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Joe Biden has vowed to unite the people in a deeply divided nation as the next president of the United States, after a marathon election campaign marked by heated rhetoric.
In his first speech since defeating Donald Trump to win the White House, Biden said he intends to rule for everyone, praising the wide range of support he received from people across the country who voted for him in record numbers.
“Friends, the people of this nation have spoken. They gave us a clear victory, a convincing victory, a victory for ‘We the People,’ ”the Democratic president-elect told a crowd of supporters at a rally in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, on Saturday night.
Thousands of people joined the rally of physically distanced cars in Wilmington, cheering and waving US flags and 2020 Biden-Harris posters.
“I promise to be a president who seeks not to divide, but to unify; that he does not see red states and blue states, he only sees the United States, and that he will work with all my heart to win the trust of all the people, ”said Biden.
Joe Biden has promised to unify America and rule for everyone in the country. [Jonathan Ernst/Reuters]
After several days of waiting for a winner to be declared in the disputed presidential race, which pits Biden against incumbent President Trump, the Associated Press news agency projected on Saturday morning that Biden had won the White House.
The former US vice president had called for calm this week as several key states continued to count the ballots, while projecting confidence that he and his vice-presidential running mate Kamala Harris would ultimately be declared winners.
With the victory, Harris becomes the first black woman and person of Asian descent to be named vice president-elect.
We did it, @Joe Biden. pic.twitter.com/oCgeylsjB4
– Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) November 7, 2020
“While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last. Because every girl who looks tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities, ”said Harris, who took the stage in Delaware before Biden.
“When our 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,” he told the crowd, thanking Americans for choosing. “hope and unity”. , decency, science and yes, truth ”.
“You chose Joe Biden as the next president of the United States of America,” he said to applause and honks.
‘Choice far from over’
Trump has not conceded the race, saying earlier Saturday that “this election is far from over” and vowing to legally challenge the results in several states.
The Republican leader has repeatedly said, without providing any evidence, that widespread electoral fraud has marred the elections.
President Donald Trump’s campaign has said it plans to fight the results in court. [Carlos Barria/Reuters]
Experts have rejected those accusations as unfounded, although many of Trump’s supporters have echoed them in protests denouncing Biden’s victory.
The president’s supporters have held rallies in Wisconsin, where the Trump campaign has said it intends to demand a recount due to the small margin of victory Biden recorded there, as well as in Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania, which also saw tight races. .
“Starting Monday, our campaign will begin to process our case in court to ensure that electoral laws are fully enforced and that the rightful winner is seated,” Trump said in his statement.
Healing divisions
Biden and Harris will need to heal a deeply divided country, which has experienced massive protests for racial justice for months and has been devastated by the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
“There is going to be a huge task at hand for this Democratic nomination as it takes over the White House,” reported Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett, “trying to unite Americans and win the support of the millions of Americans who did not vote for them. . “
That was a main theme in Biden’s speech, in which he took a brief moment to speak directly to Trump supporters.
“I understand the disappointment tonight,” he said. “I’ve gotten lost a couple of times, but now let’s give ourselves a chance. It is time to put aside the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature, see each other again, listen again ”.
Thousands of supporters sit in a vehicle as people arrive for an event with President-elect Joe Biden on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo /[Andrew Harnik/AP]
Meanwhile, across the country, Biden supporters have been celebrating.
Thousands of people joined bustling demonstrations in numerous cities throughout the day on Saturday, from New York to Philadelphia, North Carolina, Minnesota and Georgia, as well as in front of the White House in Washington, DC.
A lively crowd of people in the US capital, most of whom wore masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, danced, played music and drank champagne. “I was preparing for this day for a long time,” Andrew Hasson told Al Jazeera from the rally.
“This week was very stressful waiting for the results, but it’s a great feeling and DC feels alive again.”
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