Biden declares 'clear victory' in US election; pledges to be president who'll unify, not divide
08 November, 2020
Joe Biden declared victory on Saturday (Nov 7) as the 46th president of America after voters narrowly rebuffed Republican incumbent Donald Trump's tumultuous leadership towards the former Democratic vice president.
"The people of the nation have spoken. They've delivered us a clear victory, a convincing victory," Biden said in Wilmington, Delaware after he was declared the winner by all major US TV networks after four days of nail-biting suspense following Tuesday's election.
"I pledge to become a president who seeks not to divide, but to unify," he said, then addressed Trump's supporters directly.
Acknowledging the disappointment of Trump supporters, Biden said of them: "They aren't our enemies. They are Americans."
"Let this era of demonisation in America get started to get rid of here," Biden said.
"I sought this office to restore the soul of America, to rebuild the backbone of the nation, the center class, and to make America respected all over the world again," Biden said.
"Now, let's give each other a chance. It is time to set aside the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature, see the other person again, listen to the other person again," he said. "This is the time to heal in America."
He said his first become president-elect is always to name scientific advisers and authorities to lead the coronavirus response.
"On Monday I'll name several leading scientists and specialists as transition advisers to help take the Biden-Harris plan and convert it into a genuine blueprint that will start on Jan 20, 2021," he told supporters.
Barack Obama's vice president paid particular tribute to the African-American community, pointing to its role in selecting him as the Democratic nominee to challenge Trump.
Biden was introduced by his running mate, US Senator Kamala Harris, who'll be the first woman, the first black American and the first American of Asian descent to serve as vice president, the country's number 2 office.
"What a testament it really is to Joe's character that he had the audacity to break just about the most substantial barriers that exists inside our country, and select a woman as his vice president," Harris said.
Harris said voters had brought a "new day for America" as she opened the victory speech on Saturday.
Harris took the stage in Wilmington, Delaware in a white suit in honour of the women's suffragist movement to the sounds of Mary J Blige.
"When our very democracy was on the ballot in this election, with the soul of America at stake and the world watching, you ushered in a new day for America," Harris thought to cheers from the socially distanced outdoor crowd.
Congratulations poured in from abroad, including from conservative British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, making it hard for Trump to push his repeated claims, without evidence, that the election was rigged against him.
Trump, who was simply golfing when the major television set networks projected his rival had won, immediately accused Biden of "rushing to falsely pose as the winner".
"This election is definately not over," he said in a statement.
Trump has filed a raft of lawsuits to challenge the results but elections officials in states in the united states say there has been no proof significant fraud, and legal professionals say Trump's efforts are unlikely to achieve success.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com