WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris made a rare joint appearance on December 15, addressing donors and urging Democrats to remain steadfast in their values after a disappointing 2024 election cycle. The event, hosted by the Democratic National Committee, celebrated supporters who raised over US$2 billion (S$2.7 billion) during the campaign.
“Our spirit is not defeated. We are not defeated… We are strong, we are clear about why we are in this,” Ms. Harris said, encouraging attendees to continue the fight for their shared principles. “We cannot let any circumstance or situation or individual ever take away our power… We know what we stand for, and that’s why we know what to fight for.”
Mr. Biden echoed her sentiments, emphasizing resilience in the face of setbacks. “My dad would say, when you get knocked down, you’ve just got to get up. The measure of a person or a party is how fast they get up,” he said.
The party is grappling with the aftermath of the November 5 election, in which Ms. Harris lost all seven battleground states, the popular vote, and the electoral college to former President Donald Trump. The loss has sparked internal debates and finger-pointing within the Democratic Party.
The rare joint appearance of Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris, along with their spouses, demonstrated an effort to project unity after a tumultuous campaign season. Relations between the two leaders have been notably subdued since Mr. Biden dropped out of the presidential race in July, leaving Ms. Harris as the Democratic nominee.
While Ms. Harris’ future remains uncertain, some party members have called for her to run for governor of California, her home state. Mr. Biden, set to leave office on January 20, expressed his commitment to remaining active in politics and addressing the nation’s deep divisions.
“The bad news for you all is I ain’t going nowhere,” he said jokingly, before adding, “We’re going to stay engaged.”
