‘A Victory For We The People,’ Says US President-Elect Joe Biden
Biden-Harris addressed the American electorate for the first time as President-Elect and Vice President-Elect.
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US President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris addressed the nation for the first time since their projected victory at the Chase Center in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, on Saturday, 7 November.
"The people of this nation have spoken, they've delivered us a clear victory, a convincing victory, a victory for we the people," Biden said, in his first address as President-Elect of the United Staes of America.
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"We've won with the most votes ever cast on a presidential ticket in the history of the nation," he added. "74 million."
Referring to the celebrations across the streets of America, Biden said he was surprised at the "outpouring of joy, of hope, renewed faith in tomorrow to bring another day."
"I am humbled by the trust and confidence you have placed in me," Biden added.
"It's time to put away the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature, see each other again, listen to each other again, and to make progress, we have to stop treating our opponents as our enemies. They are not our enemies. They are Americans," Biden said.
"This is the time to heal America," Biden added.
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Democracy is "only as strong as our willingness to fight for it," Harris said in her first address as Vice President-elect, moments after she walked out to the music of Mary J Blige.
"To guard it and never take it for granted," she said, from Wilmington, Delaware. "It takes sacrifice. But there is joy in it. And there is progress, because we, the people, have the power to build a better future."
"I know times have been challenging. Especially the last several months. The grief, sorrow, and pain, the worries and the struggles, but we have also witnessed your courage, your resilience and the generosity of your spirit. For four years, you marched and organised for equality and justice, for our lives and for our planet and then you voted. And you delivered a clear message," Harris said.
"You chose hope and unity, decency, science, and yes, truth. You chose Joe Biden as the next president of the United States of America," she added.
She makes history as the first woman, the first Black person and the first person of South Asian descent to become vice president.
"And when our very democracy was on the ballot in this election with the very soul of America at stake and the world watching, you ushered in a new day for America," she said.
"To the American people who make up our beautiful country, thank you for turning out in record numbers to make your voices heard," Harris said, of an election that has seen a record voter turnout.
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