Joe Biden finally got his second.
Accused by the Republican Trump of hiding in his cellar during the coronavirus pandemic, Biden turned his opponent's narrative to his edge on the last night of the Democratic National Convention, delivering an austere speech in a quiet room that some commentators, both right and left, likened to a speech from the Oval Office, not a convention floor.
Biden, 77 and nearing his 50th year in politics, throw himself as the wizened healer of a troubled and divided nation, pushing back in doubters within his party who surmised that he was incorrect for now. He invoked President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who presided over a nation beset by economic hardship and then war.
Per day after former President Barack Obama cautioned that Trump posed a danger to democracy, Biden, who had been Obama's vice presidentoffered Americans an alternative, pledging to be"an ally of the mild, not the darkness" if elected.
Biden's opinions were in sync using a compacted, virtual Democratic conference that focused less on policy priorities and much more about casting as wide a net as possible to assemble a coalition to win.
The internet format allowed the celebration to feature a range of progressive Democrats and disenchanted Republicans over four nights of programming, even while papering over the fissures from a divisive primary that tested how far left it had been prepared to proceed.
The two most beloved characters in the party, Barack and his wife Michelle Obama, savaged Trump in their respective convention speeches. That abandoned Biden and his running partner, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, the area to outline a harder vision outside only beating the president.
Leaning to the topics of unity, character and decency emphasized throughout the conference, Biden said the country could choose a different, less angry, way forward.
"A route of hope and light," he explained.
The address afforded him the chance to promise to be over a custodian of Obama's legacy, a charge that has followed him during his presidential bid.
Robert Shrum, who managed John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign, said the website of this address, a near-empty hotel ballroom in Delaware made necessary because of the pandemic, worked to Biden's benefit. "Lots of people mocked him to be'Biden at the cellar .' He discovered how to address this virtual reality. Tonight, he managed it brilliantly."
Some high-profile Republicans were both impressed.
He explained Biden's message should worry Republican strategists in the Trump campaign when it resonated with swing voters.
While basking in accolades, Biden faces potential factors well beyond his effort's control, such as attempts by Republicans to curtail voting amid the pandemic and concerns regarding the U.S. Postal Service's capability to handle a flood of mail-in ballots.
Trump, who was watching on Thursday and denigrated Biden on Twitter within an ineffective Washington lifer, will have his turn next week when Republicans maintain their digital conference. He is expected to accept the nomination in the White House, a background with which Biden can't compete.
While Trump, 74, has ramped up his campaign travel, such as trips this week to many battleground states, Biden stays more cautious.
Biden's travel is expected to remain severely restricted since his campaign has opted to defer to public health specialists throughout the outbreak, and Democrats will concentrate largely on online get-out-the-vote efforts.
That made Biden's speech on Thursday in front of a nationwide audience that far more crucial. He may have few chances to detail the vision of his candidacy again prior to numerous Republicans.
But Joe Trippi, a veteran Democratic consultant, said it may not be necessary. The election in its last weeks ultimately will hinge on how Republicans see Trump's performance in office, Trippi said. "And Joe Biden not only does not have to alter that - he can't."
Accused by the Republican Trump of hiding in his cellar during the coronavirus pandemic, Biden turned his opponent's narrative to his edge on the last night of the Democratic National Convention, delivering an austere speech in a quiet room that some commentators, both right and left, likened to a speech from the Oval Office, not a convention floor.
Biden, 77 and nearing his 50th year in politics, throw himself as the wizened healer of a troubled and divided nation, pushing back in doubters within his party who surmised that he was incorrect for now. He invoked President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who presided over a nation beset by economic hardship and then war.
Per day after former President Barack Obama cautioned that Trump posed a danger to democracy, Biden, who had been Obama's vice presidentoffered Americans an alternative, pledging to be"an ally of the mild, not the darkness" if elected.
Biden's opinions were in sync using a compacted, virtual Democratic conference that focused less on policy priorities and much more about casting as wide a net as possible to assemble a coalition to win.
The internet format allowed the celebration to feature a range of progressive Democrats and disenchanted Republicans over four nights of programming, even while papering over the fissures from a divisive primary that tested how far left it had been prepared to proceed.
The two most beloved characters in the party, Barack and his wife Michelle Obama, savaged Trump in their respective convention speeches. That abandoned Biden and his running partner, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, the area to outline a harder vision outside only beating the president.
Leaning to the topics of unity, character and decency emphasized throughout the conference, Biden said the country could choose a different, less angry, way forward.
"A route of hope and light," he explained.
The address afforded him the chance to promise to be over a custodian of Obama's legacy, a charge that has followed him during his presidential bid.
Robert Shrum, who managed John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign, said the website of this address, a near-empty hotel ballroom in Delaware made necessary because of the pandemic, worked to Biden's benefit. "Lots of people mocked him to be'Biden at the cellar .' He discovered how to address this virtual reality. Tonight, he managed it brilliantly."
Some high-profile Republicans were both impressed.
He explained Biden's message should worry Republican strategists in the Trump campaign when it resonated with swing voters.
While basking in accolades, Biden faces potential factors well beyond his effort's control, such as attempts by Republicans to curtail voting amid the pandemic and concerns regarding the U.S. Postal Service's capability to handle a flood of mail-in ballots.
Trump, who was watching on Thursday and denigrated Biden on Twitter within an ineffective Washington lifer, will have his turn next week when Republicans maintain their digital conference. He is expected to accept the nomination in the White House, a background with which Biden can't compete.
While Trump, 74, has ramped up his campaign travel, such as trips this week to many battleground states, Biden stays more cautious.
Biden's travel is expected to remain severely restricted since his campaign has opted to defer to public health specialists throughout the outbreak, and Democrats will concentrate largely on online get-out-the-vote efforts.
That made Biden's speech on Thursday in front of a nationwide audience that far more crucial. He may have few chances to detail the vision of his candidacy again prior to numerous Republicans.
But Joe Trippi, a veteran Democratic consultant, said it may not be necessary. The election in its last weeks ultimately will hinge on how Republicans see Trump's performance in office, Trippi said. "And Joe Biden not only does not have to alter that - he can't."