As Americans wait for the highly anticipated Election Day results, Joe Biden took the stage with a few more words for his supporters.
“Yesterday, once again proved that democracy is the heartbeat of this nation,” he began. “If we had any doubts, we shouldn’t have any longer about a government of, by and for the people…It’s clear that we’re winning enough states to reach 270 electoral votes. I am not here to declare that we’ve won. But I am here to report when the count is finished, we believe we will be the winners.”
The Democratic presidential candidate mentioned receiving the most popular votes in history, noting he and Kamala Harris are “on track to win more votes than any previous presidential and vice presidential ticket.” “Every vote must be counted. No one’s going to take our democracy away from us. Not now, not ever,” he said.
If and when he does remain victorious, Biden said it will be time to “put the harsh rhetoric of the campaign behind us” and “come together as a nation.” “We are campaigning as Democrats, but I will govern as an American president,” he said. “There will be no red states or blue states when we win, just the United States of America.”
Biden’s speech is the second time he’s addressed fans since results starting rolling in. Last night (Nov. 3), he spoke to supporters at a drive-in event, explaining this year’s results would take longer than usual because of an overwhelming number of mail-in ballots.
“I’m here to tell you tonight that we believe that we’re on track to win this election. We knew because of the unprecedented early vote and mail-in vote that’s gonna take a while. We’re gonna have to be patient… and it ain’t over until ever vote is counted. Every ballot is counted,” he said.
“We can know the results as early as tomorrow morning. But, it may take a little longer. As I’ve said all along, it’s not my place or Donald Trump’s place to declare who’s won this election. That’s the decision of the American people. But, I’m optimistic about this outcome.”
Since taking the stage, Trump has asked for the Supreme Court to put an end to the vote tabulation, alleging his lead in some key states “started to magically disappear as surprise ballots were counted.” His campaign has announced that they filed a lawsuit against the state of Michigan to “halt” the process of counting votes. He is also planning to demand a recount in Wisconsin, noting “irregularities” in several of the state’s counties “raise serious doubts about the validity of the results.”