captioning sponsored by newshour productions, llc >> this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> woodruff: amid an ongoing national controversial leading democrats step up attacks on president trump. covid 19 was trump's biggest test. he failed miserably. i wish donald trump knew how to be a president because america needs a president right now. >> donald trump hasn't grown into the job because he can't and the consequences of that failure are severe. >> woodruff: an issue a plea for change. >> this can't be another would

have, should have, could have election. >> the next 76 days will echo to generations to come. >> woodruff: in an historic first for women of color. >> i accept your nomination for vice president of the united states of america. >> woodruff: tonight the nominee for president joe biden takes the stage. the final night of the democratic national convention. >> woodruff: good evening. i'm judy woodruff. and welcome to our special pbs newshour live coverage of the democratic national convention. this is the final night, where we will hear from joe biden. it is a moment he has been preparing for for decades of public life. it will not have the normal pomp

- a mostly virtual event - it won't be a crowd of thousands cheering. but we will watch to see what the democrats create. i am here in our studio with amy walter of the cook political report, and, right around the corner, senior correspondent amna nawaz - both, socially distanced. and we have reporters and guests across the country. for our part, despite the virtual natue of this time and social distancing - we will continue to bring you the same depth of coverage and analysis - during this historic election year. let's turn first to ounewshour reporters: amna nawaz is here to help guide us on what to expect -nd key moments to look out for. amna? >> judy, the closing message of the convention will be delivered by another high-powered, jam-packed slate of democratic speakers, all leading up to remarks from the nominee himself, former vice president joe biden. but under the theme of "america's promise," we'll also hear from more of biden's primary rivals. that includes former new york

city mayor mike bloomberg, senator cory booker of new jersey, former south bend, indiana mayor pete buttigieg, and entrepreneur andrew yang. also listed among the speakers, two officials reportedly vetted as possible running mates for biden: atlanta mayor keisha lance bottoms and illinois senator tammy duckworth. tonight's keynote, of course, is the 2020 democratic nominee for president joe biden - fulfilling a dream he first had more than 30 years ago. and as they have every night so far, organizers say the voices and stories of everyday americans will be featured throughout. judy, democrats will take their pitch back to the public one last night in this historic >> we wait to see it all amna. you will be with us throughout the night as our lisa desjardins. she's in wilmington where they set up an outdoor drive-in area. lisa, what is this, we've nevada

seen anything like it. >> the 2020 campaign has an audience. let's look at the peep pull arriving, supporters of the biden campaign driving into this parking lot you've seen so much of over the last couple days. we expect about a hundred cars, maybe 150. and talking to some of the folks where you can see behind me, judy, these are people who have been vetted by the democratic party as you've expect. some worked for the democratic party some do not but i believe they are all went-known supporters of joe biden and the democratic party. there has been rigorous secure to every car here, every person here i've been told. i have to tell you, this is some strange pandemic hybrid. we don't have sorts anymore, we don't have political rallies but somehow we've got a political tailgate behind me judy. and the mood is what you'd expect at a convention. these are people very excited about this ticket. they feel incredibly special to be hear. i was joking with our producer,

in what world would we say we need something exciting like a row of parked cars to show on television but that's where we are right now with this pandemic. there is a very strong community spirit here not just with the people in their cars but also you see for example the wilmington police officers stopping, taking selfies with the people here. it's a very positive spirit. these cars will start honking horns together. you can't see through the car but you can hear honking. >> woodruff: lisa desjardins thank you so much and as we say we will be coming back to lisa throughout this night. to help make sense throughout this moment once again we will continue to turn throughout this night and the next of next week with a wide range of anists and special guests. but let's start with our core group - that is syndicated

columnist mark shields, new york times columnist david brooks, michael nutter is the former mayor of philadelphia, chris buskirk is editor of the journal american greatness, and again here at the desk with me - amy walter of the cook political report. jamie. al amy, all over until we hear from joe biden america's promise. what do you sense at this point this convention is doing and what does it still need to do tonight? >> right. well the first couple nights to me were about others vouching for joe biden, both who he was as a person but also as a politician. and again the rule out is so many republicans basically saying to waiverring voters or former republican voters or former independent voters, hey, don't worry, this guy is not going to be too far to the left. he can work with republicans. last night was for the base. and we saw of course discussion about climate, gun control and

of course the fermenter president barack obama appealing -- former president barack obama appealing to former democrats saying this is democracy at stake. there is no room for you to allow your cynicism. you don't have to love joe biden. he didn't make as much of a case for joe biden as much as he made a case of the importance of voting against donald trump. tonight it's joe biden making the case for him of. this is going to be one of i think two of the most important things joe biden need to be between now and the election. the second is how he is in the debates. but sphr now thi for now this is opportunist specially with the president attacking him on his mental acuity, his stamina and of course trying to tie him as closely as he can to more radical elements of the party or the progressive movement. here's joe biden's chance to tell his own story. >> woodruff: now mark

shields, has this convention to this point, has it gotten the message across that it neds to about who joe biden is and why americans should support him or not. and if not, what do they need to do tonight? >> it's the message shoe he is. you uld like to have him as a brother-in-law, he would be a good boss. that's come through, and as a good friend. the question what he wants to do, that's tonight, judy. two thoughts i had, one was another young democrat went back to the white house, or a younger democrat a third time democratic nominee and amtrak nomination adelaid stevenson. and he introduced john kennedy and he said when cicero spoke the crowd says how well he spoke

but when demonst -- spoke he said what a march. joe biden gives people a sense of marching, a sense of inspiration tonight. the other caveat i heard from a democrat, joe biden landed a lot of democrats but hubert humphrey. a wonderful united states senator and humanitarian but was given to lengthy speeches. his wife muriel once said to him in order for a speech to be immortal it doesn't have to be eternal. i think joe bin is going to do 19 minutes tonight what barack obama did 19 minutes last night. >> woodruff: david brooks, it sounds like mark is saying that joe biden hasn't proven yet that he can inspire the american people. do you think he'll do that tonight? >> i think so. you know i think what they need to do tonight, the big gaming hole so far in this convention as far as i'm concerned is economic class. they really, they have to win

over as they keep saying wis consane, michigan, ohio pense, those places, the industrial mid west. they focused relatively little on the issues that are super hot there. i think they need to play that up. the second thing that comes to mind about joe biden is just what a trooper he is. i was reflected on how long he's been struggling for this. in 2008, i once covered a biden rally, if you want to call it that in a little iowa library that could have been the smallest room in the library. and still his family members outnumbered voters at that rally. he went on to win 8.9% of the vote and went one to win new hampshire. politic is not glamour. politics is humiliation, a small struggle, eating dirt and then grinding your way through. so tonight as he goes up there, i'm sort of in awe of

perseverance, of a guy that has none of this is into the presidency, i'm sure he has that but his vision for his role in life and what he wants to contribute. it's a good story for somebody with experienced failure and seen it through. >> woodruff: i remember the 2008 campaign. that was a tough year for joe biden. michael nutter is perseverance something that is going to sell this year in this political climate? >> well judy, i think so. you know as david talked about perseverance and winning and losing, i've lost i've won, i know which one i like better. but i'm often reminded about and i'm not making the direct comparison but just you know the context. abraham lincoln didn't exactly do very well in a bunch of his initial elections but did persevere to go on to become of course one of the greatest presidents this country has ever had. e biden does have perseverance and politics is a full contact

sport. joe, he's had some hits from time to time but he's always, always come back and come back stroer. so this is his night, it is his moment, it's the next 75 days. he and senator harris have to lay out a vision for the future. tonight is america's promise and i'm excited to hear that. and then to go out and campaign on that theme and talk about jobs, talk about the economy, talk about the corona virus and bringing this country together which is really what the last three days has been all about. >> woodruff: chris buskirk joining us from arizona. do you see the man meeting the moment tonight? >> i don't know. that's what i really would like to see. i thought david's comment about perseverance in joe biden's political career was really well taken. and it's, i guess this is the time where joe biden has to frame that correctly for the american people. it's been a story of perseverance and overcoming or

is it a story of failing upward. that's what he has to tell people is that he has a really comprehensive energetic charismatic vision for the future of this country or is he the last man standing who wound up with the nomination and isn't sure what he's going to do with it for the country. that's why i'm looking forward to the speech and see if he can lay that out and be the charismatic canned date he needs to be. >> woodruff: amy walter you've been watching joe biden maybe not as completely as long 1972 when he came into the senate but you've been watching him for a while. does he have whatever the stuff is that it takes to inspire tonight. >> i don't know if he necessarily has to inspire people but he does need to show the issues i think he needs to show are competence and leadership. that's what you hear over and over again from voters who are feeling that vacuum, both at their local level but certainly at the federal level.

and you know it's also amazing, talk about perseverance. again, we were back here in january and watching the biden campaign out of money coming a distant dista fourth in iowa. >> woodruff: that's being taken by other candidates. >> right. the idea that he was going to be here tonight is pretty remarkable. >> woodruff: pretty remarkable. and just quickly mark shields. in less than a minute. so there's been a little miracle working in all of this. it wasn't just due to the terrible thing that the pandemic came along. i mean there was south carolina where he fought hard to win that state and that turned things around for him. >> david talked about perseverance is right but it's just incredible self confidence. he finished fourth in iowa. he finished fifth in new hampshire. he was dead, judy. people were walking away from

him. but for jim clyburn and african american voters of south carolina, joe biden would have been yesterday's story. it's a great story and as i say he went on to win not only south carolina the first primary he had won in 36 years but also 11 primaries then in the next four days. what jim clyburn said is i think about joe biden is true of an awful lot of people. joe, we know joe more importantly joe knows us and i think that's what joe biden will have communicated tonight. he understands what the people in oh and good year tonight are going through after donald tru said stop buying good year tires from one american tire company that existed because the management has barred the wearing of maga hats at all campaign materials. i mean joe biden understands what akron, ohio is and that's

really his strength. >> woodruff: mark shields thank you. thanyou all and we'll come back to you throughout this night. few people know what it is like to deliver an acceptance speech for a major party's nomination for president. al gore is ang them. and on he also knows what it's like to be nominated for vice president as well. and in a year where we might not know the results on election day - he offers a unique perspective. al gore, thank you very much for joining us. as i say more than anybodyelse we can think of, you know with a joe biden and kamala harris are feeling tonight. give us a sense of what that is. >> well first of all, thank you so much for having me on your show judy. i'm excited for joe biden tonight. it's a very big night for him, i know he's going to do great. i've been really enjoying the convention and i know that joe

has probably been owpg occupiedh all kinds of telephone calls and tasks and finishing up his speech. it's a busy time waiting for the big moment. he's already had some big moments in this convention. i think it's been a spectacular convention. and i'm looking forward to all of the events tonight. >> woodruff: and do you think the joe biden you know, you served with him, you know him, do you think that's coming across? >> i think it is, yes, i do. i think that his life story has been displayed in a very moving and emotional way. and those of us who have worked with joe for a long time know that he as many have said it's just the most decent nicest guy you could ever want to work with or know or have as a friend. and i think that's come across in the presentation of him and his career and his life story.

>> woodruff: you know something about tough elections. and a number of democrats including joe biden himself are saying that they think president trump could actually try to steal this election. do you think that's a fair charge? >> well, of course you only have to listen to donald trump his own words to worry that he has some trickery in mind. he has apparently the way i interpret it is, he has been so sowing the seeds of doubt and he heard we might not even know the results on election night. i'm like wait a minute i believe that's happened before. it was 36 days in 2000 election before the supreme court decision. but we need to prepare to push away the doubt that he has planted in advance. i think it probably will be

several days at a minimum before we know who has really want and there may be a different result apparent in the day of tabulations and when all of these absentee ballots and mail-in ballots come in. we just have to be patient and wait for them to count the votes and that's an experience i have been through. >> woodruff: you surely have. speaking of that do you have some guidance for them. what if we know it's possible to lose the electoral vote but win the popular vote which is what you to. >> well, that has happened more th once and i don't know of any advice i can give on that, just make sure in advance of the election that all of the voters who have joe biden in their mind and heart get out to vote. as barack obama said last night, make a plan now. what is it text join 30330.

did i get their commercial line accurately. >> woodruff: i think you did. >> i just think, i also was moved emotionally after john lewis' passing and you did such great coverage of that. you knew him coming from atlanta and all. but the last time that he crossed the edmon pe edmund pete the last night i saw him doing a television interview saying we've got to vote like we never voted before. that's the message that this convention has been putting out to people who don't wanted another four years of constant chaos and turmoil and the kind of things that donald trump does all the time every day. and i hope that that message really hits home. >> woodruff: one of the issues that's very important to you, al gore, is climate change.

>> yes. >> woodruff: is joe biden where you would like for him to be on that issue? >> in the main, yes. there are always a few things that i would like to see go farther. but look, this is the strongest and best climate platform that the democratic party or any party in the united states has ever had. joe's position in the primaries was good but some of his opponents had positions that were leaning a little bit farther forward. he has, since he got the nomination, reached out and picked up many of the great ideas that his opponents in the race for the nomination had offered. and the net result is really bold. net zero electricity production would i 2035 -- by 2035. i could go through the list. net zero total by 2050.

he personally reaffirmed eliminating his intention to eliminate all the subsidies for buying fossil fuels, for fossil fuels in our country. all the charging stations. retrofitting buildings. it's a great platform and he has come to be a very passionate advocate on climate. after he got the nomination in effect, he got the name nation just now but when the winner was determined, i've had several long conversations with him since then and boy he gets it. and he is really determined to do what our country needs to do on climate. >> woodruff: so to sum up about that, what difference does it make whether it's joe biden or donald j. trump who wins in november o on the issue of climate. >> there could not possibly be a starker difference. it's a difference between night and day.

it's the difference between wrong and right. donald trump of course won't william out of the paris agreement. he's called the climate crises a hoax at different times. he is doing whatever the coal barons and the oil and gas polluters want him to do ironically at a time when some of the energy companies are saying wait a minute, we would like to start moving toward reform. and they have even opposed some of the proposals that trump has put in place. he eliminated the rule requiring a cap on these methane emissions, also called natural gas but it's a very potent greenhouse gas. i started to say i could give you other examples. you could almost pick any topic related to climate at random and you would find donald trump wrong and destructive and you would find joe biden leading in

the right direction. it really is crucially important. by the way judy, we have seen record temperatures again this week, this month, a hundred degrees north of the arctic circle. 130, well that's death valley but it's possibly the hottest temperature ever measured on earth. look at all the fires in california. too big storms heading towards the gulf coast and possibly the eastern seaboard this week. and the list goes on. we have got to solve the climate crises and we can do it as joe biden has pointed out, by creating millions of new jobs. the fastest scoring job in the u.s. is solar installer. second fastest is wind te turbi. we can get our country moving in the right direction while saving the future. >> woodruff: al gore the

former vice president of the united states making a passionate case for joe biden and kamala harris. mr. vice president, thank you for joining us. >> always a pleasure judy, thank you. >> woodruff: thank you. >> woodruff: and now, charting joe biden's journey to tonight, when he will accept the democratic nomination for president of the united states. lisa desjardins has the second of two looks at the former vice president's long political career. >> desjardins: in 2007, joe biden had been a u.s. senator for 43 years-- ready to try, once again, for a different job. >> friends, today i filed the necessary paperwork to become a candidate for president of the united states. >> desjardins: in early january, he announced he was running for president. but it was a rough start from the beginning. in an interview with the "new york observer," biden described his presidential opponent, barack obama, saying, "i mean, you got the first mainstream

african american who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. i mean, that's a storybook, man. add to that stumble, he was battling a crowded, star-studded field. author steve levingston wrote the book "barack and joe." >> joe biden's 2008 campaign flamed out pretty quickly. he never really got any traction. >> desjardins: biden dropped out in january 2008, after placing fifth in the iowa caucuses. he left the trail, choosing not to endorse either of the frontrunners, his fellow senators hillary clinton or barack obama. >> hope. hope is what led me here today! >> desjardins: in late may, obama emerged as the presumptive nominee, in need of a running mate. patti solis doyle was waiting for the news, too, as chief of staff to whomever was picked for v.p. >> and so, obama and his team were really looking for someone who could partner in the actual governing, because there was so much to do.

they were looking for someone who could bring, you know, some of t demographic constituents that nominee and then nominee did not have, in particular, white working-class voters. and lo and behold, joe biden checked all those boxes. >> obama was just a junior senator who didn't have a lot of experience with legislation, getting things through congress. biden was a master. he was able to go across the aisle. he could really help obama legislatively. >> desjardins: on august 23, obama announced his choice. >> joe biden is that rare mix. for decades, he has brought change to washington, but washington hasn't changed him. he's an expert on foreign policy whose heart and values are rooted firmly in the middle class. >> ladies and gentleman, this is no ordinary time, no ordinary election. and this may be our last chance to reclaim the america we love. >> desjardins: right away, biden

hit the campaign trail. >> welcome to the first and the only 2008 vice presidential debate. >> desjardins: in a debate hosted by newshour's late gwen ifill, biden took on his vice presidential oonent, then-alaska governor sarah palin. >> nice to meet you. hey, can i call you jo >> desjardins: biden focused on withdrawal from iraq and appeal to a nervous middle class. >> i understand, as well as, with all due respect, the governor or anybody else, what it's like for those people sitting around that kitchen table. and guess what? they're looking for help. they're looking for help. they're not looking for more of the same. >> desjardins: on election day, the obama/biden ticket made history, ushering in the first african american president. >> i was never the likeliest candidate for this office. this is your victory. >> i think for biden, the day they won, i think he took maybe a few hours to really just sort of celebrate. his and, his initial thoughts

were, let's roll up our sleeves, we got to go. >> desjardins: at the time, the economy was losing hundreds of thousands of jobs a month. just weeks after inauguration, congress passed a $787 billion stimulus package. obama put biden in charge of overseeing h the money was spent. it was the first of many biden bridges to congress, including health care reform. and later, he would be the key negotiator with senate republican leader mitch mcconnell in a fiscal crisis. >> he had these long, long-standing relationships on both sides of the aisle, both democrat and republican. and when you have a divided government, that's a-- that's a very, very, very important role. >> desjardins: but biden also caused heartburn by going off-script, including his words to his boss the day the affordable care act was signed. >> this is a big eff-ing deal. >> desjardins: he also got mixed attention for how he touched people, sometimes tightly embracing or putting hands on shoulders, like with stephanie carter, wife of the incoming

defense secretary. some, like carter, said it was a show of empathy. but in 2019, a half dozen women would say he made them uncomfortable. biden responded to the allegations of unwanted touching with a video, saying he heard the women and would be more aware of others' personal space. but then, one of the women, a former senate staffer named tara reade, would add to her charges, saying biden sexually assaulted her. >> he just had me up against a wall and the wall was cold. and i remember he-- it happened all at once. the gym bag-- i don't know where it went, i handed it to him and it was gone, and his hands were on me and underneath my clothes. >> desjardins: biden addressed the charge on msnbc. >> it is not true. i'm saying unequivocally: it never, never happened. and it didn't. it never happened. >> desjardins: while vice president, though, his verbal missteps were biden's greatest controversy. in 2012, on nbc's "meet the

press," biden was asked about gay marriage, something the obama white house had not yet endorsed. >> i am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women and heterosexual men and women marrying one another are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties. >> desjardins: three days later, obama made his own announcement. >> i've just concluded that, for me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that i think same sex couples should be able to get married. >> now, whe this looks like a gaffe in a big way, and may seem to alter policy, i feel that it really wasn't a policy-altering gaffe. it was a policy-speeding gaffe, in a sense that obama was heading that direction anyway. and joe sort of gave him the nudge. >> desjardins: obama and biden, who barely knew one another at

the start of their campaign, were now a cse-knit team. >> talk about our bromance. >> the political bromance launched scores of internet memes. >> you saw pictures of them laughing together, hanging out together, going out for burgers together, putting on the-- on the white house green together. this was unique, in terms of what a vice president and a president did. >> i mean, obama knew what he was good at. biden knew what he was good at. and they-- they just they worked it out like two people who, you know, had worked together for years and years. >> desjardins: that relationship helped to support biden when tragedy came again to his family. biden's oldest son, beau, died of brain cancer in may of 2015. he was 46, a combat veteran who been to iraq, and a promising politician serving as delaware's attorney general.

biden, in a 2018 pbs newshour interview: >> beau was always the guy who-- as barack said, the president said in his eulogy-- beau was joe 2.0. >> desjardins: tony allen worked for joe biden in the '90s as a speechwriter and special assistant. >> when beau biden died, it was devastating to the vice president. and it was devastating to delaware because we already knew all the tragedy that he had suffered. so when the vice president, biden family, lost beau, i felt like we all lost beau. >> i think for ben, it was existential in a way, in the same way that when he lost his first wife in that car crash many years earlier, when he first became a senator, he doubted everything going back to his wife's death. at that time, he, biden, who is a very religious man, a very strong catholic, began to doubt god. >> desjardins: at the time, biden was considering yet

another run for the presidency but beau's death put a pause on those plans. in the end, biden decided not to run that year. just like so many times in his life, after facing terrible personal tragedy, biden fought his way back to run in 2020. for the first time in his life, he won a presidential primary, and then the votes for the nomination itself. for the pbs newshour, i'm. lisa desjardins. >> woodruff: what wonderful reporting from lays. thank you very much. we want to bring in some other voices now who will be with us throughout the week: gary abernathy is a contributing columnist for the washington post, based in ohio. jonathan capehart is a pulitzer prize washington post.

errin haines is with the newly launched news website "the 19th." and sarah smarsh is a kansas-based journalist and author of the book "heartland." thank you so much. gary as abernathy, off been talg about this biographical reminder about joe biden. is biography everything in this campaign. what more does joe biden need in order to cross the finish line? >> i think biography's very important and i think that byien is the guy who can be relatable to a lot of people who i'll call in kind of the area i live in, judy. i think what people are going to be watching tonight though especially areas in southern ohio and the mid west very strong for trump they've been listening to president trump question biden's mental acuity. so tonight we're going to be watching how he does, how long is he going to speak. at the going to give a 15 minute speech or half our or 45 minute speech. that will call into question could he have gone longer. did he do a short speech because he couldn't. people are going to be watching,

is the going to be a pause, is he going to be fluid. tonight is very important because the headlines tonight will be biden strong dispelled questions about any issues or it's going to be shaky performance keeps that question going which will last until the first debate with trump. so it's kind of a lobar bu low . but i'm nervous tonight. he has a chance to hit a home run on that issue o keep that question going. >> woodruff: errin haines is that what you're looking for tonight from joe biden. >> what we're looking for tonight, clawmentz said yesterday there's no -- kamala harris said yet there's no seen for racism -- vaccine for racism. to connect with every day americans. the thing i'm thinking about is if he gets up on that stage tonight and delivers a speech

that offers bomb as well as a plan to the country really reeling from a public health and economic crises right now i think tonight is joe biden's tonight to really cling to all americans that he sees their experience and is ready to governogovern on behalf of all americans. >> woodruff: jonathan capehart is that what you think we're going to see from him? what do you expect from him tonight? >> well, i expect to see the joe biden who launched his campaign. by that i mean, joe biden has been the most clear and the most focused when donald trump is the subject of what he's talking about. so when he talks about fighting for the soul of the nation, the soul of the country, going back to the people united and not torn apart ancertainly not torn apart by the president of the united states. so that part i'm expecting to

hear a little bit about. but the other part i'm expecting to hear judy actually goes back to something in lisa's excellent part twof her biography of joe biden in that meeting with sarah palin in 2008 where the clip you showed him talking about people who are struggling at the kitchen table. the issues that were on the table in the 2008 campaign are on the table in the 2020 campaign but on steroids. because of the coronavirus pandemic put people out of work and the people, the american people who are, like all of us, trying not to become ill and all those jobs that are lost. the country is frightened, the country is looking for a light at the end of the tunnel and tonight is joe biden's opportunity to talk about the light at the end of the tunnel and what that looks like in a

biden/harris administration and how is he going to lead the nation to the end of that tunnel. >> woodruff: sarah smarsh specific up on that. what are you looking for fromim. what do you think he needs to say or do. how does he need to perform tonight? >> well that experience thing going on among the electorate specifically non-trump supporters that's ranging from moderate republicans to independents and the progressive wing of the democratic party moderates. there's a sort of kind of unusual feature, i think, in politics which is a simultaneous sense of severe demoralization and a sense of extreme activism and in some cases just a fat out civic awakening people are experiencing for the first time in their life from a perseemed imminent threat from our current

president toward our democracy. i think the activation piece has been thoroughly addressed throughout the convention to say this is a crises moment and we need to make a voting plan and come out an and unite around dod trump's opponent. we need to see a piece of that demoralization and this is picking up from another point from another panelist is that he really needs to address the hurt and pain and suffering of this moment which i think most folks like byien or not as well as what he's to do. >> woodruff: gary abernathy do you see that kind of reassurance, empathy, whatever worth you want to use, do you see -- whatever word you want to use, do you see that coming from him. >> vice president biden? >> woodruff: do you think he's capable. >> oh, absolutely. obviously that's a weakness for donald trump.

i mean, even if you like donald trump, you can't call him an empathetic person. empathy is not his strong suit. for those who think that's important, who look for that in their proceed, let's a slam dunk in the joe biden column, yes. >> woodruff: and so you're saying essentially he's got that part locked down. it's the other pat. i'm coming back to what you said earlier. >> and i think -- i'm sorry. >> woodruff: go ahead. i was picking up on what you said earlier. >> no. yeah. what i said earlier was about his, you know, trump is quepg his mental awe -- questioning his mental acuity and can joe stay focused for a long time. but on the empathy not only for what he's been through personally and just the kind of person everybody testifies that he is which i don't think anyone doubts at all, he's going to win the empathy vote. but you know, whether, i don't know the last election where the

republican was seen as the more empathetic candidate, it usually just doesn't work that way. >> woodruff: errin haines, put on your political reporter hat. when you think about what's going to be more important in this election, we know as sarah was saying there's a lot of hurt out there right now over the pandemic. is there going to be a greater than usual want, desire on the part of voters for a leader, for a president who can get us through this. or are they, or are americans looking for hard headed, you know, somebody you can come in and make the tough decisions get the economy back on track and so on. >> well you know dy, yes, as a political reporter, i'm sure you know this. one thing that the voters love in politics is the story of an under dog and the story of a come back. and that is joe biden's story. i mean this is somebody whose been running for public office

for most of his adult life. right? and now here we are in 2020. this is the third time that joe biden h run for president and this is also the third time that there is a woman on this ticket in the number two slot. so will it be third time's a charm or three strikes out. i think these are the kinds of narratives that are going to be laid out. in addition to the really discipline message to jonathan's point that we've heard all week, this has been a conversation about who joe biden is but this has also been a conversation about who the country is. framing the election in those dual terms i think is something that could potentially be very powerful for voters across the political spectrum. >> woodruff: i was struck, jonathan but what you said about the issue of the 2008, that excerpt from the debate, at least as joe biden framed it, a lot of those issues are still on the table today. this is after the obma

presidency eight years and after four years of donald trump, that says something about the country too, doesn't it? >> yes. it says something about the country but more importantly it says sething about the last four years. when president obama and vice president den left office, the economy was doing great. the country was doing very well and the president, president trump ran it into the ground. and so in 2008, when obama and biden came into office, the economy was in free fall. jobs were being lost and they rolled up their sleeves and they pulled it out. now in 2020, not only is the economy in free fall but the country is on lock down because of a global pandemic that the president of the united states hasn't done anything substantially to stop. on another point, and i'm going to push back on gary a bit here. i am not worried for one moment about vice president biden's

mental acuity or stamina. that is the last thing i think anybody has to worry about. whether his speech is long or short, the more important thing is what are the words in that speech. you can give on, we have seen all week extremely powerful speeches done with an economy of words which is a godsend of a virtual convention. and so whether joe biden goes for 10 minutes, 15 minutes or 30 minutes, as long as his message is substantive and tells the american people where he wants to take the country, not just about why donald trump is a danger not only to the country but to the idea of democracy. that's to me the measure of success. >> woodruff: gary abernathy do you want to respond in 10 seconds? >> ha ha ha. jonathan, we've got to have coffee sometime.

i do think it matters. i mean, let's be honest. biden had some moments that's not just gaps. he's had moments where he kind of trailed off and that have raised questions not just from trump. now it could just be nothing. it could just be the kind of moments anyone can have. but if it happens on the big stage tonight, that the biggest stage for him so far. if it happens because a question has been raised over and over, it is going to matter. now if it doesn't happen, it's probably closes the book on that question and jonathan's absolutely right. what he says will be a lot more important than anything else. but if it happens, it will be an issue. >> woodruff: sarah -- >> about president trump as well. we can't just let that sift without being -- that sit without being said. sorry judy. >> woodruff: that's all right. >> trump is out in the media all the time. trump isn't being handled and

put in the basement. trump's out there all the time. >> woodruff: sarah smarsh i was going to give you 10 seconds. i will still give you 10 seconds to weigh in on this. >> there is a perception among a lot of would be voters due to attacks by the trump camp along those lines about mental acuity on the part of the vice president. but you know, perception versus reality, i suppose we could say that politics kind of blurs that line. ultimately there is a set of would-be voters who to my mind have been misled in that direction but they will care and will be watching perhaps to pounce unfortunately if there is a perceived gap. >> woodruff: we will all be watching very closely tonight. thank you all. we'll be coming back to you. this week is also about uniting

divisions in the democratic party. earlier this evening i spoke with joe biden's main rival, vermont senator bernie sanders. senator sanders, thank you so much for joining us. i'm remembering 2016. you were running for president. you did support hillary clinton. you worked for her after she claimed the nomination. but you seem this week, at least to me, to be more enthusiastic, more committed in this election with joe biden as the nominee. why is that? >> i don't know that that's totally accurate. i dferg i coul did everything ie that hillary clinton became president and i'm going to do everything i can to see that joe biden becomes president. but i do appreciate that as you know, joe and i a couple months ago were able to sit down and come up with a proposal by which we put together six task forces representing progressives as well as people from his campaign, to work out proposals on some of the most important

issues facing this country. and all of the people that worked pretty hard and we came out with some pretty good proposals such that judy, i think if those proposals are implemented, it will make joe biden the most progressive president since fdr. so i feel good about that. >> woodruff: i want to ask you about that besenator we've heard some progress -- because senator we've heard some process seize this week. there hasn't been progressive vipsz heard at this convention and we heard new york mayor michael bloomberg who ran for non-nation this year. he is going to be the last as we understand it the last politician to speak and introducing joe biden tonight. are you okay with that? >> well, i would, given the fact that the progressive movement in this country is moving forward very very vigorously, we are attracting more and more supporters. we're winning more and more

elections. is your question is would i have preferred to see more progressives up there on the stage representing the needs of working families, representing the needs to combat clite change yielding in a vigorous way with immigration reform and criminal justice reform, the answer is yes. i would have liked very much to have seen more progressives up there on the stage. >> woodruff: you said a moment ago, senator, that you worked with these six task forces to influence the platform, to influence joe biden in this camign. but you know, you know as well as anybody that platforms in the past are not always paid a whole lot of attention to by prides -- by presidents who get elected. how much influence access do you realistically think you're going to have joe biden if he's elected. >> it's not just me, joe biden

is a good politician. i say that in a good sense. in a democratic society what the president has got to sense is where the american people are coming fom. i think joe fully understands that we cannot continue. for example, that millions of our workers employed at salvation wages. we need to raise minimum wage to a living wage. we need to make it easier for workers to join unions. we need tush rigorous in combatinclimate change. i think joe biden understands all of that ask we're living in an unprecedented moment in american history where so many people are hurting, unemployed, don't have any health insurance, worried about getting evicted from their homes, can't feed their families. i think joe understands that reality and will act accordingly. >> woodruff: i want to ask you about that because i'm curious to know what do you say to your supporters and they say he's not for medicare for all, he's not for the green new deal with regard to climate change, he's not for defunding the

police. what do you say? >> what i say to my supporters is, we fought a vigorous campaign. we put together an unprecedented grass-roots movement but we lost. and right now, our immediate task is to defeat the most dangerous president in the history of this country, a person who is a pathological liar, who doesn't believe in science and is underminding america democracy. a person who basically said if he loses this election by definition, it is risked. that's what donal it is rigged. that's what donald trump is saying. he doesn't think he can lose the election. >> woodruff: if joe biden is saying he's not going to say serious opposition from the right he's going to face a lot of pressure from the left. >> i think i wouldn't phrase it pressure from the left. he's going to say american people who are hurting today are going to face young people who are going deeply into death

because going to college. they want action. >> woodruff: in the meantime he's going to be working to get elected and you'll be out there trying to help him. senator bernie sanders, we thank you very much. >> thank you, judy. >> woodruff: we turn now to an official voice from the biden campaign. kate bedingfield is deputy campaignanager and joins me now. very good to see you again. >> thank you for having me. >> woodruff: absolutely. so tonight, what will we learn from joe biden. >> tonight you're going to hear him lay out his positive vision for his country. there's going to be a lot of talk tonight about his biography and his own story of resilience. you'll see him in his speech really talk about th resilience of the american people. he's really going to use this opportunity tonight to lay out something that's been really fundamental to the campaign since the day heot into the race. frankly it's been fundamentalto the way he's approached public

life for his entire time in office. which is a belief tht we can unify, that we can come together to get things done. that in fact it's the only way to get things done. so you're going to hear him tonight reawaffirm his belief tt in these divisive times we're living in we can youth. it' unite. it's will be an inspiring message for those looking for leadership at this time in our country. >> woodruff: what do you say to bernie sanders and others they wish there had been more progressive voices front and center at this convention? >> look we certainly wish we had more time to have speakers from across the political spectrum participate in the convention. we had a much more limited amount of time given the restrictions that we had on the convention. but what i would say is, you know, i think the convention really, the program is real

represented. the breadth of america. i think you saw for example the keynote i believe on tuesday, you had 17 up and coming leaders in this country, in the democratic party from all across the country, from all different ideological perspectives, you know, really talking about their belief both in joe biden and kamala harris but also in the future of america. so i think the convention paroling h reall -- programmings really underscored th fact across the course of his career joe biden is able to work with all kinds of different people to get things done. i think that's something again the american people really want at a time when we have a president who is more interested in dividing us and sowing chaos and coming together to get things down. >> woodruff: five of president trump's closest associates have been indicted. paul manafort, michael flynn, roger stone, michael cohen and steve bannon. voters seem to care a lot more

about healthcare, about this pandemic, about jobs. so how much is joe biden going to be talking about this part of donald trump is legacy in this campaign? >> i certainly wouldn't expect to hear this tonight. you know, as you say voters are really focused on how he's going to make a difference in their lives and he's going to use this opportunity tonight to really talk about that. but i do think it reflects a larger fundamental failing of the presidency that people are stick and tired of which is that donald trump has used his time in office, he has used the most powerful platform in the world essentially to benefit himself, to enrich his friends, to enrich the people who worked for him. he has focused the entirety of the trump administration on what is good for donald trump. rather than on what is good for the american people. so i think that's something that people are fired of. i think in november they are

going to reject it and i think again there couldn't be a stronger contrast with somebody like joe biden who has spent his entire life working on behalf of the american people. >> woodruff: yes or no question. will he be out on the campaign trail during the republican convention? >> we're going to have to wait and see on that. i don't have any news i can make tonight. i will say that you're going to see democrats across the board really holding donald trump accountable for his failure to manage the coronavirus. you're going to see democrats making the strong case that trump's failure to get the virus under control has led to the cratering of the economy and the ability to send our kids back to school this fall. you will see democrats holding donald trump accountable next week during the republican convention. >> woodruff: meaning maybe he's not talking about it but other democrats will. is that what you're saying? >> yes, absolutely. you'll see it from the campaign,

you'll see it from democrats across the country. >> woodruff: what about for the rest of the campaign? i mean from now until november? until election day. >> in terms of will joe biden be traveling? >> woodruff: yes. >> i think what you're going to see is a mix of in-person avel and virtual events. we've from the outset of this pandemic, we have really made the public health guidance our north star in terms of determining what we do and don't do. and you know joe biden believes it is really incumbent on him to model responsibility behavior. so you're going to continue to see a lot of events like you've seen over the last couple months socially distant responsible events and a lot of virtual event where with a can reach people digitally in a real safe way. >> woodruff: campaign manager for joe biden, thank you so much. it's great to see you. >> thank you so much for having me judy, i really appreciate it. >> woodruff: as we get ready for the continuing of tnight's

ken vention we'll take a short break for some of our local pbs stations. our coverage will continue in just one minute. stay with us.

>> woodruff: good evening, i am judy woodruff. welcome back to our pbs newshour special coverage of this final night of the democratic national convention. the dnc's final convention nht is just starting. the emcee tonight is actress julia louis-dreyfuss. we are ing to difficult into the convention and let you see what's going on there.

>> an idea, an idea stronger than any army, bigger than any ocean, more powerful than any dictator or tyrant. it gives hope. this nation, we believe in honesty, decency, treating everyone with respect, giving everyone a fair shot. leaving nobody behind. hate is no safe harbor. leaving by power of our example not by the example of power. that's a beacon to the world. being part of something bigger than ourselves. it's a code. it's uniquely american code. the most powerful idea in the history of thworld. the american dream. we're all created equal. i think beats in the heart of the people of this country.

this time next year i hope the virus is in check and the american spirit is unleashed and that we're not fearing but hoping again. >> this is what i hope to see next year. >> i hope the chosen community er chaos. we've chosen unity over division and we've chosen love over hate. >> i believe that america will have faith in its darkest moment and will have come out better. >> america will be coming together not splintering apart. >> no mow, n more, no more pain. >> healthcare is a human right. >> the promise of america will be restored for all our communities, all our families, for all of us.

and when i say all of us [speaking spanish] >> i am confident next year we'll have a president with real leadership not jus just tweets. >> i hope we're listening more to dr. fauciy. >> i hope we get back to work. >> mitch mcdonald and donald trump. >> this time next year all america whether they are democrats, independents or republicans will be proud of their president, will be proud of their vice president. >> and that our recovery is truly people up, families up and communities up. >> people believe they have a government that is working for them. out there every day doing it best for them. >> i want to see the president of the united states, look them in the eye and tells what rights

are protected. >> i hope america has to champion the rights of all young women and girls. this time next year i want to understand what military families need. >> who cares about their right and lives of people. >> who care about our environment again. >> passing immigration reforms. >> i hope we have a president who honor treaty rights and tribal sovereignty. >> a year from now i want to see the kids playing on the playground. >> i take pride in my job and our customers. but next year i want to do it without wearing a mask or gloves. >> i hope that we are all celebrating landmark legislation that the biden/harris administration shepherds into congress and signs into law. >> i hope next year we will be able to look forward to the day we will send our children to school without fear of gun violence. >> this time next year. >> this time next year. >> this time next year i hope this country realizes that we

have in fact reclaim the soul of america. >> this time next year i hope and pray that america will have restored democracy to the world. >> we recommit ourselves to come together, one nation, under god. >> one nation, under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice r all. >> this time next year i want to see joe biden in the oval office. >> hello america. i'm andrew yang. you might know me as the guy who ran for president talk big math in the future. unfortunately for all of us, that future is now. the pandemic has accelerated everything. if you're like me and my wife evelyn you don't know if your child's school is going to reopen this fall. 72% of americans believe this is the worst time we have ever experienced and 42% of the jobs that have been lost, millions of

jobs will never return. we are in a deep dark hole and we need leaders who help us dg out. i know many politicians promise and then fail to deliver. if you voted for trump or didn't vote at all back in 2016, i get it. of us have gotten tired of our leaders being far removed from our every day lives and we despair that our government will ever rise to the challenges of our times. we must give this country, our country a chance to recover. and recovery is only possible with the change of leadership and new ideas. bold and innovative policies that will get help into your hands that midst of this crises are now possible. but we need your help to turn the page for our country in 75 days. we are here tonight to celebrate joe biden's nomination as a democratic candidate for president. i have gotten to know both joe and kamala on the trail over the past years. the way you get to know a peson when the cameras are off and the crowds are gone just you and them. they're real people.

they understand the problems we face. there are parents and patriots who want the best for us in their country. if we give them a chance they will fight for us and our families every single day. our future is now and it is fonting but i ask you tonight -- daunting. but i ask you tonight to turn the page of our country and look forward to a country we are proud to leave to our children. i want to turn this over to another democrat. between the two of us we have to emmys. julia louis-dreyfuss. >> hi. good to see you. what did you think of kamala harris' speech last night. >> it was tremendous, i was so happy for her. >> me too. she's fabulous. i cannot way to see her debate or current joe biden make a pint or is it paint. >> it's pronounced ponce, i believe. >> some kind of weird foreign

name. >> not very american sounding. >> yeah, that's what people are saying, strongly. well thank you, andrew. and please give my regards to the gang. >> i will. they are right in the next room. have a great night, julia. >> thank you so much. good evening america and welcome to the fourth night of the 2020 democratic national convention uniting america. okay. these last few nights have been going so well we decided to have a add fifth night where we will just play michelle obama's speech on a loop. i first met joe biden when i was doing my show weeds. i played the vice president and he was in fact the vice president and we hit it off immediately. soon after i was asked to be on the cover of a magazine. remember those. and i was so excited. what's it going to be, people or vogue or rolling stone.

>> woodruff: we are continuing to keep an eye on julia louis-dreyfuss. one talented woman. a bit of attempted humor there playing around with the pronouncation of mike pence's name. while we watch julia louis-dreyfuss we'll turn to our own lisa desjardins who has has ms. dreyfuss in vibe's home town. lisa. >> this is the convention and welcome to the bed of lisa goodman's pick up truck. lisa goodman from middle creek, delaware was kind enough to let us stand in her pick up truck for our coverage tonight. i raise that, because judy this event really does have a small town feel to it. even though obviously it's a national residents, it feels like something small town and homey. i know your guests have been talking about how long will vice

president biden speak tonight. this is something i've done a lot of reporting on. when you talk to former staffers of joe biden, many of them will say that speech writers in particular are people that have maybe the toughest job working for biden because he pays such attention to every word he says and, as some of your guests commented, he speaks at length. it remind me of an anecdote i read in his own book righting about a 1987 speech. he wrote my speech was a little less than 40 minutes. just a quick tour of my views on foreign policy. so there is a real question about how long he will go and i can tell you, from speaking to dozens of former and current staffers who worked for this man, he pays attention to every single word in his speeches. >> woodruff: and so do the people who listen to him, i am sure. lisa desjardins reporting from wilmington delaware with that tidbit from joe biden's book which actually is very relevant.

i'm here in the studio with amy walter. very relevant because people are asking how long is he going to talk. this is a man who has been known to talk and talk and talk. >> and we have been kind of conditioned over this week, judy, about how this is a new kind of convention, convention running on time. we're actually getting in and out of this process pretty, in an orderly way. i do want to raise one thing that i am very curious when we speak about the vice president's speech tonight and one thing we haven't heard much about it, david brooks raised it as well. this idea of bringing back the economy kind of going to the hard hat, the lunch pail kind of value set we haven't heard much about as i sort of thought we would. one person i'm surprised we didn't see giving one of these speeches is sherry brown the senator from ohio who was thinking of running from

president. comes fromhio he has really been able to sort of hold on to a mid western state thanks in part to a populist economic message but he also has the progressive social voting record. and he's able to sort of channel that angst that so many voters in the mid west have been feeling for quite some time. the frustration about where we are in this country. i was a little bit surprised that somebody like that didn't get more of a starring role. >> woodruff: it's a very good point, amy. and he was part of the program but not in a most visible role. you're absolutely right, ohio is a state that's faced some tough time when it comes to the economy and the collapse of the industrial base of this country. and it's been fighting it's way back. >> the appeal was he's the kind of person who can go to michigan and penses an pennsylvania and n

and ohio and they did not sense that from hillary clinton. >> woodruff: we're going back to amna nawaz around the corporate in our studio. she has an emerging battle ground. >> georgia haven't voted for a democratic presidential candidate since 1992 but analysts say this year it's a toss up and both the biden and trump campaigns want and are fighting for those 16 electoral votes. bill nigut is political rewind from georgia public broadcasting and he joins us now. bill welcome. you have a political conversation you talk to voters every single day. tell us how the message that mocrats you delivering this week is landing with them and also what they think of this virtual convention. >> well first of all what we're seeing in georgia is a closer rate than we've ever seen before on polling. it's a toss anna coring to three

or four different polls and even if you don't tend to believe the polls and the pollsters you can take the word on the trump campaign because they're investing heavily in tv advertising in georgia so they think it might be a toss up state as well. now georgia's been talking about turning blue for about a decade or so and it hasn't happened yet and this may or may not be the year but there's enormous energy for joe biden here. at the same time the trump campaign is investing heavily in a gig. they claim they will have 10,000 volunteers on the ground as election day approaches and they say they've already rched out over five million voters so we'll watch how that unfolds. >> speaking of ground game we shall point out georgia is also the place where stacey abrams had their fight group registering a new democratic voter and mobilize them in this upcoming election for sure. it's also noted by a lot of efforts and analysts as a georgia being ground zero for

voter suppression. so amid this conversation about the influx of mail-in ballots we're expecting in this next contest tell us how you think that could influence what happens in georgia. >> first of all the fact stacey abrams has an organization that can go out and compete on the ground should not go unfocused. as far as voter suppression, you're right it played in a national way in the 2018 gubernatorial race that stacey abrams was the democratic candidate in. what's interesting is that now it's president trump who has brought the issue back more dramatically and with more impact than ever before by talking the fact that mail-in voting is going to be fraudulent length by having a postmaster general who is dismantling aspects of the united states postal service.

some people believe in an attempt to press the votes. georgia in the past has had real problems with voter suppression here. but now the president has amplified it and made it even more striking to voters i think in this state. >> you told one of my colleagues earlier you think this election in georgia is really going to be a referendum on president trump. there could be georgia voters who are just unshamy with him though and decide to stay home. are you hearing from the voters you're talking to there's any part of the message from democrats this week that's resonating with them that says to them they're going to get out and support biden. >> this week is all about contrast of the character of joe biden and the character of donald trump clearly. in fact i think it's clear despite there are enormous policy issues between the two of them, democrats and the rest is joe biden as a man of principle, humanity and empathy. i think that message is going to

resonate with many democrats here because they're already out, they voted in enormous numbers. they outvoted republicans in our primary in june. they have registered more voters than the democrats have so i do think there's energy around the democratic campaign. one final note on that i think that's important is the numbers for are joe biden began rising in this state in the polls even at a time when biden was staying pretty much out of site in late spring may and june in the media and yet his numbers went up. so i think that more than anything else tells you that this is in fact a referendum on president trump as much as anything else. >> georgia will be a state to watch. people know as well as you that is bill nigut from georgia state broadcasting. thanks smuch. >> woodruff: thank you amna. for sure georgia's a state to

watch. speaking about the state of georgia, this is a year when we lost a legend of american politics and a leader of the civil rights movement. coming up will be a look at the life and legacy of john lewis, of course the congressman from the state of georgia. let's listen to the national democratic committee right now. >> i want so hope because what you all did was astounding. i don't know whether you all know this. all those who died or were killed by this white supremacist they forgave him. they forgave him. the ultimate act of christian charity, they forgave him. do you know reverend, i'm not plus tieing. i happen to be a practicing -- proselytizing. i happen to be a catholic. i went back to church because i found particularly the black church. in this case it was not an

episcopal church. i found that famous phrase from kierkegaard faith be best in the dark. i find the one thing it gives me and i'm not trying to proselytize, i'm not trying to convince you to share my views but for me it's important because it gives me some reason to have hope. and purpose. >> just remember, joe biden goes to church so regularly that he doesn't even need tear gas and a govern of federalized troops to help him get there. no one fought harder for your right to vote than john lewis. here to speak about him and his legacy we have one of our great mayors, atlanta's keisha lance bottoms. mayor bottoms, hello. i know you're recovering from the coronavirus. how are you feeling? >> well good evening.

i feel really good, thank you for asking. my hs bund on the other hand is still having many of the lingering side effects that people talk about but all in all our family's doing great. >> i'm glad to hear it. i think a lot of americans are going to be dealing with that for a long time. mayor, i want to ask you, is atlanta ready for election day. >> we will be ready and we are going to do everythinwe can to make sure that voting goes smoothly but we are encouraging people. if you can vote early in your state to please do so. early vote joins the early vote. >> perfect. excellent advice. over 40 states now allows some form of early voting. okay stay safe, mayor, and i turn it over to you. >> thank you julia. and good evening.

i'm keisha lance bottoms, a mother of four. and mayor of atlanta georgia, cradlef the civil rights movement. and like so many other cities, a place where the struggle for human dignity continues. i'm proud to have grown up in this city. educated in its public schools and blessed to have known our home town heroes like dr. joseph lowry, dr. c.t. vivian and our teacher, our friend, our conscious, our congressman john lewis. he walked gently amongst us. not as a dis opportunity icon but as a god fairing man who did what he could to fulfill the as yet unfulfilled promise of america. people often think they can't make a difference like our civil rights icon. but every person in the movement mattered.

those who made the sandwiches, swipt thswept the church floorsd the envelopes, they too changed america and so can we. the baton has now been passed to each of us. we cried out for justice. we have gathered in our streets to de manne demand change and nt pass on the gift john lewis sacrificed to give us. we must register and we must vote. in his parting essay written to us, kongma congressman louis has pride in what swept this country. he reminded us if we fail to exercise our right to vote, we can lose it. there are those who are disgracefully using this pandemic to spread misinformation and interfere

with voting, forcing many, in 2020 to still risk their lives to exercise their sacred right to vote. a right at has already been paid for with the blood, sweat, tears and lives of so many. so let's stand up for our children, our children's children and for this great democracy that our ancestors worked to build and let's vote. and let's organize to get others to vote with us. you can help make this happen by texting vote to 30330. we know how important it is that we elect real leaders like joe biden and kamala harris. people of honor and integrity who hold justice close to their hearts and believe that the

lives of my four plaque children matter. in the words of a poet audrey lord your s so solace will not protect you. we cannot be silent. we cannot wait for some other time, soar other place so many e other heroes. we must be the heroes of our generation because we too are america. our votes can be our voice. >> there's something deep down moving me that i could no longer be satisfied to be a christian.

life was extremely dangerous when we were growing up. john lewis had the respect of everybody because he was the one who demonstrated the most courage. he had been beaten andnocked down and get up and go to find another battle. john was foused on ending voter suppression. it wasn't that he was a great orator, it was that he was a great spirit. the power of spirituality and humility and the willingness to reflect suffering and not inflict it. >> one thing about john is that he had to sacrifice but if you're sacrificing for a cause,

something bigger than you and you really believe in it, then you have people following you. >> we do not get many from this congress. we'll march through the streets of cambridge, through the streets of bur of bummerrington. >> he is the singular figure trying to carry out the work of non-violent campaigns into the halls of congress. >> from day one john lewis was a role model for the members of congress whether they were freshmen or here a long time. because he brought with him a kind of heft, a weightiness of purpose. >> i got arrested a few times in the 60's. 40 times.

and since i've been in congress, another five times. the means by which we struggle must be the constitution in the end we seek. >> for someone who has navigated thorny issues of policies not by castigating alone but by also encouraging people to be better than they think they can be. >> today we're considering a fair housing manager which not only protects our nation's minorities but it protects the need for those of disabilities and families with children. how long do we have to wait before we design to ban assault weapons. we have another opportunity to bring more of our citizens into political participation. i have on my marching shoes. i'm fired up. i'm ready to march. >> all of these decades later while he and others of his generation achieved much, we're still fighting against police brutality and fighting for our voting rights. and so we best honor him by

continuing to fight the good fight that he fought, by staying in good trouble. ♪ our freedom can't wait. together let's ♪ fight for what's right ♪

>> we will create a beloved community. we will redeem the soul of america as a nation and as a people, we will get there. ♪ one day we'll be together ♪ some day he will be ours oh the day ♪ we will be oh.

♪ no man knows every day women and men become legends ♪ the movement is the rhythm ♪ listen to us. if it's distant or not justice for all just think specifi revisited us. that's why rosa sat on the bus. >> woodruff: you are watching rat common and singer john legend the song is "gloryism it won an academy award in the movie "selma" this is the conclusion of a tribute, remarkable tribute, another yet another tribute to the life civil rights icon, john lewis, who of course passed away earlier this year. as we listen we want to turn to

our own mark shields and david brooks. mark, this fight for racial justice that's this country is undergoing right now, is really the rebirth of the civil rights movement. and it's woven through what joe biden and democratic party is saying to the american people this year, this matters. >> nouestion, judy. the difference of course from the original is that when the civil rights act of 1964, voting rights act of 1965 were enacted a larger percentage of republicans supported that legislation than did democrats. but since then we've seen the parties roles change, the party's mission and vision change and now it is a democratic issue. we heard from christie whitman

who was represented that pro civil rights republican party. susan molinari of a different era. it's very much resonating in this campaign just as it was in the 1960s. >> woodruff: david brooks, very powerful images we've been looking at. i think we never get tired of watching john lewis march across the bridge, even though of course 40, 50 years ago he confronted a terrible adversary. but how much is this -- how important is this right now to the democratic party message? >> first i've never performed with common before, i hope i can do this every friday night. it's central, you know, it's funny that george floyd thing galvanized the nation. what was striking about the mars that came after how diverse they were in atlanta, minneapolis, 70-80% of the marchers were

white. i think there was a sense first that we've had enough. second, that the african american experience over the course of 400 years was somehow representative and extreme version of the that is right people were feeling. the country is not going to healed unless that rift is not healing. the attempt to heal that rift is in a way the engine for the he healing of the country. and so i think this issue like immigrant experience in previous generations has become in some ways the mystical issue of the american present. >> woodruff: it is, you mentioned the death of george floyd at the hand of a police officer. mark shields, that one event, that one galvanizing event has truly transformed this year and this moment as we say, it's the civil rights movement of today.

>> absolutely, judy. and the technology made it so real and so irrefutable. the evidence was there. it was white indifference, cruelty, sadistic indifference you could say. that watched a man die under the power and elbow to the neck by a white policeman. so the case that was not a different treatment to african machines was tough one to defend after that. and thank goodness there was a public response. >> woodruff: well staying with the theme of american history. we are going back to the democratic national convention programming right now.

>> someone who understands the soul of the american people. i'm historian john meacham, days before his death, martin luther king junior said, we are tied together in the single garment of destiny. this is the way it is structur structured. a single gary meant of destiny. we the people cannot escape that reality nor as lincoln taught us can you and i escape history. and we shouldn't want to, for many of us have been given much, liberty, opportunity, a sense of possibility the task of our time is to make sure that those gifts are available, not just to folks who look like me, but to all of us. this is a grave moment in america. a deadly virus is railroadaging

us. our jobs are evaporating. our faith in the things that are bind us together for fraying for our democracy is under assault from an incumbent more interested in himself than the rest of us. extremism, nativism, isolation isolationism and lack of economic opportunity for working people are all preventing us from realizing our nation's promise. and so we must decide whether we will continue to be prisoners of the darkest of american forces or will we free ourselves to write a brighter, better, nobler story? that's the issue of this election. a choice that goes straight to the nature of the soul of america. humankind has long viewed the soul as the vital center, the core, the essence of existence. the soul is what makes us, us. in its finest hours, america's soul has been animated by the proposition that we are all

created equal and by the impair sieve to ensure that we are treated equally. yet america is a mix of light and shadow. seneca falls and selma and sto stonewall dwell in the american soul, but so do the impulse, is that have given us slavery, segregation and systemic discrimination. often, we'd prefer to hear the trumpets aer than face the tragedies. but an honest accounting of who we've been can enable us to see who we should be, a country driven by the best parts of our soul, not by the worst, a country informed by reason and candor not by ego and lies. a country that is big hearted not narrow minded. the struggle to be who we ought to be is difficult, demanding and ongoing. change in america has been pai painful and provisional. the civil war led to segregati

segregation, the new deal to right-wing reaction, civil rights to white backlash. yet history, which will surely be our judge, can also be our guide. from harriet tubman to alice paul to john lewis, from the beaches of normandy to the rending of the iron curtain, our story has soured when we've built bridges, not walls. when we've lent a hand, not when we've pointed fingers, when we've hoped, not feared. if we live hope, we open our souls to the power of love. we've been taught to love our neighbors as ourselves. as individuals and as a nation, however, we fail at following that commandment more often than we succeed. but when we fail, we must try again and again and again, for only in trial is progress possible. from jamestown forward our story

has become fuller and fairer becausof people who share a conviction that dr. king articulated on that sunday half a century ago. "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it depends toward justice." bending that arc requires all of us. it requires we the people, and it requires a president of the united states with empathy, grace, a big heart and an open mind. joe biden will be such a president. let us now write the next chapter of the american story, one of hope, of love, of justi justice. if we do so we might just save our country and our souls. >> good evening i'm congressman deb holland, i'm grateful to be here on indigenous land.

in communities that had sustained them for millennia on lands they loved and respected. my people, the pueblo indians, migrated to the rio grande valley in the late 1200s toe escape drought. we were led to the great river and tributaries where we established an agricultural tradition that continues to this day. my people survived centuriesf slavery, genocide and brutal assimilation policies. but throughout our past tribal nations have fought for and helped to build this country. there were those like my laguna grandparents who worked on our country's railroad. and tose like my mother a navy veteran, who rved this country with honor. i stand here today, a proud 3 35th generation new mexico one

of the first native american women elected to congress. i'm a symbol of ouresilience as the embody of america's progress as a nation. i know we can't take our democracy for granted, especially now as people are dying, as our land is abused as our nstitution is under attack attack. we must work for it by getting involved, by registering voters, by voting. voting is sacred, my people know that. we weren't universally granted the right to vote until 1962. that right is more important than ever. whether your ancestors have been here for hundreds of years or you're a new citizen, know this, whether we vote and how we vote will determine if our nation's promise of social, racial and environmental justice will out last us. joe biden and kamala harris

respecour past and understand our present. they will see us through this crisis of leadership that is plaguing our country and they will help us to build a better future. thank you. ♪ rise up, come on, rise up >> the first year that i voted was 1974. >> 1967. >> i have not missed a general or a primary election in my 51 year voting history. >> i don't go to the polls any more. the u.s. pstal service does it for me. >> and now we're seeing our current president sabotage our right to vote, sabotaging democracy by trying to undue the postal system. >> my father worked for the postal service for 30 years. >> my mother worked for that local post office for ten years. that job enabled her to feed her family. >> i am appalled at what the

republicans and the president are trying to do to subvert the vote. >> nothing or no one will stop me from voting this election. >> we need to keep our mail system. we need joe biden. ♪ rise up >> where are they going? where are these ballots going? who is getting them? who is not getting them? will they be stolen from mail boxes as they get put in by the mailman? will they be taken from the pwid who is signing them. what are they signed at the kitchen table and sent in? will they be counter fitted by groups inside our nation? will they be counterfitted by

millions by foreign powers. >> let me put this in my own words. i've heard donald trump say some pretty unhinged thing. i've heard them over and over and over again. but nothing is more dangerous to our democracy than his attacks on mail-in voting during a pandemic. okay, here is the truth. donald trump doesn't want any of us to vote because he know he can't win fair and square. so whether you plan to vote by hail or in person wearing your mask, it is our vote and it's your right. don't let donald trump take that away from you. for accurate, up to date voting information that you can trust, text vote to 30330. one more time, text "vote" to 30330. >> woodruff: that was comedian sarah cooper who has rocketed in popularity this year with her imitations, her voice imitations we should say as you

just saw of president trump. at least in some quarters. yamiche alcindor joins us now. sarah cooper represents shall we say, a reaction to president trump out there that has probably gotten under his skin a little. >> that's right. we even saw the moderator tonight poking fun at president trump saying that one of the attributes of joe biden is that he can read i am flying essentially that president trump isn't someone who is qualified for the job. i should though talk to you judy that a fact that the president is doing a speech on fox news doing interview with sean hannity as we speak. the president has been counter programming all week this is something different. president literally went to scranton,ennsylvania, today and in his remarks said that joe biden had failed pennsylvania, of course joe biden grew up in scranton, pennsylvania, the president was really defending himself on joe biden's turf. the president on fox news just now as dnc is going on he's sa

saying that democrats would take away second amendment, they would crash the economy. he also said, judy, i wouldn't be president without them. >> woodruff: yamiche, the other -- the president's made a fair amount much news this week we've pointed it out. typical thing is, the party ou t of pour that candidate does not surface a lot in the public eye. when the other party is having their nvention. president trump has been before the public eye every day certainly of this one. but one of the comments he's made has gotten some attention and that is, praising the candidate in georgia, congressional candidate who espouses the quonon conspirac theory. what is your understanding, yamiche of why the president embraces this? >> people watching le us know, quonon is conspiracy theory says there are pedophiles and candles within the government and that

president trump is trying to save our country this people. he has not denounced this theory he has trafficked in his own c conspiracy theories. it goes back to the fact that trump doesn't want to alienate anyone. he won by very, very slim margin he understands again that in 2020 he's probably going to be looking at a very slim margin again we're looking at battleground states like pennsylvania, like ohio, like florida and as a result he doesn't want anyone to feel like he's talking bad about them or doing something that makes tem feel that they're not included in this umbrella. >> woodruff: in the few seconds we have left, what are you hearing about next week's republican convention? >> with the rnc, we know that the president is going to be delivering his speech at the white house. but a lot is still a mystery. we know there are going to be defending the president's past and the economy and his response to covid. but we're still unsure of exactly what it's going to look

like. >> woodruff: and i know it's not for lack of asking. we've been discussing this every day i think for the last month. and have not been able to find out. but as you said -- >> i've been stalking sources. >> woodruff: you have. and now, we're going to hear from new jersey democratic senator cory booker part of the democratic nation natural convention. >> i'm here because a union job lifted my family out of poverty. and into the middle class. my grandfather left e jim crow south for detroit, joined the uaw. he got a job on the assembly lines during world war ii. that union job enabled him to support his family, raise my mom and send her to fisk university. that's the american dream. together we work, together we rise. joe biden and kamala harris know the dignity of all working americans, they know the urgency

and the demand of our dream. but working people are under attack. the wealth gap grows our middle class shrinks and poverty persists. last week donald trump said and i quote, our economy is doing good. while 40 million americans are at risk of losing their homes. 30 million aren't getting enough to eat and 5.4 million people have lost their health care because of this crisis. he has failed us. but still, i believe in the dream of our ancestors. together with joe and kamala in the white house, will raise the minimum wage so no one who works a full time job in america lives in poverty. together we'll fight for those who keep us healthy, who keep us safe, who teach our children. we'll stand for those who cook and serve and clean works plant

and harvest, who pack and always those who deliver. whose hands are thick with callouses like my grand dad's were. lifted me high, who held mine when i was a boy. if he was alive, joe and kamala, he would be so proud of you and he'd tell us, take another by the hand and another and let's get to work. this dream ain't free, you got to work for it. so like his generation, up and out of the depression, let's now work together and stand togeth together. and america, together. we will rise. >> it is my team. you guys -- not wall street. you build america. >> that's right. americans just want to live meekly comfortable i have a wife that works as well.

we have 17 and 7-year-old at home. and we're still working. thanks to international executive board for getting with general motors and making sure that it's safe for us to return back to work after eight weeks of being laid off. it's a hoax at one point, now here we are full blown. >> yep. well i tell you what, the future of auto workers in america, i really believe this, can be as bright as it was back the late '40s, 50s. tim pell reason, it's an iconic industry. it's an american industry. we made it. we made it. >> yes. thank you. >> it's been a very interesting 2020. i've been in the fire service 16 years and never experienced anything like covid. we had to change our full tactics for our day-to-day. now had a hurricane that just came in two weeks ago and we were almost right on the eye. we were doing things we've never

thought we'd be doing. water rescues with masks on. having to worry about covid. it was interesting. >> how is your family doing? >> i'm a single dad i have almost 5-year-old who is my world. and i'm very lucky that my parents are retired. my mom retired right after my daughter was born to help us with her. she was so looking forward to pre-k going to the big school like she says, then u unfortunately all this covid came in and now it's all going to be online schooling which i'm fortunate i have my parents. but i do have a lot of guys that are double income families and they're just trying to figure out how they're going to do it with their kids. what arrangements are going to make since they're not going to school. >> it's two people in the household. i have a family of two and we have grown up kids that are no longer in the household. but it takes two people to bui build. we have ongoing goal of a fiv five-year goalf buying a house

in the next five years. hopefully we'll save, save, save. >> look, everybody, you talk about the middle class. the fact is that the way middle class generates wealth overwhelmingly is building up equity in their home. that's what gets passed on from one generation to the next, equity in a home. >> middle class is taking hits. one of the reason why we're on this call is bee realize how important it is to have you in the white house. we need a comprehensive energy policy for renewable resources, which i know you have one. and if we're going to build the middle class, it's about the jobs. >> the future really rests on investment. we're going to be investing $2 trillion for infrastructure, making sure that we have access to do things that really make a difference. like what you do in that collar facility outside of harrisburg. i'm a scranton now. central pennsylvania is okay but

northeast -- [ laughter ] keep the faith, guys. >> thank you, sir. >> thank you so much. >> we appreciate you! >> woodruff: that is the about to be -- about to accept democratic presidential nomination. joe biden we'll here from i'm in the next hour so having but having conversation with union workers from across the country. let's turn now to our analysts, michael nutter and chris buski buskirk. how much of an issue is the economy in this election and who has the upper hand? >> it is the issue. i think you can almost ignore every other issue. it's exaggeration but it is the driving force. we are in this severe recession, we've got massive unemployment as a result of covid and responses to it. and look, we've been in sort of a period where there's been a secular stagnation in wages. ha is what is bei felt by middle and working class. it is absolutely the issue not

just in those battleground states along the great lakes but every place in the country except perhaps in the mega cities on the coast where people are doing pretty well. every place else the middle and working class are in a very, very precarious situation. and the polling recently that we've done but supported by other people who have done polling on this subject, show that more people trust donald trump with the economy. so i think this is where the battle is really going to be fought out by president trump and by joe biden. >> woodruff: what about that, michael nutter, it is the case that even know joe biden is le leading in these national polls for the most part, some cases by double digits. when you ask people about the economy right now, most of these polls show they prefer -- they think donald trump wouldo a better job with the economy. >> well, judy, that is absolutely directly a result of donald trump having inherited the obama-biden economy. the economy was rip roaring

pretty well as president obama, vice president biden were leaving office. so, it's like, you know, i mean if i became the coach of the chicago bulls when they were in their heyday, even i probably could have led them to a championship. but this is the economy that donald trump has now. and not to disagree with chris but to add on to, the economy is not the only issue. you have 170,000 americans have died as a result of coronavirus, much of due to the incompence of donaltrump and his white house. you also have significant civil unrest and racial disparities that are not going away. and continue to raise a whole host of issues, not just with black and brown people but also white people and asians and many others realizing finally that what black and brown people have been talking about for a long period of time is real. institutional racism is significant in this country.

so all three of those are happ happening at the same time as a president shall election. on everyone of those issues, donald trump has failed and joe biden has a great record on those issues and will lead us going forward and layout plans to bring america back together, have a plan for a national plan to deal with covid-19. as well as putting people back to work. donald trump has not done ha. >> woodruff: chris buskirk respond to that, the point about pandemic being the broader issue that touches on the economy and on everything else. and what is the president's response to the points around inequity that mayor noticer bringing up. >> far be it for me to speak for the president, but i think what he would say or i definitely think what he should say when he talks about those things is that there is -- there is a massive class inequity that has been building for a long time in this

country. the economy that bee have right now works quite well. if you are wealthy or in the professional managerial class it has worked increasingly less well for people in the center part of the country and what we call fly-over states it's worked increasingly less well for the middle and working class regar regardless of race. you can look at the data on that. and that is where any administration, trump administration, any administration that comes after that needs to think long and hard about what it means to build up american wages. that means increasing productivity and innovation. raising the minimum wage may take some of the pressure off for a short period of time but it doesn't address the underlying structural issues that have been building up for a long time. >> woodruff: and michael nu nutter, is -- does joe biden have a plan to address those structural issues? >> absolutely. he has laid out that plan. he's laid out variety of plans, one specifically addressing many issues that black people care about, latino community care

about. and white workers who low income and maybe skills challenged or focused on. donald trump does not have a plan for any of those issues and just will continue to drive division, blame other people, pit americans against each oth other. he doesn't have any plans. he doesn't know how to manage the current situation. but there's no escaping the fact that coronavirus will continue to be for the next 75 days the driving issue for most people as they can't figure out if their kids are going back to school, businesses are closed. do i have a job. and what is going on with the economy. the stock market is not the only indicator of what is going on in the american economy. >> woodruff: michael nutter, chris buskirk, thank you, we'll come back to you through this night we're going back to democratic national convention programming as they lead in to their next segment, we'll hear from world war ii veterans.

>> we cannot let that happen! >> if you want to help joe and kamala stay strong and united please go to joebiden.com and contribute anything that you possibly can. tonight i couldn't be prouder to be a loyal union member, a passionate climate activist and a fay tree another i can democrat or as donald trump will call me in a tweet tomorrow, a washed up horse faced no talent has been with low ratings. well, we've all due respect, s sir, it takes one to know one. and now i'd like to introduce you to a real american hero, world war ii veteran, ed good. >> i am edward good, i'm 95 years old. i'm a veteran of world war ii and of korea. when i wear a uniform, i wear only two badges, my parachute

wings and the combat infantry badge. did i make one combat jump over the rhine in germany. i'm proud of that. i have been a republican since 1960s. i am a member of the nra. and i voted for trump. i think trump has been the worst president we've ever had so i'll be glad to see him go. i think joe biden will be a great leader for the united states. like me, on the day of my jump into germany i think joe biden cares about doing his proper duty for the united states and if he's elected that's what he will do. ♪ rise up >> this year's election is very important. be the most important election we've had in years. i recommend strongly basedn

the division in this country created by our current president, donald trump, we need to put somebody else in the white house that's going to bring us tether. now, let me gist explain something. i've been a long standing republican for a long time. and i'm telling you, you got to vote for joe biden. you have to. i don't think we can deal with the type of person we have in the white house any longer. so, it's up to you america and me because in this election, i' voting for joe. i'm sure, i'm absolutely sure he's going to help us bring this country together once again. ♪ rise up >> my name is lakesha coal, i met my husband 20 years ago. we started dating while i was in college. once i graduated from college, we eloped.

two weeks after that he deploy deployed. >> this is what i wanted to do. you love this country, are you willing to do the hard work? it takes to maintain it. >> what was supposed to be a s six-month deployment turned into 11 months. there was nothing really to prepare me as a new military spouse on how to deal with the stress. >> when people get married they ex speck to gw old with each other. with multiple combat tours, there's no guarantee of any of those things. >> there is just a long laundry list of uncertainties that we have to juggle. >> you know, joe has always cared about military families. they have been through so much. when i went to iraq, one of the generals said, i wanted to share this store tree with you. in his daughter's class, it was a christmas program and they were playing e ave maria.

one of the little girls burst into tears. the teacher ran over and said, what's the matter, what's the matter? she said that's the song they played at my daddy's funeral. he died in the war. the teacher had no idea tha that little girl's father had fought in the war and had died. and that night i said to my staff, i'm a teacher, we can do better. we've got to do better to help our military kids. >> the bidens have a track record of helping military families and we've seen it with the work that thehave done with joining forces and how they were able to rally a country behind us. >> back when we were sent to war to defend our nation. caring for them and their families while they're gone and care when they come home. >> it was te very first time that i as a military spouse felt like someone was listening to us and someone cared.

>> it's not just the service member who serves. the entire family serves as we well. joe said, we have one sacred obligation, to take care of our military members. during this pandemic for sure, so many veterans have lost their jobs. so many military spouses have lost their jobs. that's one of the things that will be a priority in a biden administration. we will make sure that all americans have health care, employment, the things that families need to thrive. >> when people show you who they are, believe them the first time we know exactly who joe is. he is the best candidate for america. not just for our families but for all families.

>> good evening, i'm tammy duckworth. when i first enlisted in the army i was eager to serve my country. later commanded made own air assault unit learning that serving and leading in the military is a privilege and sacrifice. to be a commander you must always put your troops first because one day you may order them to sacrifice everything for our great nation. to do that leaders must command their troop's respect be worthy of their pledge to proct and defend our constitution no matter of cost. but military service doesn't just take sacrifice from those in uniform, it's required from their families, too. my husband was the one holding my hand waiting for me to wake up. and when i finally did, he was my rock, getting me through those hours, weeks, months of

unspeakable pain and unending surgeries. he was my anchor as i relearned to walk, helping me through every step and every stumble. our military spouses hold their families together, praying for their oved one's safety wherever they're deployed and serving as caregivers to our disabled service members and then pick up the pieces and starting again whenever the next tour or the next war arises. joe biden understands these sacrifices because he's made them himself. when his son, beau, deployed to iraq, his burden was also shouldered by his family. joe ows the fear military families live because he's felt that dread of never knowing if your deployed loved one is safe. he understands they're brief rebecause he has had to muster that same strength every hour of every day beau was overseas. that's the kind of leader our service members deserve. one who understands the risks they face and who would actually

protect them by doing his job as commander in chief. instead, they have a coward in chief who won't stand up to vladimir put in, read his daily intelligence briefings or publicly admonish adverb rears or reportedly putting bounties on our troops' heads. as president joe biden would never let tyrants manipulate him like a puppet. he would never pervert our military to stroke his own ego. he would never turn his back on our troops or threaten them against americans peacefully exercising their constitutional rights. joe biden would stand up for what's right. stand fall tall for our troops and stand strong against our enemies. because unlike trump, joe biden has common decency. he has common sense. he can command both from experience and from strength. donald trump doesn't deserve to call himself commander in chief for another four minutes lt alone another four years. our troops deserve better.

our country deserves better. if you agree text "more" to 30 30330 to elect joe biden a leader who actually cares enough about america to lead. >> good evening, i'm beau biden. and joe biden is my dad. >> some voices are never silenced. some work never creases to change lives. some people never stop inspiring even after they're gone. beau biden was a husband, a father, brother, son, soldier. attorney general. he was given just 46 years on this earth. >> he did in 46 years what most of us couldn't do in 146. think about the day that dawn for children our fer because of beau. whose lives are fuller because

of him. think about th the day that daws for parents who rest easier and families who are freer because of him. some folks may never know that their lives are better because of beau biden. built that's okay. certainly for beau a claim was never the point of public service. >> if you knew beau, you knew he lived by the strictest code of honor, duty, service, country. you never had to ask if he would do something the right way. he didn't know any other way. >> beau didn't cut corners. he turned down an appointment to be delaware's attorney general so he could win it fair and square. when the field was clear for him to run for the senate, he chose to finish his job as ag instead. after 9/11 he joined the national guard, felt it was his obligation. did he his duty to his country and deployed to iraq. >> beau biden served his country

in battle. he prosecuted one of the worst child predators in american history and even though he is no longer with us, every day he still inspires the next president of the united states. >> won't be possible for me to be here this fall. so i have something to ask of you. be there for my dad. like he was for me. >> a couple of years ago, i was diagnosed with cancer. and i was absolutely terrified. one of the first people who called me was joe. his real warmth and kindness on that call, man, i got to say, it made me cry. our current president has made me cry, too. but it's never had anything to do with his wamth or kindnes joe biden's empathy is genuine, you can feel it.

that's why president obama asked joe to head up the cancer honeymoonhock. president obama knows what we all know. joe biden understands suffering and loss and sacrifice. mayor pete buttigieg knows something about sacrifice he volunteered was deployed to afghanistan then returned home to indiana to become a highly effective public servant. say hi to mayor pete. >> good evening, beau biden lived a life of service, in office and in uniform. when you pt your life on the line for this country, you do it not because it's the country you live in, but because it's a country you believe in. i believe in this country because america, uniquely, holds the promise of a place where everyone can belong. we know that for too many and

for too long that promise has been denied. but we also know america has at its best when we make that circle of belonging wider. just over ten years ago, i joined a military where firing me because of who i am wasn't just possible, it was policy. now, in 2020, it is unlawful in america to fire someone because of who they are or who they love. the very ring on my finger, a wedding we celebrated, here where i'm standing, reflects how this country can change. love makes my marriage real. but political courage made it possible. including that of joe biden who stepped out ahead even of this party when he said that marriage equality ought to be the law of the land. there is a long way t go. but if this much can change

between 2010 and 2020 imagine what could change between now and 2030. imagine what we could achieve this coalition we're building, this very season, gathering progressives and moderates, independents and even what i like to call, future former republicans, standing for an america where everyone belongs. joe biden is right. this is a contest for the soul of the nation. and to me, that contest is not between good americans and evil americans, it's the struggle to call out what is good in every american. it's up to us. will america be a place where faith is about healing and not exclusion. can we become a country that lives up to the truth that black lives matter? will we handle questions of science and medicine by turning to scientists and doctors?

will we see to it that no one who works full time can live in poverty. i trust joe biden and kamala harris to guide us toward that better future. because i have seen up close their empathy and their capacity. just as i've seen my fellow americans' capacity to support and include one another in new ways and do better by the promise of america. the day i was born, the idea of an out candidate seeking any federal office at all was laughable. yet earlier this year i campaigned for the presidency often with my husband at my side winning delegates to this very convention. now i come to this convention proudly supporting joe biden and kamala harris. joining fellow democrats who were squaring off in competition just a few months ago. a number of us recently got together to talk about the joe

we know. >> hi, i'm corey beak welcome to everybody at home. i am very excited to present to you a group of people that ran in the 2020 democratic primary against joe biden. you could think of this sort of like "survivor" on the infer views of all the people that got voted off the island. [ laughter ] bernie, don't you laugh because i got questions for yo like, why does my girlfriend like you more than she likes me? but -- >> because she's smarter than you, that's the obvious answer, right? [ laughter ] >> i'm curious, because senator sanders and senator klobuchar you served with joe biden in the senate. i'm wondering if you have any memories of what he was like as a colleague in the senate. >> i remember one night when i was giving one of those floor speeches and cory you know what this is like. no one was there. no one was watching. i was all alone and i gave my

speech, with much vision already to completely empty chamber. and i walked out of there i thought, i wonder if my mom was even watching this on c-span. at that moment the cell phone rings i thought maybe my mom was watching it ocspan you know what it was? it was joe biden. that kind of goes to not only his kindness for calling me and being a mentor but goeto how much he cares about our government and what people are saying. and that even when he's at home at night he's tching. and he cares. >> we all want to know, did your mother watch the speech? >> you remember the stake fry waiting to go on worked out to where i was there th same time he was. he pulled me aside at one point he pointed to somebody who we both knew who was working on my campaign. but he'd known from before and let me know that that was something who had ne through a family tragedy. that joe somehow knew about.

just thought it was important for me to know that about someone who was working with me. i thought over time i realized that was just basic to who he is. that always stuck with me. >> elizabeth, do you have any remembrances as well? >> i think the day i saw je the earest was on one-year anniversary of the boston marathon bombing. and everyone of course was enormously honored to have the vice president here. but at some point in that spee speech, he shifted to the parent who had lost a child. to the man who had lost a wife. to someone wo had experienced loss very personally. and he spoke to each of the families from the heart. >> that's phenomenal. i want to ask, what gets you excited about this idea of the inclusion of big ideas from all

over the party into the future and to the next administration. >> the magic of joe biden is that everything he does becomes the new reasonable. if he comes with an ambitious plan to address climate change all of a sudden everyone is going to follow his lead. you can see him choosing kamala, too. he wants to build the best team, let's do it together. that's how we're going to rebuild this country. >> i'm so optimistic about our country right now despite some very dark days for a lot of our fellow americans. in large partecause of what young people are doing right now. after the murder of ahmad arbery and brionna taylor, young peoe by and large led piece protests and they did so in the absolute best traditions of the this country. in the tradition of john lewis. my optimism and my faith in this country is reflected in those young people. and the way that joe and kamala are listening to them, incorporating their ideas and

their urgency in the campaign that they're running and administtion that they're going to lead. >> some people say they don't know if they're going to vote or not. or saying that from a point of privilege that lot of americans don't have. there are so many things for lots of folks who live life on the margins that this election is going to decide. and maybe it's not a life or death issue for you, but we are all in this together. >> absolutely. >> cory, what i would say is that this is clearly the most important election in the modern history of this country. joe biden, you have a human being who is empathetic, who i honest, who is decent. and at this particular moment in american history, my god, that is something that this country absolutely needs. and all of us, whether you're progressives or moderates or conservatives have got to come together to defeat this president. >> thanks for that, bernie. i want to thank you all for joining us for this segment.

i mean this sincerely it was an honor to run against you. and even greater honor to stand with you in support of joe biden and kamala harris. >> good evening. i've never been much for partisan politic i've supported democrats, republicans and independence, hell, i've actually been a depp contract and independent. all about people. hi cooperate be more different. one believes in facts, one does not. one listens to experts, the other thinks he knows everything. one looks forward and sees strength in america's diversity. the other looks backwards and sees immigrants as enemies and white supremacista as allies. here is another difference. one is proven he knows how to handle a crisis by helping to lead the economic turn around after the 2008 recession.

while the other has not only failed to lead, he has made the current crisis much worse. when confronted with the biggest calamity any president has faced in the modern era, donald trump as' spent the year down playing the threat, ignoring signs and recommending quack cures which led south dakota spread much faster leaving hundreds of thousands needlessly sick or dead. he has failed the american people catastrophically. four years ago i came before this very convention and said, new yorkers know a condition c con within we see one. i'm not asking you to vote against donald trump because he's a bad guy. i'm urge knowledge you to vote against him because he's done a bad job. today unemployment is at historic highs and small businesses are struggling just to survive. it didn't have to be this way. before i ran for mayor, i spent 20 years running a business i

started from scratch so i want to ask small business owners and their employees one question and it's a question for everyone. would you rehire or work for someone who ran your business into the ground? and who always does what's best for him or her even when it hurts the company? and whose reckless decisions put you in danger. and spends more time tweeting than working? if the answer is no, why the hell would we ever rehire donald trump for another four years? trump says we should vote for him because he's a great businessman. really? he drove his companies into bankruptcy six times, always leaving behind customers and contractors who were cheated and swindled and stopped doing business with him. well this time, all of us are paying the price. and we can't let him get away with it again. donald says we should vote for

him because the economy was great before the virus. huh? biden and obama created more jobs over their last three years than the trump administration did over their first three. and economic growth was higher under biden and obama than under trump. in fact, while biden helped save one million auto industry jobs, trump has lost 250,000 manufacturing jobs. so when trump says he wants to make america great again, he's making a pretty good case for joe biden. look, our goal shouldn't be to bring back the pandemic economy. it should be as joe says, to build it back better. joe's economic plan will create clean energy jobs that help fight another crisis that trump is ignoring, climate change. and joe will rebuild our crumbling roads and bridges, something trump has incessantly talked about doing, but in the last three and a half years, he hasn't done anything.

what spa joke. and let me tell you a little secret. donald trump's economic plan was to give a huge tax cut to guys like me who didn't need it. and then lie about it to everyone else. well, joe will roll back that tax cut that i got so we can fund things our whole country needs. like training for adults who have lost jobs. and making college more affordable. and investing in american research and development so that the products of tomorrow are made today by american workers. you know, growing up i was taught to believe that america is the greatest country in the world. not because we won the sec world war, but because of why we fought it. for freedom, democracy and equality. my favorite childhood book was called "johnny truman" about a boston boy who joins the sons of liberty at the dawn of the machine revolution. at the end of the book, johnny stands on lexington commons and

sees a nation that is, quote, een with spring dreaming of the future. that's the america i know and love. and that's the america we are in danger of losing under this president. so let's put an end to this whole sorry chapter in american history and elect leaders who will bring integrity and stability, sanity and competence back to the white house. joe and kamala, go get 'em. for all of us! >> . >> we can help you find the best and safest way to vote in your state simply text "vote" to 30 30330. to learn more. 30330 it's not that hard to remember, watch. person, woman, man, camera, tv, 30330. anyone can do it. i want to introduce you now to a young man who vice president biden met earlier this year in

new hampshire and helped to find his voice. say hello to bradon harrington. >> without joe biden i wouldn't be be talking to you today. about a few months ago i met him in new hampshire. he told me that we were members of the same club, we stutter. s-s-s-s stutter. it was really amazing to hear that someone like me became vi vi-vi-vice president. he told me about a book of poems by yeats he would read out loud to practice. he showed me w hearks his addresses to make them easier to say out loud. so i did the same thing today.

and now i'm here talking to you today a-a-a about the future. about our future. my family often says, when the world feels bet-bet-better, before talking about something normal. like going to the movies. we all want the world to feel better. we need the world t feel bette better. i'm just a regular kid and in a short amountof time joe biden made me more confident about something that's bothered me my whole life. joe biden cared. imagine what he could for all of us. kids like me are counting on you to elect someone we can all look up to. someone who cares. someone who will make our country and the world feel

better. we're counting on you to elect joe biden. >> woodruff: a lot of us tear up listening to the 12-year-old i'm going to turn toly say desjardins who is in wilmington, delaware. temp me what is going on about to be acceptance speech -- abou. joe biden's hometown. temp us what is going on. >> that's right, judy. former vice president has arrived. i'm told he arrived about half hour ago. they are in final preparations now for that speech. that includes out here in the crow passing out giant american flags. which you will see members of this crowd waving back and for forth. so judy, we'll wait for the vice president out here with the crowd. >> woodruff: all right, lisa with bringing us a sense of what is going on, they are all waiting to hear from the vice president. from vice president biden. as are we. let's go back to the convention

programming as we move to the moment when he will speak and he will accept the party's nomination. but there's more programming before that. this looks like the biden fami family. >> no, this is good. >> what do i know about your grandfather. >> he's always eating ice cre cream. usually it's like vanilla with chocolate sprinkles. >> vanilla on a reular night. >> chocolate chip. >> the byer's half chocolate. >> he likes ice cream in hidden ways. >> eating it in freezer so that my grandma doesn't -- >> he hides it. >> how often does he -- like every day. >> if we don't talk to him for a day -- >> he always calls witthe same energy even after he's just done

15 interviews in a row. >> hi, pop, i was just talking about you. >> i don't necessarily pick up every day. but i have a lot of voicemails. >> he will pick up our calls no matter where he is. he'd be like on stage giving a speech and we'd call him, what's wrong, is everying good? >> what does the word family mean to you? >> it's a lot of time together. it's like we've grown up together. he's made every single traditi tradition, every holiday. we're all together. i don't think that there's been any decision no matter how big or small that we haven't decided as a family. >> pop told us that this election would be totally different from any other election ever. he was worried how it would affect his kids. whether or not we wanted to go through another campaign and be scrutinized by the press. >> there had been talks of a big meeting coming. >> it's normally called by the parents, i would say. but this time it was called by

me. >> i came down from penn and maisey came up from d.c. he thought we were calling meeting sort of to like discuss whether or not we wanted him to, but really we were calling it to be like, get in that race! >> we just knew that he had to run we weren't going to take no as an answer. >> at the end of the day i think we're all very happy we had that meeting. >> all right, well, when you get back, give me a call, tell me how the whole thing went. >> okay, i will. >> i love you, baby. >> i love you, too. >> we want to ensure that our kids live in a nation that is safe, happy, healthy and fair. so this election -- >> we're voting for joe biden. let's have a conversation with these kids. >> let's do it. >> let's jump right in, shall we? >> what does jump in mean? mommy, i can't be quiet. >> why?

>> i don't want to you be quiet. you deserve to speak and say whatever it is that comes to your mind. in this moment right now. >> every election is important. this upcoming election is especially important. one, because the social i injustices right now. racial inequality but also because we have children. >> excuse me, mommy. >> yes. >> i need to go to the bathroom. >> okay. >> you want to go right now? do you know where the president lives? >> in the white house. >> washington d.c. >> do you know what the president's job is? >> to tell what happened to the world. >> that's good. that's a good one. >> keep the environment safe. >> that is corct as we say. that is -- >> if you could create the ideal person to lead this country, what characteristics would that

person have? >> a very kind personality. >> what would you like to see taken care of? >> i would like to see them taking care of the earth and the people. >> so, girls, it is 2020 and the election is coming up in november. do you know who is running for president? >> joe biden! >> yeah. >> and -- exactly. that's it. this video is over. >> what would you say if you knew that joe biden was going to have a woman as his vice president. >> surprise and like happy. >> why? >> there's like not a lot of woman like being president and helping alongside the president. >> how important do you think your faith is in the way that you live your life?

>> really big. because i'm grateful for all the things that i have. and that i love my family. >> with that, everyone, we really thank you one for listening to this very candid conversation. with our daughters. we just want to encourage you to truly do your research, think about your own homes and what you'd like to see projected out into the world in the right direction is making sure that you vote this election for biden. >> whatever you do, please vote. every vote counts. just remember that. >> here's the big question. how much of your time and energy are you willing to devote to elect joe biden. here is my answer. i'm going all in.

look, elections can break your heart but sometimes they can make you sing from the mountain tops and this year we're going to sing. this year we're going to elect a president who is honest, experienced and intelligent. a president who actually believes in the rule of law works will restore dignity and normalcy to the white house and te soul of this nation. and, boy, won't that be something? one of my favorite things joe biden says is that you can succeed in life without sacrificing your ideals or your commitment to family. so, who better to intro dice our nominee, joe biden, than his children. >> i'm hunter buy en. >> i'm ashlee biden. >> joe biden is our dad. >> and beau is our brother. >> we want to tell what you kind of president our dad will be. >> he will be tough. >> and honest. >> caring and principled. >> we'll listen, he'll be there

when you need him. >> he'll tell you the truth even when you don't want to hear it. >> he'll never let you down. >> he'll be rock steady. >> the strongest shoulder you can ever lean on. >> he'll beam with pride evry time you succeed. >> he'll make your grandkids feel that what they have got to say matters. >> he'll treat everyone with respect no matter who you are. >> he'll get up no matter how many times he's been knocked down. >> he'll be the worst enemy any bully ever saw. >> he'll be the best friend you've ever had. >> he'll love you with all of his heart. >> and if you give him your cell phone number. >> he's going to call it. >> how doe know? >> becse he's been that y our whole lives. >> he's been a great father. >> and we think he'll be a great president. >> beau isn't with us any long longer. >> but he's still very much alive. in our hearts. and we can still hear his strong voice. >> just like it was yesterday. >> just like it was yesterday.

>> in 2008 and 2012 he introduced our dad at those conventions. >> if he was here we're pretty sure we'd know what he'd say. >> so before we show you a film abut our dad's journey, we wan wanted to give beau the last word. beau. >> beau, take it away. >> a moment both public and private he's the father i've always known. the grandfather my children love and adore. my father, my hero, joe biden! ♪

>> our lives have been turned upside down. shattered and shaken. but the american story has had moments like this before. and he was there answering the call. >> when we came into office in 2009, we were going through what was then the worst financial and economic crisis since the great depression. >> the economy was hemorrhaging hundreds of thousands of jobs a week. people were losing their homes to foreclosure. the financial system was in tatters. auto sales had dropped to near zero levels. >> the auto companies face bankruptcy. many said, let them fail. but joe remembered his father and what it meant to lose a job.

the fennigans and bidens were irish catholic. joe was the first. and then his sister, valerie. >> from the moment i opened my eyes my big brother was there. the thing that was most important was family and family and family. as the post war boom faded, joe's father struggled to find work in scranton. but 140 miles south there was a job cleaning boilers in wilmington. >> there was a long stairway up to the second floor. dad went up to joey and our bedroom and saying, joey, you got to be a big boy. >> for the first time, joe saw

the heavy burden on a father and it was a lesson he would never forget. >> job is a lot more than a paycheck. it's about dignity. >> the country was losing tens of thousands of jobs a day. and they needed three votes to pass the economic rescue package. >> joe biden was handed the task of going to get those three republican votes. >> joe returned to the place where he had bin so effective. >> pasionate argument, sympathetic listening, willin willingness to make adjustments and accommodations to bring people on board. >> when the law finally passed, the president tapped his partner to run the program. joe tracked every dollar, calling mayors and governors. >> talking to them on the phone one on one. he gave all of them his cell phone. >> and i watched him bring his heart to that job. it matters that you have in your

mind the family that you're trying to reach. the neighborhood that you're trying to reach. the people whose lives are affected by what you do. >> the skills that had made him so effective had not come easy. when he entered school, there was a problem. joe had ha stutter. >> it's mortifying, allows that child to become an object of rid dual. >> whip his teacher mimicked him and joe ran home from school his mother bro him back. did you say to my son, mr. bi- mr. bi-b-bibiden, my mother stood up all 5'2" if you ever talk to my son like that again i'll come back to rip that damn bonnet off your head, do you understand it. joey, go back to class. >> joe resolved to overcome his stutter. >> some letters are harder than others. and i used to get up at night and go stand in front of the mirror with a flashlight and practice. she'd make me look her in the

eye, look at me, remember, joey, you're the smartest boy in that class. nobody's better than you, joey. from having to deal with stutt stuttering, it gave me insight into other people's pain. other people's suffering. >> at 19, joe sought out a summer job that few of his peers considered taking. >> he is a lifeguard along with the black lifeguards. that's when i first seen joe. and we became friends. >> it was one of the best thing i had ever done because it gave me a sense that we really didn't know one another. >> after martin luther king junior was assassinated, riots broke out in wilmington. the national guard stayed for almost a year. >> i quit the law firm and asked for a job to become a public defender. that's what sort of got me involved in politics. >> j.k.laboggs was a popular war

hero in a solid republican sta state. and few took joe's campaign seriously. >> in delaware the democratic party was nonfunctional. when it got time o put up a candidate, they didn't want to touch him. this young upstart, joe biden, who had a lot of ideas and no money, no influence, the party said okay, well then go ahead, biden, give it a whirl. >> you can help me out, if not -- >> we have a coffee we come out of that have five more coffees. he was very articular on the issues. he brought people to say not just i agree with what you're doing, what can i do to help. >> delaware is the first state. j.k.laboggs being challenged by joseph bidena democrat who is 29 years of age. >> but exhilaration soon turned

tragedy. >> it was clear he had decided that i'm not going to be a senator. that the boys need me too much. >> i was prepared to walk away. in 1973 with men like ted kennedy and mike mansfield, others, convinced me to stay. to stay six months, joe, remember. just stay six months. >> he couldn't allow the suffe suffering to debilitate him. it's like he couldn't allow the stuttering to define him. that's the backbone. there's something bigger than joe suffering. >> the senate turned out to be a wonderful place for him. he had a real gift for bringing people together. >> the three of them had a bond

that was forged in sorrow and expanded into joy when jill entered. >> they had built this beautiful family, this circle of trust. >> and then the extra gift of ashlee. >> growing up, it was full of adventure, laughter. >> we do everything as a family. and we've always done everything as a family. >> he was always a good, loving father. there's nothing more important to joe than his children. >> it's hard to explainow ever present he was in our lives. >> you don't have to guess what my dad believes. a grt benefit of being my father is that he doesn't have to contort himself into different people. >> beau is going to do fine things, he had it all. and then he got sick.

the whole world tilted. it felt like we were all falling off. >> once again, joe faced the unimaginable. >> my mother, she said, bravery resides in every heart and some day it will be summoned. >> the way h survived losing my mom and my sister and then losing my brother, is understa understanding that you have to have purpose. >> every day i get up, i ask myself, i hope he's proud of me. because that's the thing that makes me move on. >> from his time in the senate and then the white house, joe always found a way forward. forging unlikely fridships and alliances. and time after time he made

progress possible. and always holding in his heart the struggles of his family and every family. always fighting to make his country whole. >> it's a very rare quality to bring your empathy skills to the process of governing. joe biden never forgets that that's the point of moving the wheels of governance. >> he will keep his word. he will reach out and hear what other people have to say. to have somebody who believes in what's best in us, somebody like joe biden who actually believes in the american idea. that's the kind of person who i want in the white house. >> good evening. ella bakera giantf the civil rights movement left us with this wisdom.

give people light and they will find the way. give people light. those are words for our time. the current president's cloaked american darkness for much too long. too much anger. too much fear. too much division. here and now, i give you my wo word. if you entrust me with the presidency i will draw on the best of us, not the worst. i'll be an ally of the light not the darkness. it's time for us, for we the people to come together. and make no mistake, united we can and will overcome this season of darkness in america. we'll choose hope over fear, facts over fiction, fairness over privilege. i'm a oud democrat. and i'll be proud to carry the banner of our party into the

general election. so it's with great honor and humili i accept this nomination for president of the united states of america. but while i'll be a democratic candidate, i will be an american president. i'll work hard for those who didn't support me, as hard for them as i did for those who did vote formee. that's the job of a president. to represent all of us. not just our base or our party. this is not a partisan moment. this must be an american moment. calls for hope and light and love. hope for our ture. light to see our way forward. and love for one another. america isn't just a collection of clashing interests, of red states or blue states. we're so much bigger than that. we're so much better than that. nearly a century ago franklin

roosevelt pledged a new deal in a time of massive unemployment, uncertainty and fear. stricken by disease, stricken by a virus, fdr insisted that he would recover and prevail and he believed america could as well. and he did and we can as well. this campaign isn't just about winning votes. it's about winning the heart a and, yes, the soul of america. winning it for the generous among us not the selfish. winning it for workers who keep this country going not just privilege few at the top. winning it for those communities who have known injustice of a knee on the neck for all the young people who have known only america being rising inequity and shrinking opportunity, they deserve the experience of america's promise. they deserve experience in full. you know, no generation ever

knows who his tore radio will ask of it. all we can ever know is whether we're ready on that moment arrives. and now history has delivered us to one of the most difficult moments america's ever faced. four historic crises. all at the same time. a perfect storm. the worst pandemic in over a hundred years. the worst economic crisis since the great depression. the most compelling call for racial justice since the '60s. and the undeniably realities and just accelerating threats of climate change. so the question for us to simple. are we ready? i believe we are. we must be. you know, all elections are important. we know in our bone this one is more consequential. as many have said, america is at reflection point.

a time of real peril but also extraordinary possibilities. we can choose a path of becoming angrier, less hopeful, more divided, a path of shadow and suspicion. or we can choose a different path and together take this chance to heal, to refor, to unite. a path of hope and light. this is a life changing electi election, this will determine what america is going to look like for a long, long time. character is on the ballot. compassion is on the ballot. decency, science, democracy, they're all on the ballot. who we're as a nation, what we stand for, most importantly who we want to be that's l on the ballot. the choice could not be more clear. no rhetoric is needed. just judge this president on the facts. five million americans infected

by covid-19. more than 170,000 americans have died. by far the worst performance of any nation on earth. more than 50 nill i don't know people have filed for u unemployment this year. more than ten million people are going to lose their health insurance this year. nearly one in six small businesses have closed this year. and this president, if he's re re-elected you know what will happen. cases in deaths will remain far too high. more mom and pop businesses will close their doors and this time for good. working families will struggle to get by. and yet the wealthiest 1% will get tens of billions of dollars in new tax breaks. and the assault on the affordable care act will continue until it's destroyed. taking insurance away the from more than 20 million people. including more than 15 million people on medicaid.

and getting rid of the protections that president obama worked so hard to get passed for people who have hundred million more people who have preexisting conditions. and speaking of president obama, a man i was honored to serve alongside for eight years as vice president. let me take this moment to say something we don't say nearly enough. thank you, mr. president. you were a great president. a president our children could and did look up to. no one is going to say that about the current occupant of the white house. we know about this president is that if he's given four more years he'll be what he is for the last four years. a president takes no responsibility, refuses to lead, blames others, codes he's up to dictators and fans the flames much hate and division we'll wake up every day believing the job is all about him. never about you.

is that the american you want for you, your family, your children? i see a different america. one that's generous and strong. selfless and humble. it's an america we can rebuild together as president the first step i will take we get control of the virus that's ruined so than many lives because i understand something this president hasn't from the beginning. we will never get our economy back on track, we will never get our kids safely back in schools, we'll never have our lives back until we deal with this virus. the tragedy of where we are today is it didn't have to be this bad. just look around. it's not this bad in canada, or europe or japan. or almost anywhere else in the world. and the president keeps telling us, the virus is going to disappear. he keeps waiting for a miracle.

well i have news for him. no miracle is coming. we lead the world in confirmed cases. we lead the world in deaths. our economy is in tatters. bearing the brunt of it are the minorities. after all this time, the president still does not have a plan. well, i do. if i'm your president, on day one, will implement the national strategy i've been laying out since march. we'll develop and deploy rapid tests with results available immediately. we'll make the medical supplies and protective equipment that our country needs. we'll make them here in america so we will never again be at the mercy of china or other foreign countries in order to protect our own people. we'll make sure our schools have the resources they need to be

open, safe and effective. we'll put politics aside, we'll take the muzzle of our experts. for the public gets the information they need and deserve. honest, unvarnished truth. they can handle it. we'll have a national mandate to wear a mask not as a burden but aas a patriotic bud tone protect one another. andiron short we'll do what we should have done from the very beginning. our current president's failed in his most basic knew deto the nation. he's failed to protect us. he's failed to protect america. and my fellow americans, that is unforgivable. as president i'll make you a promise. i'll protect america, i'll defend us from every attack, seen and unseen, always without exception every time.

look, i understand, i understand how hard it is to have any hope right now. on this summer night let me take a moment to speak to those of you who have lost the most. i have some idea how it feels to lose someone you love. i know that deep black hole that opens up in the middle of your chest you feel like you're being sucked in to it. and i know how mean d cruel and unfair life can be sometim sometimes. but i've learned two things. first, your loved one may have left this earth but they will never leave your heart. they will always be with you, you'll always hear them. and sect i found the best way through pain and loss and grief is to find purpose. as god's children, each much us have a purpose in our lives. we have a great purpose as a

nation to open the doors of opportunity to all americans, to save our democracy. to be a light to the world once again. and finally to live up to and make real the words written in the sacred documents that founded this nation. that all me and women are created equal. endowed by their creator by theh certain inalienae rights, among them life, liberty and the pursuit of happins. you know my dad was an honorable, descent man. he-- decent man, he got knocked down a few times pretty hard but he always got back up. he worked hard and he built a great middle class life for our family. he used to say joey, i don't expect the government to solve my problems but i sure in hell expect them to understand them. and then he would say joey, a job is about a lot moe than a paycheck. it's about yo