Democratic candidate for president Joe Biden on Friday night declared he was on the road to victory in the election. “The numbers tell us a clear and convincing story. We're going to win this race,” Biden said.
Biden made the comments in a much-anticipated address to the nation from Wilmington Delaware, after news agencies, earlier in the day, confirmed he was set to win the state of Pennsylvania. The 20 Electoral College votes from Pennsylvania would take Biden comfortably over the majority mark. Biden was accompanied by Kamala Harris, his running mate.
Biden's remarks came after President Donald Trump warned via Twitter the Democrat "should not wrongfully claim the office of president" given the legal challenges the incumbent had filed.
Biden said 24 hours ago, he was behind in Georgia and Pennsylvania, but was now ahead in both states and was consolidating his lead in Arizona.
Biden said he would not be waiting, indicating the transition process had started, with the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis being priorities. Biden said he and Kamala Harris had met experts on public health and the economy. Biden warned the daily COVID-19 infection tally in the US could cross 200,000.
Biden pointed he had got 74 million votes so far, “more than any presidential candidate had got in history of America”. Biden said he would be the first Democrat to win in Arizona after 24 years and Georgia after 8 years.
Biden said “A record number of Americans of every race, religion and background chose change over more of the same… given us a mandate for change on COVID, the economy, climate…”
Biden called for calm after tension during the charged election campaign. Biden declared he would oppose attempts to stop counting of votes that President Donald Trump had demanded. Biden said the “purpose of our politics... is to solve problems, to give everybody a chance”. Biden said the majority of Americans “wanted to get the vitriol out of our politics”. Biden said it is time for Americans to come together and heal.
