Joe Biden nominated to take on Donald Trump

DEMOCRATS have formally nominated Joe Biden as their 2020 presidential nominee, as party officials and activists gave the former vicepresident their overwhelming support to take on Donald Trump.

The moment marked a political high point for Mr Biden, who had sought the presidency twice before and is now cemented as the embodiment of Democrats’ desperate desire to defeat Mr Trump in autumn.

The roll-call of convention delegates formalised what has been clear for months since Mr Biden took the lead in the primary elections’ chase for the nomination.

It came as he worked to demonstrate the breadth of his coalition for a second consecutive night at the virtual national convention.

Former president Bill Clinton and former secretary of state John Kerry – and former Republican secretary of state Colin Powell – were among the heavy-hitters emphasising the importance of leadership.

Mr Clinton said: “Donald Trump says we’re leading the world. Well, we are the only major industrial economy to have its unemployment rate triple.

“At a time like this, the Oval Office should be a command centre. Instead, it’s a storm centre. There’s only chaos.”

Tuesday’s speaking programme underscored Mr Biden’s challenge as he seeks to inspire a new generation of voters.

But just 77 days before the election, Mr Biden has neither history nor enthusiasm on his side.

Only one incumbent president has been defeated in the past four decades and Mr Biden’s supporters consistently report that they are motivated more by opposition to Mr

Trump than excitement about Biden, a 77-year-old life-long politician.

That deficit could hurt turnout among less consistent voters, particularly minorities and younger voters, whom Biden needs to show up in great numbers this autumn.

Mr Biden formally captured his party’s presidential nomination after being nominated by three people, including two Delaware law-makers and a 31-year-old African-American security guard who became a viral sensation after blurting out “I love you” to Biden in a New York City lift.