Joe Biden, the current president, took to the stage recently, launching strident criticisms towards former president Donald Trump. He spent a sizeable portion of a 22-minute tirade within the confines of a Maryland gymnasium, taking an aggressive stance and presenting his policy victories. Interestingly, the enthusiasm portrayed seemed to exceed that seen during his official campaign, even though there was no contest to win this time round.
Accompanying his performance was Kamala Harris, and as they walked on and off the platform together, one could not help but observe Biden’s constrained slow pace. Despite this, he seemed comfortable, sending out air kisses and fist pumps in a bid to rile up the audience. The audience’s reception of the pair was akin to a washed-up musician teaming up with an exciting fresh talent; interestingly, this gimmick seemed to work.
Even though it was noticeable that the mention of Biden’s name garnered a lukewarm reaction, the crowd’s response amplified immensely at the mention of Harris’ name. No doubt, Harris seemed to be the favorite. In what could be mistaken as a display of granstanding, Harris dedicated almost her entire address lauding Biden, labeling him as ‘the most extraordinary human being, and American, and leader.’
Breaking away from the norm, Harris did not stand behind Biden during his speech, a stark contrast to her previous standing position during the introduction of her running mate, Tim Walz, in Philadelphia the week before. Following her introduction of Biden, Harris promptly exited the stage.
As Biden began his oration, his speech was filled with mutterings about drug prices, and keeping the audience attentive seemed a tentative task as he occasionally stumbled over his words. In the irony of it all, his biggest cheer from the crowd came when he made a comment about Harris, stating, ‘She’ll make one hell of a president!’
Biden’s shaky start, however, did not last, as he soon found his strength, stringing words together smoothly and even demonstrating his sense of humor. The crowd erupted in earnest laughter when Biden joked about the longevity of his service in the Senate. ‘I served in the Senate for 270 years,’ he quipped, adding, ‘I know I only look 40, but I’m a little bit older.’
‘For the longest time, I was too damn young as I was only 29 when I first won an election, and now it seems I’m too damn old’, Biden continued in jest as he sought to downplay concerns about his age and health. His ability to reframe these issues as strengths and turn them into jokes raised questions about his potential motives beyond plain humor.
Biden appeared most animated when he launched into his mandate about drug costs. He seemed all too comfortable resonating with the issue, perhaps due to aging factors that linked him with the rest of the seniors in the audience. Interestingly, he referenced a medical ordeal he underwent in 1988 – an aneurysm that resulted in two craniotomies – a detail rarely brought up previously.
The medical bill for his operation ran into hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to Biden. He made sure to drive home the message of how crucial insurance cover was in managing to offset this hefty bill. He emphasized, ‘Well, guess what? It matters whether or not—if I didn’t have insurance, the rest of my life, I couldn’t do anything.’
While the audience soaked in his account of personal triumph against adverse health circumstances, one might wonder whether this was a bit too convenient, a well-spun narrative to earn sympathies and connect with his audience on a deep, personal level. As they say, politics can indeed, be a game of wits, strategy and, at times, heart-string pulling stories.
Having Harris as a sidekick seemed to add more sparkle to Biden’s rather drab affair. Her popularity was undeniably high, suggesting that the audience was clearly looking beyond the current president, perhaps anticipating the torch to be passed to Harris sooner than later.
The entire event painted a clear image: the people are more fascinated by the novelty, represented by Harris, compared to the old guard – Biden. In what could be considered a stunning reflection of changing times, the vice president was the unmistakable crowd-puller, leaving her boss in the shadows.
Biden’s attempted jabs at Trump seemed more of a means to deflecting attention from his own stumbles than pushing any substantial policy. His passage on drug costs may resonate with the older audience, but the question is, can he convince the broader demographic who carry varied and urgent concerns?
Considering the lukewarm welcome Biden received, and the thunderous cheers when Harris’ name was announced, it points to a might-be burgeoning wave of support towards the Vice President. It seems the party might be misrepresenting a popular preference by continuing to prop up Biden as the leader when the limelight clearly loves Harris.
This occasion provided an interesting lens to gauge the state of American politics, where the reality on the ground might be different from what is projected from the ceremonial stages. While Biden continues to be in the driver’s seat, the applause meter suggests an undercurrent of preference for Harris.
The event may have been intended as a platform for Biden to flex his achievements and future plans, but it appeared to be more of a stepping stone for Harris to cement her influence. It seems the winds of succession are blowing sooner than expected in this political arena.