Biden vows re-election, criticizes trump's policies

Biden vows re-election, criticizes trump’s policiesPresident Joe Biden, in his first political speech since the attempted assassination of his Republican rival, pledged his commitment to seek re-election on November 5th and criticized Donald Trump’s record as president. Speaking at the annual convention of the NAACP in Las Vegas, Biden was met with chants of “four more years” from a crowd of Black voters, a crucial constituency for the Democratic Party.

While expressing gratitude that Trump was not seriously injured at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, Biden strongly criticized him on various fronts, including his handling of the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasized that Black unemployment reached a record low under the Biden-Harris administration, countering Trump’s claims.

Biden also called out Trump for perpetuating the false claim that former President Barack Obama was not an American citizen and for his reference to “Black jobs” during the Trump-Biden debate in June. Asserting his commitment to the upcoming election, Biden declared, “I am all in.”

The assassination attempt on Trump prompted the Biden campaign to pause its television ads, suspend verbal attacks on the former president, and shift its focus towards unity. Biden acknowledged that the political climate had become too heated and expressed a desire to lower the temperature.

Previously, the campaign strategy had been to strongly criticize Trump as a threat to U.S. democracy, highlighting his refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election and his criminal convictions. Now, the campaign aims to strike a less confrontational tone while still drawing a clear contrast between the two candidates.

The NAACP, the oldest and largest civil rights organization in the U.S., represents a significant constituency for the Democratic Party. While Black voters turned out in large numbers for Biden in 2020, recent polls have shown a decline in support from this demographic in the current election.

Derrick Johnson, the NAACP president, highlighted concerns among voters regarding the cost of living and conservative policy proposals known as Project 2025, which have sparked criticism from Trump’s opponents.

Biden, in a recent interview with NBC News, acknowledged that he made a mistake by using the term “bullseye” in reference to Trump during a campaign call with donors. He emphasized the need for Americans to lower the political temperature and commit to resolving differences peacefully, stating that the upcoming election will be a “time of testing.”

The president postponed a trip to Texas on Monday, where he was scheduled to speak at the Lyndon B. Johnson presidential library on the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. White House officials hope that the assassination attempt on Trump will alleviate pressure on Biden to step aside as the Democratic Party’s candidate, addressing concerns about his mental acuity and ability to govern for another four years.

In his concluding remarks in Las Vegas, Biden addressed criticism about his age, stating that he has the wisdom, moral compass, and experience to lead. He expressed his belief that there is more work to be done and that the journey is far from over.

On Wednesday, Biden is set to address Latino leaders at the UnidosUS Annual Conference, also taking place in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, Trump and Republicans have gathered in Milwaukee for the party’s nominating convention, which commenced on Monday with the selection of U.S. Senator J.D. Vance as Trump’s running mate.