Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential nominee Joe Biden (L) and his wife Jill wave to the crowd after speaking at his election rally in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., November 7, 2020. /Reuters
Joe Biden pledged that he's going to be a president who seeks to unify and rebuild the backbone of the U.S. during an address to the public on Saturday night after being projected by multiple U.S. media outlets to be the winner of the 2020 U.S. election.
"I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide, but to unify, who doesn't see Red and Blue states, but a United States, and who will work with all my heart to win the confidence of the whole people," Biden told cheering supporters at his hometown Wilmington, Delaware.
He also touted his victory in the tense race by saying, "people have spoken and delivered us a clear victory, a convincing victory," with a record of 74 million votes.
Moving to the topic of COVID-19 which has taken over 236,000 lives in the U.S., Biden said he's resolute to turn the pandemic around and he will name an advisory team to deal with the pandemic on Monday and they'll tackle it based on "science."
"On Monday, I will name a group of leading scientists and experts as transition advisors to help take the Biden-Harris plan and convert it into an actual blueprint that will start on January 20, 2021," he told supporters.
Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential nominee Joe Biden is accompanied on the stage by his wife Jill, and members of their family in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., November 7, 2020. /Reuters
The pledge came in Biden's first speech since being projected as the winner of the presidential election, signaling that he plans to prioritize the pandemic from the outset.
"We cannot repair the economy, restore our vitality, or relish life's most precious moments – hugging a grandchild, birthdays, weddings, graduations, all the moments that matter most to us – until we get this virus under control."
"This is the time to heal in America," said Biden, who also appealed to Donald Trump's supporters to "give each other a chance" and end "the era of demonization in America."
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 visibly upbeat as he addressed the socially distanced crowd, racing to the podium after an introduction by vice president-elect Kamala Harris to the sounds of Bruce Springsteen's "We Take Care of Our Own." "Folks, the people of this nation have spoken. They've delivered us a clear victory, a convincing victory," Biden said.
Before Biden took on the victory stage, Harris, who will become U.S.' first black, Asian American vice president, said voters had brought a "new day for America" and both Biden and she herself are ready to serve the nation.
(With input from AFP)
(Cover: Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Chase Center, Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., November 7, 2020. /AFP)