The former vice president, now the Democratic presidential nominee, says he can build on the Obama legacy and unite the country in a challenging time. 77 years old, Born in Scranton, Pa.; lives in Wilmington, Del. Six-term senator from Delaware first elected in 1972; 47th vice president of the United States. Also sought the Democratic nomination for president in ’88 and ’08. Mr. Biden, who has served in public life for around a half-century, is emphasizing his government experience, seeking to cast himself as a steady, seasoned hand in a dangerous and uncertain world.
As the coronavirus crisis has unfolded, he has looked for ways to help voters picture him as commander in chief, formulating recommendations rooted in advice from health care and economics experts. Those suggestions include making coronavirus tests broadly accessible, and free. He has said there should be no out-of-pocket cost for patients to receive an eventual vaccine, either. And he has been sharply critical of President Trump’s response to the virus, accusing him of reacting too slowly.
Mr. Biden served as vice president in the Obama administration during the passage of the Affordable Care Act, and health care remains a top priority for him. It’s an issue he often discusses in the context of his family’s personal tragedies: He lost his first wife and an infant daughter in a car accident in 1972, and in 2015, his son Beau Biden died of brain cancer. Health care, he said in an early television ad, is “personal” to him. He supports adding a public option to the Affordable Care Act, but opposes “Medicare for all,” the sweeping single-payer measure advocated by some progressives in his party, including Senator Bernie Sanders.
Mr. Biden, who served for decades in the Senate, firmly believes in the value of bipartisanship and insists on extending overtures to Republicans even in a moment when many in his own party don’t see negotiating partners on the other side. As a former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he also speaks passionately about asserting and defending America’s role as a leader on the global stage.
America, run by Joe Biden, is one word: tense. Donald Trump supporters are itching for another topic to attack Biden on and cannot wrap their heads around defeat. Meanwhile, Gen Z is anticipating the four years ahead with “the lesser of two evils.” With the defeat of Trump, America is not silent. In fact, rallies break out around America claiming that the defeat was a scam, rigged even. Trump supporters are wondering what to do with their “Trump 2020” signs. At the White House, Trump cannot maturely leave office. He has already made himself comfortable for another four years. He approaches his exit using slander and vulgarity. He will stop at nothing to get a recount and voice a claim that the government has conspired against him. Trump himself will remain active on Twitter and create an even louder platform than he has now. There is a lack of acceptance amongst the Trump voters. Violence might be the answer: the world is set up to be divided due to the two-party system, but this outcome makes matters worse. Violence may occur due to inability to see a future with anyone besides Trump.
As a nation, we are divided welcome to America with Biden as president. With Biden’s win, hopefully he will have won in a landslide, flipping the Senate and becoming in power in both chambers of congress. A blue wave could transpire. However, that would be the best-case scenario for Biden.
He will be stepping into office at a pivotal time for America and needs to act with ambition and diligence. Biden needs to do something big in his early stages, but he will not be gaining the support of Trump supporters anytime soon or, most likely, ever. Biden installs many new plans in his first 100 days of presidency. The pandemic will be the first thing tackled. Influenced by left-wing politics, Biden will mandate masks and possibly a vaccine. Obviously, health care needs to be easily obtained to curb the pandemic, with multiple risks. Biden, hopefully, will make health care affordable for everyone. He intends to protect The Affordable Care Act and plans to create more affordable methods. Maybe with Biden, women will finally have a chance to breathe. This year has been an endless fight for reproductive rights, with threats against Roe v. Wade. Abortion will be included in his Affordable Care Act. In fact, Biden is publicly endorsed by Planned Parenthood.
Although this is an ambitious claim in itself, Biden has a plan to better the U.S. economy by creating 7.4 million more jobs for Americans. Biden’s win would be a step in the right direction for the economy. Climate change is obviously an issue. Biden plans to abide by some tenants of the Green New Deal, which plans to increase jobs, social justice and reduced emissions. Effects would not be seen until 205o and result in the spending of $1.7 trillion. With all the money spent, Biden needs to reduce America’s carbon footprint, which is a crucial step toward saving the climate.
Social justice is in arms reach for America with Biden in power. The American criminal justice system is a mess. Biden plans to reduce the number of those incarcerated in America and, hopefully, this means to stop the war on drugs. Biden believes in second chances, and that is an America I want to live in. He also has been a supporter of the LGBTQ+ community and speaks about his hatred for systematic racism. Socially, Biden can help pursue a world where everyone can comfortably be accepted. Biden has made mistakes in his career and will continue to do so, but he might be the only hope for America to create the foundation of a nation that supports human rights.
Three questions about Joe Biden
1. Would Joe Biden be the oldest president in history?
Yes. He would be the oldest president in history at his inauguration, at age 78. Mr. Trump, who is currently 74, would also be the oldest president ever if he wins a second term.
2. Where is Joe Biden from?
Mr. Biden was born in Scranton, Pa., in 1942, and moved to Delaware as a child. As a politician, he has maintained close political ties to both states, though Mr. Trump has accused Mr. Biden of having “deserted” Pennsylvania.
“I was in third grade,” Mr. Biden shot back.
He continues to maintain strong ties to Pennsylvania, a critical general election battleground that Mr. Trump won in 2016, and he has based his campaign headquarters in Philadelphia.
3. What role does the Obama era play in Joe Biden’s campaign?
A big one. Mr. Obama did not endorse Mr. Biden until the primary race was settled, but he and Mr. Biden forged a close relationship in his administration. Mr. Biden talks about their friendship frequently, as well as the work they did together on issues ranging from health care to foreign policy.
Throughout the primary, some of Mr. Biden’s biggest applause at campaign events came as he praised Mr. Obama. And many Democratic voters, especially African-American voters, have cited his relationship with Mr. Obama and nostalgia for that administration in explaining their current support for Mr. Biden. Now that the primary is over, Mr. Biden is also focused on winning the enthusiastic support of Democrats who supported other candidates and are lukewarm toward his candidacy and his campaign must also think about engaging independent voters and moderate Republicans.
“If we give Donald Trump eight years in the White House, he will forever and fundamentally alter the character of this nation, who we are, and I cannot stand by and watch that happen.”
