to the stage

Air Force Two arrived at the Pittsburgh International Airport Sunday as heavy rain began to fall. Vice President Kamala Harris exited the plane minutes later, after the clouds cleared away, to the cheers of Democratic voters who had waited two hours to welcome her, and running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, to the city.

The stop marked the beginning of a whirlwind tour of Western Pennsylvania one day before the start of the Democratic National Convention Monday in Chicago.

Harris and Walz drummed up enthusiasm among the party’s base, taking photos with attendees before stepping onto bright blue buses emblazoned with their names and traveling to nearby Beaver County where volunteers in the red county were preparing to knock on doors on behalf of the campaign.