WASHINGTON, Nov 8: In active politics spanning 48 years since he was elected
to the Senate first time, and after a couple of attempts at the top job in the
past, former Vice-President and Democrat Joseph R. Biden Jr. has now finally
made it. Third time lucky, and mission accomplished. He has crossed the 270
mark as per unofficial results released by States till Saturday.
On the great occasion of his victory speech at Wilmington, Delaware, on Saturday
night he remembered his late son by reciting his favourite Catholic hymn 'On
Eagle's Wings' which has come true in part and the rest is yet to come.
“I pledge to be a President who seeks not to divide, but to unify. Who doesn’t
see red and blue States, but only a United States...And who will work with all
my heart to win the confidence of the whole people,” he gave expression to his
intended universality.
If that is not enough, a seemingly ebullient Biden's rhetoric goes on, "This
is the time to heal in America."
But the ground reality is composed of a devastating, deadly pandemic ravaging
the country, the economics that is in a disarray, mounting social tensions, disappearing
jobs, a politics dividing the country like never before - on the whole a grim
scenario calling for drastic action, and not rhetoric! But Biden says, “We can
do it.”
The victory speech comes even as his Republican rival President Donald Trump,
who has not conceded yet, has challenged the legitimacy of the election although
most of his allegations of electoral malpractices are blind, non-specific and
not supported by any evidence.
Biden did not counter Trump in his speech but only said, “The people of this
nation have spoken...They have delivered us a clear victory. A convincing victory.
A victory for ‘We the People.’ We have won with the most votes ever cast for
a presidential ticket in the history of this nation — 74 million."
”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 enemies," Biden said.
He announced that on Monday he would form a committee of top science and health
experts to draft a plan for battling the pandemic. It would be ready when he
takes office in January.
Biden was introduced by his running mate, Kamala Harris, who will be the first
woman Vice-President in the country's history.
Kamala Harris paid tribute to her late mother, an Indian immigrant, and the
other generations of Black, Asian, White, Latina, and native women who had "paved
the way for this moment tonight". "While I may be the first woman in this office,
I will not be the last," she said.
There were celebrations in major cities soon after news agencies and networks
called the race and started addressing Biden as President-elect. Trump supporters
continued their protestes at many places but were low-key.
If the results are to be challenged, the aggrieved party needs to approach
the courts in the concerned States and depending on the order the affected party
could go in appeal to the US Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, counting is still incomplete and the States have to issue certification
for the results to become official. This must be before the electoral college
meets on Decenmber 14. Till then the results are unofficial.
New President is officially sworn into office on 20 January.
