Give the President some respect from his Party….
The first night of the Democratic National Convention, now less than three weeks away, is expected to feature a keynote speaker previously slated to close the program: President Joe Biden.
Biden is expected to deliver a primetime speech during the opening night of the Chicago convention, according to three sources familiar with the planning, with the evening’s programming centering on Biden’s legacy and achievements. That programming will include highly produced televised content aimed at telling the story of how the country moved beyond the pandemic-era of four years ago, before literally and figuratively passing the baton to his onetime running mate.
“Monday night is Joe’s night,” said a source familiar with the planning. “And then he’ll turn the keys over” to allow the event to focus on Vice President Kamala Harris.
There’s history to such choreography. At the August 2000 convention, outgoing President Bill Clinton helmed the opening night keynote. After a camera crew filmed Clinton’s dramatic, three-minute entrance to the arena, he was welcomed to the lectern with an uproarious applause.
Clinton used the opportunity to highlight the hallmarks of his almost eight years in office before officially passing the torch to his vice president, Al Gore.
Clinton, however, was nearing the end of his second term. Biden, on the other hand, was steered out of the race near its final innings by members of his own party as donations and polls grew grim.
Clinton and former President Barack Obama are tentatively expected to deliver remarks Tuesday, people familiar with the planning said,….