here she is. >> let me just tell you about beau biden. i learned quickly that beau was the kind of guy who inspired people to be a better version of themselves. he really was the best of us. and when i would ask him where did you get that, where does this come from, he would always talk about his dad. and i will tell you the love that they shared was incredible to watch. it was the most beautiful display of the love between a father and a son. >> so she made it personal there, governor and it felt very authentic and i think that in and of itself is significant. these are two people, joe biden and kamala harris who themselves haven't spent a ton of time together, right, they don't know each other that well personally and yet you did feel, you felt a genuine connection. >> yes, a chemistry, and let me just say that joe biden's been through a lot, you know, when he was first elected to the united states senate, there was a terrible accident, automobile accident, where he lost his wife, and one of his children, and imagine the grief, i mean i'

beau biden lost his battle with brain cancer at the age of 46. rvice in wilmington, delaware. his death came in the middle of his father's vice presidency. joe biden, devastatedly the loss of his son, announced months later he would not return for president in 2016. >> unfortunately i believe we're out of time, the time necessary to mount a winning campaign for the nomination. >> reporter: four years later, biden and harris both on the campaign trail as political rivals running for are the without. then there was this key moment in the first democratic debate last year when harris sharply criticized biden for his past work with segregationist senators. >> you know, there was a little girl in california who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools, and she was bussed to school every day. and that little girl was me. >> that's a mischaracterization of my position across the board. i did not praise racists. >> reporter: biden later expressed surprise at the attack. >> i wasn't prepared for the person coming at me. she knew beau. s

tonight, there will be a tribute to beau biden, that coming before pete buttigieg speaks. o biden said reminds him of his son, beau. we expect beau to be included in the vo d introduction of his fa this evening. we're learning that comedian sarah cooper will be making an appearance. take a listen. >> where are these fellas going? who's getting them? who is not getting them? little section that's republican. will they be stolen from mailboxes as they get put in by the mailman? will they be taken from the mailmen and the mail women? >> so that's a little bit of the preview of what's to come as joe biden accepts the democratic nomination in delaware. wolf? >> she's so funny indeed. looking forward to her presentation. stand by, i want to go to jeff zeleny. you've been getting a closer look at what's going on outside the hall where biden will be speaking. >> reporter: wolf, there's no question that this is an unusual convention. joe biden will be giving his speech inside this chase center to an empty hall. but the parking lot, as you can see around us, has been transformed into

let me just tell you about beau biden. i learned quickly that beau was the kind of guy who inspired people to be a better version of himself. he really was the best of us. when i would ask him, where did you get that, where did this come from? he would always talk about his dad. and i will tell you the love that they shared was incredible to watch. it was the most beautiful display of the love between a father and a son. and beau talked about how joe would spend four hours every day riding the rails back and forth from wilmington to washington so he could make breakfast for his kids in the morning and make it home in time to talk them in bed each night. all of this so that two little boys who just lost her mom and sister in a tragic accident. was know the world was still turning. that's how i came to know joe. he is someone whose first response when things get tough is never to think about himself but to care for everyone else. he is someone who never asks wise this happening to me and instead asks what can i do to make lif

biden publicly acknowledged the close friendship that harris had with his late son beau that helped guide his decision. and harris, one source says, spoke at last about their friendship. jeff, as we wait for this event to begin, you're learning more about that intense ten days before biden made his final decision on senator harris as his running mate. >> reporter: pamela, we are. and it's clear that california senator kamala harris was anticipated and viewed by most democrats inside and outside the process as the person to beat essentially. this vice presidential search with the most experience, the national campaign experience. someone who had legislative experience, of course had executive experience as the attorney general. but, it was clear that aides to the former vice president wanted to give him a series of options. so we are told that behind the scenes of this, the last ten days of this search certainly were very interesting. the former vice president met face to face, or in most cases, through a remote connection with all 11 candidates holding essentially job interviews for their

i'm beau biden. and joe biden is my dad. >> some voices are never silenced. >> some work never ceases to change lives. some people never stop inspiring even after they're gone. beau biden was a husband, 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 dawns for children who are safer because of beau, whose lives are fuller because of him. think about the day that dawns 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, but 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 i the payment to be delaware's attorney general so he c

t me tell you about beau biden . learned quickly that he was the kind of guy who inspired themselves.e a better version when i would ask him, where did you get that, where did this come from, he would always talk about is that -- his dad. the love that they shared was incredible. it was the most beautiful display of love between a father and son. could make breakfast for his kids in the morning and make it back in time to take his kids and at night. all of thi so two little boys who had just lost their mom and sister in a tragic accident would know that the world is still turning. that is how i came to know joe. response when things get tough as never to think about himself. to care for everyone else. he neversks, why is this ppening to me? instead, he asks, what can i do to make etter for you? his empathy, compassion is why am so proud to be on thiset ti we are cut from the same cloth. whether i am cheering in the bleachers at a swim mee cor setting uplege room dorm or helping my goddaughter prepare for- hisr school

i'm beau biden. and joe biden is my dad. some voices are never silenced. some work. never ceases to change lives. some people never stop inspiring, even after they're gone. beau biden was a husband, father, brother, son. soldier. attorney general. he was given just 46 years on this earth. >> he did what most of us could not do in 146. many more lives are full because of him. think about the day that dons for parents who rest easier and families who are freer because of him. certainly for bo, the claim was never anything but service. >> if you knew about, you know that he lived by the strictest code of honor, service, country. you never had to ask if he would do something the right way. he didn't know any other way. beau biden served his country. 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 be there for m was for me. stroke 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.

you can't underestimate kamala harris' relationship with beau biden. served together as attorney generals in their states. and for biden, family is incredibly important. beau biden was also seen as a promising political mind, and his life was cut short by cancer. but that bond that he has with kamala harris is something that the biden family will hold onto as these two teams blend together. biden's looking for that long-term potential that he can develop a relationship with his partner in the white house. so that is something that he clearly sees going forward with kamala harris. now, we also should note in this is a historic pick. kamala harris is an african-american woman, also a woman of south-asian descent. biden was part of an historic administration serving alongside the first african-american president. now if he is elected as president, he will be serving alongside the first woman and also a diverse woman. >> arlette, just in terms of the event, you said she is coming there, assuming that therefore they are actually physically together in perso

. >> following correction beau biden cancer moonshot. >> you're a man of substance. you have experienced tragedies in your life, and we are inspired by the way that you have responded to those. >> every single family in america has been affected by cancer, and we are so close. >> for the loved ones we've all lost, let's make america the country that cures cancer once and for all. >> i believe we need a moonshot in this country to cure cancer. it's personal. but i know we can do this. there are so many breakthroughs just on the horizon. we can make them real with an absolute national commitment. there are democrats and republicans on the hill who share our passion to silence this deadly disease. if i could be anything i would have wanted to be the president that ended cancer. because it's possible. >> i'm amanda litman co-founder and executive director of run for something. in may 2017 i was invited to join a small meeting in d.c. with a handful of other organization leaders to give updates to the vp on our work. the vp came over and i tried to play it cool.

hillary clinton was already running but the beau biden thread she was talking about is so key. there is no one who is more of a present figure who is driving joe biden's decision to run for president and in his hope, defeat the sitting president, than beau biden. he is doing it for beau. there's no question that for all the history making nature of senator harris absolutely true for all her experience on the campaign trial, absolutely true. it is that connection with beau biden that certainly i think eased over or paved over any complications if there were any or lingering bad feelings there. but ipg going forward, as we reset the process here, it's kind of ending where it was beginning. you know, it was widely assumed that senator harris would be one of the leading contenders. she was, but i'm told the former vice president did a serious and thorough search. the biden campaign said i want wanted to be clear, that almost a dozen women, 11 specifically were thoroughly vetted here. there were senators. members of the house. mayors. so there was a serious process and we are told th

. >> following correction, beau biden, cancer moonshot. >> you're a man of substance. you have experienced tragedies in your life, and we are inspired by the way that you have responded to those. >> every single family in america has been affected by cancer. and we're so close. >> for the loved ones we've all lost, let's make america the country that cures cancer once and for all. >> i believe we need a moonshot in this country to cure cancer. >> it's one small step -- >> it's personal. but i know we can do this. there are so many breakthroughs just on the horizon. we can make them real with an absolute national commitment. there are democrats and republicans on the hill who share our passion to silence this deadly disease. if i could be anything, i would want to be the president that ended cancer. because it's possible. >>> i'm amanda litman. i'm a cofounder and executive director of run for something. in may 2017, i was invited to join a small meeting to give updates to the vp. the vp came over and i tried to play it cool. well, my grammy would be furious if she knew

she talked about the relationship and the love that was shared between beau biden. going during the great recession. they talked about that, their working relationship and the character that she says beau biden learned from his father, joe. she also said of all of the things on her very impressive resume her favorite title is momala which is what her stepchildren referred to her as. and senator harris makes the first democrat from california to be on a major party presidential ticket. >> a lot of firsts, you can really see the emotion on joe biden's face when she spoke about his late son, pretty amazing. thank you. >> california governor, gavin newsom looks forward to works with harris as the next vice president. >> working two terms when she ran for attorney general to be a supporter and advocate the lieutenant governor, worked with her as attorney general. to support her efforts very proudly when she ran for the u.s. senate and now as governor been working collaboratively in a supportive way. >> coming up at 5:30, a political correspondent to get his take on the f

as jeff noted, kamala harris had this relationship with beau biden, and that really can't be understated in this whole process. biden rolling this out said that beau biden, his late son, he valued his opinion more than anybody else's, and that played a major factor in this decision. it's going to be a busy few weeks for kamala harris as she steps into this running mate role. there is that slate of events tomorrow. i'm told that finance team is also preparing fundraisers for her to do over the course of the next month. and then one week from tomorrow she'll be delivering that speech where she accepts the vice presidential nomination at the democratic convention in a virtual format. >> you followed joe biden on the campaign trail. do you know much about their actual relationship? i mean, obviously, as you said, she knew, had worked with his son. do we know how much of an actual relationship that have with each other? >> well, you know, they encountered each other several times over the course of the democratic primary, at debates and other larger presidential forums. they have had a friend

they both spoke about joe biden's late son beau biden.ou could see the former vice president grow a little emotional as she talked about his son. >> we certainly saw that as well. arlette saenz, thank up. dave chalian, and dana bash are with us. we heard biden lay out why kamala harris was his pick and the possibilities for americans with a biden/harris administration. kamala harris almost sounded like she was laying out the opening arguments for the prosecution there, david, what did you make of these speeches? >> it was a successful event. arlette highlighted it looked different than what we usually see due to the covid environment. clearly you had a focus from the campaign, both speeches about introducing the ticket, but making sure to keep the focus on donald trump and the reason that they believe that he must be defeated for a second term. they're back into the battle for the soul of the nation is how joe biden launched his compare, you know, about a year and a half ago at this point. that's been a consistent through like. you heard

beau biden lived a life of service, in office and in uniform. when you put your life on the line for this country, you do it not because it's the country you live in, but because it's the country you believe in. i believe in this country, because america uniquely h the promise of a place where we know that for too many and for too long, that promise has been denied. but we also know america is 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 to go, but if this much can change between 2010

the big banks of the nation that were foreclosing on people's homes, and let me , il you about beau bidenearned quickly that beau was the kind of guy who inspired people to be a better version of themselves. he really was the best of us. did i would ask him, where you get that? where did this come from? he would always talk about his dad. and i will tell you the love that they shared was incredible to watch. it was the most beautiful display of the love between a father and a son. and beau talked about how joe would spend every day writing the rails from wilmington to washington, d.c. so he could make breakfast for his kids in the morning and make it home in time to tuck them in bed each night. all of this so two little boys: i just lost their mom and sister in a tragic accident would know that the world was still turning, and that is how i came to know joe. he is someone whose first response when things get tough is never to think about himself, but to care for everyone else. he is someone who never asked, why is this happening to me, and instead asks, what can i do to make life better f

i know you talked about beau biden and how joe biden talked about beau today and all of the releases that he put out, in all of the emails they put out announcing kamala harris as the nominee, as the vp pick. and harris and beau biden served as attorneys general together, and really we hear joe biden talk about beau all the time on the campaign trail. he says he wakes up every day and hopes that beau is proud of him. you have to think that beau biden was certainly in joe biden's head. resounding praise across the democratic party this evening with barack obama saying that biden really nailed this decision. >> jessica, thank you very much. i want to go to ar let signs. you've covered joe biden from the beginning in this campaign. what else do you know about what went into this decision? >> reporter: well, erin, this was a months-long process as joe biden searched for his running mate. his search committee conducted extensive vetting of each of these candidates which involves turning over documents, also having interviews with that search committee. the search committee talking to alli

she knew beau and thoughs me. >> she ended her campaign in december. and in march endorsed biden a tribute to his son. >> i got to know joe through beau. and beau showed courage all the time. and conviction. he spoke with so much love about the father who raised the man that he was. i know joe. and that's why i'm supporting him. >> sources tell cnn harris spoke at length about her relationship with beau biden in her interview with joe biden's vice president selection committee. and it was that relationship that clearly impacted biden's decision. >> my campaign is always been a family affair. every campaign i've run. i know how much beau respected kamala and her work. that mattered a lot to me. as i made this decision. >> meanwhile the republican convention is a week from monday. there's an aspect of the last election that could come roaring back into view. in 2020 votes. we have a special report tomorrow night called count on controversy inside the electoral college. what propted you to do this? >> two times in the last five elections. two elections out of the last fooi we had a

let me just tell you about beau biden. i learned quickly that beau was the kind of guy who inspired people to be a better version of themselves. he really was the best of us. and when i would ask him where did you get that, where did this come from? he'd always talk about his dad. and i will tell you the love that they shared was incredible to watch. it was the most beautiful display of the love between a father and a son. and beau talked about how joe would spend four hours every day riding the rails back and forth from wilmington to washington so he could make breakfast for his kids in the morning and make it home in time to tuck them in bed each night. all of this so two little boys who had just lost their mom and their sister in a tragic accident would know that the world was still turning it. >> and that's how i came to know joe. he's someone whose first response when things get tough is never to think about himself but to care for everyone else. he's someone who never asks why is this happening to me, and instead asks

i know who beau biden was. and you don't need to know any of that to understand that the idea of a parent losing a child, let alone twice, is an unbelievable pain to overcome. >> yeah. >> and that tells you something about joe biden. he knows pain. he sees it in others. it affects him. he is not, somehow, insulated by self-interest from the pain of others. he feels. now, is that what you want in a leader? that's an open question. it's an open question. but it's real. and in a time of frauds and fakes, all over us, in politics, when it comes to his humanity, the guy is the real deal. >> yeah. i'm not going to tell the story again but i know it's real. and you know it's lael becaurea you've had experiences with it. i do have to say, you know, looking at the videos of the family and hearing the family talk about and the grandkids. grandkids. no matter where he is, if he's on stage giving a speech, he's going to pick up in the middle of the speech and go, hey, what's wrong? i got to tell you, you can't find a bette

funeral his son's funeral and being there because beau biden in the state of delaware was the person who pushed for trans inclusive rights and saying you know your son meant so much to me and he said your fight is our fight and that is my fight and this was just a personal moment at his own son's funeral these are the kind of anecdotes that really draw out the person of joe biden is so this was a virtual convention because of. the convention as the democrats were holding the virtual convention president trump was trying to steal a few headlines with an in person rather just outside biden's hometown in pennsylvania so how much is the pandemic going to affect campaigning physically as an issue well i mean campaigning is is just completely changed the entire get out the vote used to be knocking on doors talking to people shaking people's hands that can't really happen so it's become much more electronic it's become much more phone calls it's been much more mailing not just you know ballot mail in ballots but also mailing explanations of how to go to vote it's changed everything the good

pete buttigieg good evening, beau biden lived a life of service in office and in uniform. you put your life on the line for this country, you do it not because it is the country that you live in, but it is because it is the country that 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 too long, that promise has been denied. we also know america is at its best when we make that circle of belonging later. -- wider. i joined a military where firing me because of who i am was not just possible, it was policy. in 2020, it is unlawful in america to fire someone because of who they are. the very ring on my finger, a wedding we celebrated here where i am standing reflects how this country can change. love makes my marriage real. political courage made it possible. including that of joe biden who stepped out ahead even of this party when he said marriage equality should be the law of the land. there was a long way to go. if this much can change between 2010 and 2020, imagine what

funeral his son's funeral and being there because beau biden in the state of delaware was the person who pushed for trans inclusive rights and saying you know your son meant so much to me and he said your fight is our fight and that is my fight and this was just a personal moment and his own son's funeral these are the kind of anecdotes that really draw out the person that joe biden is so this was a virtual convention because of. the convention as the democrats were holding the virtual convention president trump was trying to steal a few headlines with an in person rally just outside biden's hometown in pennsylvania so how much is the pandemic going to affect campaign big physically as an issue well i mean campaigning is is just completely changed the entire get out the vote used to be knocking on doors talking to people shaking people's hands that can't really happen so it's become much more electronic it's become much more phone calls it's been much more mailing not just you know ballot mail in ballots but also mailing explanations of how to go to vote it's changed everything the g

let me tell you about beau biden. wasarned quickly that beau the kind of guy who inspired people to be a better version of themselves. he really was the best of us. when i would ask him, where did you get that, where did this come from, he would always talk about his dad. love thatl you the they shared was incredible. most you to full display of -- the most beautiful display of the love between a father and son. how joe wouldout spend four hours every day riding the rails back and forth between wilmington and washington so he could make breakfast for his kids in the morning and make it home in time to tuck them in bed each night. all of this so two little boys who had just lost our mom and sister in a tragic accident -- lost their mom and sister in tragic accident would know the world was still turning. that is how i came to know joe. he is someone whose first response when things get tough is never to think about himself, but to care for everyone else. asks,someone who never why is this happening to me? do instead ask

it began with biden's son beau. the two served as attorneys general at the same time before he died of brain cancer. >> i will always feel and, strongly, about the greatness of who beau biden was. and i got to know joe in large part through beau's relationship with his father. >> biden acknowledging his son's bond with his vp pick in his announcement, saying she worked closely with beau. i was proud then, and i'm proud now to have her as my partner in this campaign. three months after dropping out of the presidential race, harris threw her support behind biden. >> i have decided that i am with great enthusiasm going to endorse joe biden for president of the united states. >> i introduce the next president -- >> she began appearing at fundraisers for biden, including his last major event before the pandemic altered the campaign. >> i view myself as a bridge, not as anything else. there's an entire generation of leaders you saw standing behind me. they are the future of this country. >> one of those future leaders now

beau biden lived a life of service, in office and in uniform. when you put 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 is at its best. when we make that circle of belonging wider. just over 10 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. love makes my marriage real. political courage made it possible. including that of joe biden who stepped out ahead even of this party when he said marriage equality should be the law o

and let me just tell you about beau biden. i learned quickly that beau was the kind of guy who inspired people to be a better version of themselves. he really was the best of us. and when i would ask him, where did you get that, where did this come from? he would always talk about his dad. and i will tell you, the love that they shared was incredible to watch. it was the most beautiful display of the love between a father and a son. and beau talked about how joe would spend four hours every day riding the rails back and forth from wilmington to washington so he could make breakfast for his kids in the morning and make it home in time to tuck them in bed each night. all of this so two little boys who had just lost their mom and their sister in a tragic accident would know that the world was still turning. and that's how i came to know joe. he's someone whose first response when things get tough is never to think about himself but to care for everyone else. he's someone who never asks, why is this happening to me? and instead ask

i'm beau biden. and joe biden is my dad. >> some voices are never silenced.arth. >> he did in 46 years what most of us couldn't do in 146. think about the children who are safer because of beau, whose lives are fuller because of him. think about the day that dawns 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, but 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. he felt it was his obligation. he did his duty to his country and deployed to iraq. >> beau biden served his country in battl

i'm beau biden and joe biden is my dad. >> some voices are never silenced.couldn't do in 146. think about the day that dawns for children who are safer because of beau, whose lives are full because of him. think about the day that dawns 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, but that's okay. certainly for beau, a claim was never the point of public service. >> if you know him, you know 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 cleared for him to run for senate, he chose to finish his job as ag instead. after 9/11, he joined the national guard. he felt it was his obligation. he did his duty to his country and deployed to iraq. >> beau biden served his country in battle. he prosecuted one of the w

her friendship with biden's late son, beau. there was a moment when she shared a story about father and son. the emotion on joe biden's face. she then turned to president trump, his handling of the pandemic, the lives lost in this country, the jobs lost, saying america is crying out for leadership. the running mates were then joined by their spouses, standing on opposite sides of the podium. social distancing in this pandemic. just another skin of these extraordinary times. and senator harris and a nod to her career as a d.a., a state attorney general and her role in this upcoming campaign, she said the case against donald trump and mike pence is open and shut. of course, president trump sees this very differently. he's responding tonight, calling harris a disaster. abc's mary bruce leading us off from wilmington. ♪ >> reporter: tonight in delaware, history was made in a near empty high school gymnasium. joe biden introducing his running mate, noting she's like none who have come before her. >> as a child of immigrants, she know

and let me just tell you about beau biden. learned quickly that beau was the kind of guy who inspired people to be a better version of themselves. he really was the best of us. and when i would ask him, "where did you get that? where did this come from?" he'd always talk about his dad. and i will tell you, the love that they shared was incredible to watch. it was the most beautiful display of the love between a father and a son. >> reporter: harris says she's been inspired by the essential workers -- from doctors to truckers -- who've stepped up during the pandemic. >> but whenever i think that there is a reason for doubt, whenever i've had my own doubts, i think of you, the american people, the doctors and nurses and front line workers who are risking your lives to save others. >> reporter: the former prosecutor then taking direct aim at the president. >> the case against donald trump and mike pence is open and shut. this is what happens when we elect a guy who just isn't up for the job. our country ends up in tatters. and so

. >> reporter: we're learning there will be a tribute video to joe biden's late son beau who passed away from brain cancer. this is the first time joe biden will be on the democratic ticket without his son beau with him. >> all right. we'll be checking in with you throughout night. thank you very much. let's get to all of this. dana bash is with us. our senior political reporter. how important is it for joe biden to make this about more than a referendum on president trump? >> he's got to make the case for joe biden. he's got to convince voters that not only does he recognize the stresses and strains in terms of this covid pandemic that people are going through every day, he's got to convince them he's is man to fix it. that's the top most thing he has to do. we heard all week he's man of great kindness and dignity. he'll have to make that case. in some ways talk about what kind of policy pringss and really equity with people. maybe they voted for donald trump. maybe they have some doubts now. he's got to convince them they should leave their party and full be lever for joe biden. he's g

he just lost beau biden a couple years ago in 2015 after the long battle with brain cancer and you'll see tonight jill biden talk about that grief and talk about the ways in which that grief makes him something of a healer in terms of this nation. it's very powerful. it was never not powerful. it's always heartbreaking. >> i think it's more than the face of grief they want to show. they want to show the face of resilience. >> exactly. >> they want to show the face of a guy that's been knocked down and suffered loss and come back and persevered through that and send the message this is what he can do for our country. i think you're going to hear a lot about that. you said she was dating this guy that happened to be a united states senator. that may have been reason to disqualify him in her mind. >> maybe that's why he had to ask five times. who knows. >> as the convention gets closer, we're learning tonight two of the most anticipated speeches. next, jake talks with senator elizabeth warren to see whether biden is progressive enough. ♪ ♪ and for the other candidates every person who vo

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 pre

i first got to know who kamala threw my son, beau biden.hey served as attorneys general at the same time. they took on the same big fights together. kamala in california,beau here in delaware. htbig fthat helps change the entire country. that mattered a lot to me. as i made this decision. we need to get to work. pulling this nation out of these crises. getting our economy back on track. winning the battle for the soul of america. let me introduce to you, for the first time, your next vice presidenof the uted states, kamala harris. t floor is yours. -- the floor is yours. sen. harris: thank you, joe. as i said when you called me, i am incredibly honored by this responsibility. i am ready to get to work. after the most competitive primary in history, the country received a resounding messag that joe was the person to lead us forrd. i am so proud to stand with you. is is a moment of real consequence for america. the kind of country we live in. it is all on the line. we are reeling fromhe worst public health crisis in a century. we are experien

i am beau biden. joe biden is my dad. >> some voices are never silenced.ves. never stop inspiring, even after they are gone. biden was abeau soldier and attorney general. given taken -- he was just 46 years on this earth. what somein 46 years of us can't do in 146 years. there are families that are more free because of him. some people never know that their lives are better because of beau biden but that is ok. was never the point of public to him. >> 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 did not know any other way. beau did not -- cut corners. he turned down an appointment to be delaware's attorney general so he could win at fair square. fair and square. ther 9/11, he joined national guard. he did 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 still next president of the united states. >> it would b

and will the me just tell you about beau -- let me tell you about beau biden. arned quickly that beau was the kind of guy who inspired people to be a better version of themselves. he really was the best of us. and when i would ask hum, where'd you get that? where'd this come from? he'd always talk about his dad. and i will tell you the love that they shared was incredible to watch. it was the most beautiful display of the love between a father and a son. and beau talked about how joe would spend four hours every day riding the recalls back and forth from wilmington to washington so he could make breakfast for his kids in the morning and make it home in time to tuck them in bed each night. all of this so two little boys who had just lost their mom and their sister in a tragedy you can accident -- in a tragic accident would know that the world was still turning x. that's how came to know joe. he's someone whose first response when things get tough never to think about himself, but to care for everyone else. he's someone who never asks why is this happening to me a

and let me just tell you about beau biden. i learned quickly that beau was the kind of guy who inspired people to be a better version of themselves. he really was the best of us. and when i would ask him where'd you get that, where'd this come from he'd always talk about his dad. and i will tell you the love that they shared was incredible to watch. it was the most beautiful display of the love between a father and a son. and beau talked about how joe would spend 4 hours every day riding the rails back and forth from wilmington to washington so he could make breakfast for his kids in morning and make it home in time to tuck them in bed each night. all of this so two little boys who had just lost their mom and their sister in a tragic accident would know that the world was still turning. and that's how i came to know joe. >> and that is how america came to know kamala harris today as the democratic candidate for vice president of the united states of america. leading off our discussion tonight rene graham, opinion columnist and

> o'donnell: and that is part of the struggle that joe biden faced, the loss of an adult child, beau biden in part led to the biden family deciding he would not run for 201ident in 2016. joe biden has been on the national stage for nearly half a century. you might recall he was just 29 rears old when he was first elected to the senate, and now 77, biden would be the oldest man to become president, if elected. cbs' major garrett looks at a career that has spannedded the decades. >> joseph robinet boyden jr. was born in 1942. when the economy collapsed in scranton, pennsylvania, and his father lost his job, the bidens and nine-year-old joey moved to delaware. >> my dad had an expression. he said, "joey, it's not a question of succeeding when you get knocked down. it's how you get up." >> he attended law school at syracuse university. by 1972 he was elected to the united states senate as a long shot, tell it like it is, 29-year-old. >> i think one of the reasons i won is they have more confidence in me than with other people that i will say what i think. >> reporter: weeks later, his wife, ne

because when senator harris did talk about beau biden, i was watching joe biden the whole time and itm to hear it. so let's listen to that. >> let me just tell you about beau biden. i learned quickly that beau was the kind of guy who inspired people to be a better version of themselves. he really was the best of us. and when i would ask him where did you get that? where did this come from? he'd always talk about his dad. and i will tell you the love that they shared was incredible to watch. it was the most beautiful display of the love between a father and a son. >> look, take politics out of it completely. take the election out of it completely. you're watching joe biden there and he just loved his son and he misses him so much and that's all you can think about when you're watching that. i want to play it because use talked about it. there's some other sound i want to play because this has to do with the interview that the president just did. in the last 24 hours he's been unsubtle. he's said this stuff, crystal clear. he did an interview in morning when he was talking about mail-in

know, tougher to make that happen, so had a harris, she relationship with joe biden's late son beau biden. that played a huge part in him choosing her, and it also helped to smooth things over after -- and i am sure we will get to this -- after the famous moment in which kamala harris attacked a joe biden on stage during the debates. there was some hard feelings in the biting camp over that -- the joe biden camp, but because she had that relationship with beau biden, that was able to be gotten over. moment, whichbate has been getting so much attention, how significant was that in the primary? seema: it was an enormous moment. i think people had a lot of optimism about her candidacy. after that moment, they knew who she was. seen as the front runner for such a long time. she questioned his statements about working with segregationist senators and bussing, and put issues from decades ago in a modern light. being thehe ends up nominee, but not an easy task. because of this pre-existing elation ship between them, joe woundedoked personally when she attacked him. it was beyond political, it wa