The Democrat Party on Tuesday formally nominated former vice-president Joe Biden as its presidential candidate for the November election at the party's virtual national convention.
The nomination is considered a high point in the political career of Biden, who had twice sought the Democrat nomination and was vice-president to Barack Obama for eight years.
Two former Democratic presidents, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, as well as former secretary of state John Kerry, himself a presidential candidate in 2004, and former Republican secretary of state Colin Powell were among the notable participants at the convention that emphasised the theme "Leadership matters".
Bill Clinton tore into President Donald Trump in his speech. “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,” Bill Clinton said.
In a video, Powell claimed, "Our country needs a commander in chief who takes care of our troops in the same way he would his own family. For Joe Biden, that doesn't need teaching.”
"In the opening of the convention's second night, a collection of younger Democrats, including former Georgia lawmaker Stacey Abrams and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, were given a few minutes to shine. But overall, there was little room on Tuesday's programme for the younger stars of the party's far-left wing," The Associated Press reported.
“In a democracy, we do not elect saviours. We cast our ballots for those who see our struggles and pledge to serve,” said Abrams, who had been in contention to be Biden's running mate.
Biden will formally accept his party's nomination on Thursday when the four-day convention ends.
California Senator Kamala Harris will formally accept her nomination as his running mate on Wednesday.
Despite an, arguably, easy victory in the Democratic primaries and a lead over Trump in opinion polls, Biden is perceived to be battling lack of enthusiasm among voters.
