At the recent Democratic National Convention, delegates voted to approve the 2024 party platform without making any changes to acknowledge that President Biden is no longer running for re-election. The platform, ratified late Monday night, continues to reference “President Biden and Vice President Harris” and their “progressive agenda” envisioned for the coming four years.
The platform outlines a stark contrast between economic philosophies. It opens with a comparison: “This election presents a choice between two very different economic visions for America: Donald Trump, who views the world from his Mar-a-Lago country club; and Joe Biden, who sees it from the kitchen tables in Scranton, where he grew up.” This framing underscores the party’s commitment to a narrative centered on Biden’s longstanding connection to working-class America.
The document is crafted under the presumption that Biden remains the Democratic candidate and that Harris will serve as his vice president if re-elected. Mayor Regina Romero of Tucson, Arizona, who co-chaired the DNC platform committee, explained that the platform was developed “prior to the president passing the torch in an act of love and patriotism” but aims to offer a “forward-looking vision for our party that resonates with all voices.”
During the convention, Vice President Kamala Harris made an unexpected appearance, lauding President Biden as “incredible” and expressing deep gratitude for his leadership. “Joe, thank you for your historic leadership, your lifetime of service, and all you will continue to do,” Harris said at the United Center in Chicago, addressing the crowd on the convention’s opening night.
President Biden himself addressed the convention late in the evening, touching on various issues, including criticisms of former President Trump and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Just over a month ago, Biden was the uncontested Democratic presidential nominee. However, following a problematic debate performance against Trump in June, there has been internal party pressure for Biden to withdraw from the race. Axios reported that Biden is “stunned” by the circumstances and the growing pressure from within his own party to step aside.