The results may not be finalized, but 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is preparing to govern.
“We don’t have a declaration of victory yet,” the former vice president said Friday in Wilmington, Delaware. “But the numbers tell us a clear and convincing story: We’re going to win this race.”
Biden cited his 4 million-plus popular vote advantage on President Trump and his leads on the incumbent in Arizona and Georgia, the first time a Democrat has performed well in those states in more than two decades. Biden, a 36-year Delaware senator, also talked up how he had “rebuilt the blue wall in the middle of the country that crumbled just four years ago,” referring to wins in Michigan and Wisconsin, and his vote lead in the ongoing Pennsylvania count.
“They’ve given us a mandate for action,” Biden said. “People spoke.”
Biden added his top priorities were responding to the coronavirus pandemic, the economy, climate change, and systemic racism.
“I want people to know that we’re not waiting to get the work done,” he said.
Biden suggested he would speak again on Saturday, calling for patience but also hinting that he was aware of the partisan battle that likely lay ahead.
“The purpose of our politics isn’t total, unrelenting, unending warfare,” he said. “The purpose of our politics, the work of the nation, isn’t to fan the flames of conflict — but to solve problems.”
The prime-time address was scheduled at noon Friday, with the expectation Biden would be speaking as president-elect. Despite the campaign staging a victory-like address, the presidential race is still in limbo. As of 8 p.m. EST, Biden had 264 electoral votes to Trump’s 214.
California Sen. Kamala Harris, his running mate, joined him at the podium but didn’t speak as was originally planned.
Biden’s leading in four of the five states still counting ballots, including Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and Pennsylvania, becoming the first nominee to earn more than 75 million votes. Trump maintains an edge in North Carolina.
While waiting for returns, the Trump campaign has mounted legal challenges in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. Aides are also leaving open the possibility of recounts in Georgia and Wisconsin, given the slim margins.
Biden, 77, could be the oldest president ever to be sworn into office in January and only the second Catholic. Harris could be the first woman and first minority woman to be vice president.
