President-elect Joe Biden speaks in Wilmington, Del., Saturday. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
9.30pm UPDATE: (AP) – In his first speech after securing the White House, President-elect Joe Biden made an appeal to supporters of President Donald Trump.
Biden said Saturday night in Wilmington, Delaware, that “this is the time to heal in America” and pledged to be a president to represent even those who didn’t support him.
Noting “I’ve lost a couple times myself,” Biden said, “now, let’s give each other a chance.”
Trump has not conceded the race to Biden, pursuing legal challenges over ballot counts in several states.
Biden said “it’s time to put away the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature, see each other again, listen to each other again,” saying of his political opponents, “they are not our enemies. They are Americans.”
Earlier, Vice president-elect Kamala Harris paid tribute to Black women who “so often prove they are the backbone of our democracy.”
Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, is the first woman to be elected to the vice presidency.
Harris noted her ascension to the role comes 100 years after the 19th Amendment was ratified and 55 years after the signing of the Voting Rights Act, which expanded who could participate in American democracy.
She praised Joe Biden for having “the audacity to break one of the most substantial barriers that exist in our country” by selecting a woman as his running mate.
“Every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a county of possibilities,” Harris said.
The remarks were some of the most direct she has delivered about her history-making role as Biden’s running mate.
3.20pm UPDATE: Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis offered his congratulations to Joe Biden on his election as President-Elect of the United States of America and to Senator Kamala Harris on her election as Vice President-Elect.
“The Bahamas and the United States have enjoyed long standing, warm, friendly and historic relations,” said the Prime Minister in a letter to President-Elect Biden.
“I extend my very best wishes to you for a successful administration and I am very confident that the warm and friendly relations existing between our two governments and peoples will not only continue but will be further strengthened.”
• In a Facebook post, former Prime Minister Perry Christie also congratulated Mr Biden, saying: “Congratulations to my friend President Elect Joe Biden on becoming the 46 President of the United States.”
From earlier:
By JONATHAN LEMIRE and ZEKE MILLER Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States on Saturday, positioning himself to lead a nation gripped by historic pandemic and a confluence of economic and social turmoil.
His victory came after more than three days of uncertainty as election officials sorted through a surge of mail-in votes that delayed the processing of some ballots. Biden crossed 270 Electoral College votes with a win in Pennsylvania.
Biden, 77, staked his candidacy less on any distinctive political ideology than on galvanizing a broad coalition of voters around the notion that Trump posed an existential threat to American democracy. The strategy proved effective, resulting in pivotal victories in Michigan and Wisconsin as well as Pennsylvania, onetime Democratic bastions that had flipped to Trump in 2016.
Biden was on track to win the national popular vote by more than 4 million, a margin that could grow as ballots continue to be counted.
Trump seized on delays in processing the vote in some states to falsely allege voter fraud and argue that his rival was trying to seize power — an extraordinary charge by a sitting president trying to sow doubt about a bedrock democratic process.
As the vote count played out, Biden tried to ease tensions and project an image of presidential leadership, hitting notes of unity that were seemingly aimed at cooling the temperature of a heated, divided nation.
"We have to remember the purpose of our politics isn't total unrelenting, unending warfare," Biden said Friday night in Delaware. "No, the purpose of our politics, the work of our nation, isn't to fan the flames of conflict, but to solve problems, to guarantee justice, to give everybody a fair shot."
Kamala Harris also made history as the first Black woman to become vice president, an achievement that comes as the U.S. faces a reckoning on racial justice. The California senator, who is also the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency, will become the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government, four years after Trump defeated Hillary Clinton.
Trump is the first incumbent president to lose reelection since Republican George H.W. Bush in 1992. It was unclear whether Trump would publicly concede.
Americans showed deep interest in the presidential race. A record 103 million voted early this year, opting to avoid waiting in long lines at polling locations during a pandemic. With counting continuing in some states, Biden had already received more than 74 million votes, more than any presidential candidate before him.
More than 236,000 Americans have died during the coronavirus pandemic, nearly 10 million have been infected and millions of jobs have been lost. The final days of the campaign played out against the backdrop of a surge in confirmed cases in nearly every state, including battlegrounds such as Wisconsin that swung to Biden.
The pandemic will soon be Biden's to tame, and he campaigned pledging a big government response, akin to what Franklin D. Roosevelt oversaw with the New Deal during the Depression of the 1930s. But Senate Republicans fought back several Democratic challengers and looked to retain a fragile majority that could serve as a check on such Biden ambition.
The 2020 campaign was a referendum on Trump's handling of the pandemic, which has shuttered schools across the nation, disrupted businesses and raised questions about the feasibility of family gatherings heading into the holidays.
The fast spread of the coronavirus transformed political rallies from standard campaign fare to gatherings that were potential public health emergencies. It also contributed to an unprecedented shift to voting early and by mail and prompted Biden to dramatically scale back his travel and events to comply with restrictions. Trump defied calls for caution and ultimately contracted the disease himself. He was saddled throughout the year by negative assessments from the public of his handling of the pandemic.
Biden also drew a sharp contrast to Trump through a summer of unrest over the police killings of Black Americans including Breonna Taylor in Kentucky and George Floyd in Minneapolis. Their deaths sparked the largest racial protest movement since the civil rights era. Biden responded by acknowledging the racism that pervades American life, while Trump emphasised his support of police and pivoted to a "law and order" message that resonated with his largely white base.
The president's most ardent backers never wavered and may remain loyal to him and his supporters in Congress after Trump has departed the White House.
The third president to be impeached, though acquitted in the Senate, Trump will leave office having left an indelible imprint in a tenure defined by the shattering of White House norms and a day-to-day whirlwind of turnover, partisan divide and the ever-present threat via his Twitter account.
Biden, born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and raised in Delaware, was one of the youngest candidates ever elected to the Senate. Before he took office, his wife and daughter were killed, and his two sons badly injured in a 1972 car crash.
Commuting every night on a train from Washington back to Wilmington, Biden fashioned an everyman political persona to go along with powerful Senate positions, including chairman of the Senate Judiciary and Foreign Relations Committees. Some aspects of his record drew critical scrutiny from fellow Democrats, including his support for the 1994 crime bill, his vote for the 2003 Iraq War and his management of the Clarence Thomas' Supreme Court hearings.
Biden's 1988 presidential campaign was done in by plagiarism allegations, and his next bid in 2008 ended quietly. But later that year, he was tapped to be Barack Obama's running mate and he became an influential vice president, steering the administration's outreach to both Capitol Hill and Iraq.
While his reputation was burnished by his time in office and his deep friendship with Obama, Biden stood aside for Clinton and opted not to run in 2016 after his adult son Beau died of brain cancer the year before.
Trump's tenure pushed Biden to make one more run as he declared that "the very soul of the nation is at stake."
Associated Press writer Jill Colvin contributed to this report.
Comments
SP 3 years, 5 months ago
President Donald Trump........ YOUR FIRED!
UN 3 years, 5 months ago
Bahamians are rejoicing - back to anything goes. Spoiled.
ThisIsOurs 3 years, 5 months ago
praise God. now everyone who thinks they have some special insight into craziness that the rest of us blind dummies can't see can cease and desist. Hopefully this includes the FNM party who has been allowing Donald Trump emulation to rule them as some winning strategy
tribanon 3 years, 5 months ago
The Biden team has wasted no time in setting up their priority list for new foreign policy goals. The number one item on the list is to re-establish full diplomatic ties with Cuba by eliminating all existing travel and trade restrictions. It seems many of Biden's corporate backers are anxious for him to pick up where Obama left off in his efforts to once again make Cuba the main playground for American tourists and business interests alike in the Caribbean.
Porcupine 3 years, 5 months ago
Or, by treating people with an iota of respect?
ScubaSteve 3 years, 5 months ago
What's wrong with normalizing ties with Cuba? We have normal ties with Vietnam and China... both are communist countries just like Cuba. I am completely free to vacation in Vietnam and/or China -- but can't vacation in Cuba? Doesn't make any sense.
tribanon 3 years, 5 months ago
Then perhaps you can explain why The Bahamas wrongfully does not have "normalized ties" with the one and only real China, more specifically the Republic of China (ROC) a/k/a Taiwan.
Why does The Bahamas instead diplomatically recognize the very illegitimate People's Republic of China (PRC) a/k/a Communist China but not Taiwan?
ScubaSteve 3 years, 5 months ago
Ohhh, that is an easy one... money!! The Bahamas (and the U.S.) purchase too much goods from China. Plus, the Bahamas also imports Chinese workers (e.g. the Baha Mar project). To put it simply, the US and many, many other countries do not want to upset China too much -- due to business, trade, and money. As for Taiwan... yes, it would be fantastic to normalize relations with Taiwan and recognize them as a fully independent country from China. That would be incredible and something I would support 110%!!
tribanon 3 years, 5 months ago
I would only add that the Chinese Communist Party is very skilled at bribing senior government offiicials in other countries to get what they want.
TalRussell 3 years, 5 months ago
My Comrade ThisIsOurs, unlike some other judges closer home, the USA judges were not out for a replay of the Bush republicans types dirty politics. The ditching of The Donald for a Comrade President Joey goin' for sure have serious consequences won't favour best interests the Commonwealth of 1200 Islands, Cays, and Rocks. Shakehead once for Yeah, Twice for Not?
ThisIsOurs 3 years, 5 months ago
but neither does COVID.
johnmcntsh 3 years, 5 months ago
Shaking my head, NOT!. You do not understand the ability of a Democratic Government Vs. a dictatorship.
TalRussell 3 years, 5 months ago
Comrade wasn't talkin' about how to nod head best in human being the two comrades but rather governing policies. A Biden administration will be impacting we Commonwealth but shouldn't our job be to be at the ready for all outcomes?
joeblow 3 years, 5 months ago
... I would prefer a harsh talking leader with a heart for people who gets things done over a well rehearsed politician who says what people want to hear and has pursued self interest over the nations interest during their political career. It seems people just want to feel good and hear nice words while getting screwed by politicians!
K4C 3 years, 5 months ago
Remember my fellow Bahamians Biden said
Crack Cocaine started in the Bahamas
Be careful what you are wishing for, one extra point, Biden is the same as a 1 quarter of a tank of gas, with 500 miles to travel, the Wicked Witch of the West Harris is what the Bahamas should be terrified of
ThisIsOurs 3 years, 5 months ago
maybe if we moved away from money laundering,drug trafficking, human smuggling and started innovating we wouldnt have so much to worry about Noone will save us. Trump wasn't interested in us that's a myth. Every country is interested in their people first and forward, its about time the Bahamas learns the lesson
My interest in Biden is not for some Bahamas friendly policy but that he works to put an end to this virus spread. This invisible microscopic bug has done more damage to us than any European blacklisting and to date any hurricane.
K4C 3 years, 5 months ago
Time will tell,
BUT
Biden will do NOTHING that Trump hasn't done for Covid 19
Remember HEALTH in the USA is by STATE not Federal
MrsQ 3 years, 5 months ago
Biden's already doing more than Trump has. He is forming a task force to combat the COVID-19 crisis. By contrast, Trump eliminated the National Security Council's pandemic unit:
https://apnews.com/article/ce014d94b6...">https://apnews.com/article/ce014d94b6...
joeblow 3 years, 5 months ago
... allowing a group of people to sit around and talk about what they will do is not doing anything, especially with a vaccine with 90% efficacy coming down the pike as a result of Trumps work!
https://www.theguardian.com/world/202...">https://www.theguardian.com/world/202...
proudloudandfnm 3 years, 5 months ago
And now the AG in SDNY can get to work. In the words of the russian agent michael flynn... LOCK HIM UP!
BONEFISH 3 years, 5 months ago
Congrats to the President -Elect Joe Biden. The third time is a charm.
Congrats to Vice-President -Elect Kamala Harris. She represents something that has aided and driven development in the United States, immigration. A father who is an economist from Jamaica and a mother who was a researcher from India. The browning of America. Also a white JJewish husband.
Mr.Trump please concede defeat and leave office with some grace. Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush did it.
K4C 3 years, 5 months ago
You old enough to remember THIS
by K4C
TalRussell 3 years, 5 months ago
Shakehead once for Yeah hope the USA has Insurrection Act, Twice for Not smart today move comrade Jamaican into House as veep, by tomorrow she be's plotting a sister Loretta to become da prez.
Proguing 3 years, 5 months ago
Why did you not mention Al Gore?
The_Oracle 3 years, 5 months ago
A bit premature no? Did the electoral college announce a winner? Or just Cnn.......
Clamshell 3 years, 5 months ago
Networks and newspapers report results, which are reported to them by the entities that are counting the votes. Duh.
GodSpeed 3 years, 5 months ago
the media doesn't decide who the winner of an election is but you people are so brainwashed by it you think it does. As the other person said it's the electoral college and they do not meet until December by which there will be many lawsuits by the Trump Administration over this election which will be contested because of voter fraud.
Clamshell 3 years, 5 months ago
You have to prove fraud ... and we haven’t seen much proof yet. Just filing a lawsuit doesn’t prove anything, and a couple of the earliest suits have already been tossed out of court. As for the Electoral College — the electors vote according to the ballots cast in their state ... thus, they vote according to the numbers you’re seeing. It’s not a whole new election ... it’s a done deal.
GodSpeed 3 years, 5 months ago
There's lots of proof and lots of witnesses, Giuliani briefly spoke on it yesterday, hundreds of thousands of votes that are to be contested. But when the mainstream media ignores it and social media bans anyone for posting evidence and links because they're both corrupt, it's not surprising people like you think there isn't any evidence. Good thing there's the law and when it crashes with your manufactured version of reality created by FOX, CNN, MSNBC, Twitter and Facebook... I'm sure you'll be surprised.
Clamshell 3 years, 5 months ago
Uh ... Rudy Giuliani holding a bizarre press conference in a crapped-out parking lot of a Philly landscaping firm, next door to a crematorium and a dirty-book store, is your idea of proof? Bwahahaha, LMAO. Yes ... everybody is lying, and only YOU know the real story. Anyhow, I think it is kind of the staff to loosen your straps on the weekends ... 🤣🤣😎
GodSpeed 3 years, 5 months ago
Millions of people know the "real story" not only me, it's naked fraud, anyone that's not brainwashed by the MSM can see exactly what's going on. It's people like you that are in la-la land. You're the one claiming hundreds of registered poll watchers are lying about fraud by laughing it off, not me. But you'll have a reality shock before the month is out when the press has to admit the issue is not going away.
Don't worry though, when it hits the courts and reality comes crashing down then CNN and MSNBC will tell you what to think again, probably that Trump is "stealing the election and a racist dictator". The location of the press conference has nothing to do with anything really, it's the witnesses that will testify under oath to fraud that matter and they are in the hundreds, this will go to the Supreme Court. Proof of dead people voting, people voting more than once, and hundreds of poll watchers denied to check HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of ballots, which is standard procedure for mail-in ballots to be counted otherwise they're disqualified, even in the Bahamas our vote counting process has more integrity. Laugh now, Cry Later 🙃
JokeyJack 3 years, 5 months ago
Exactly. I wonder if Minnis can now be assured of reelection? All he has to do is follow the new play book - don't allow observers from any opposition Party to see the ballots when they are taken out of the box. Observers who "are in the room" but can't see - opens up a whole new realm of possibilities. Look toward a viral spread of dictatorship around the world (and that's no coincidence). Pun intended.
tribanon 3 years, 5 months ago
Didn't Minnis instruct that 'red' colour ink and not 'blue' must be used for all thumb dipping by voters in the next national general election? Apparently he's sick and tired of the PLP blue colour ink that has traditionally been used. No joke!
Proguing 3 years, 5 months ago
This is a catastrophic day for the Bahamas.
Trump has been good for the Bahamas. Clinton forced the Bahamas to sign the exchange on demand agreements and Obama forced the Bahamas to sign the automatic exchange of information agreements, thus ending banking secrecy in the country. The result has been the closing of many banks and the loss of hundreds of good paying jobs for Bahamians. Under Trump we had no attack on the financial sector, only the EU has been blacklisting us. With Biden President we will see renewed attacks on the little that is left of our offshore sector.
Obama opened Cuba to Americans and we were about to witness a major switch of tourists from the Bahamas to this new destination. Fortunately, Trump put an end to this. The result is that currently the major foreign investors in the Bahamas are US cruise lines. If Cuba had been opened all these investments and tourists would have gone to Cuba. With Cuba opening up again you will see the main foreign investors in this country shift their attention South of the Bahamas.
And by the way Trump got more than 5 million votes than Obama in his second term and 12% of the black votes versus 4% for McCain. Just think about that for a minute…
moncurcool 3 years, 5 months ago
And think about the fact that Biden received more votes than any president in the history of the US.
Think further that Trump votes were for a one term president while Obama was a two term presidet. What is it to get 5 million more and history shows you still lost compared to one with 5 million less who won?
Despite what may happen with Cuba, Trump was no more for the Bahamas than the EU or the US. Every country works for its own interest. and like THISisOurs said previously, it is time leaders of the Bahamas begin to learn the same thing.
rodentos 3 years, 5 months ago
exactly. Trump was opposing the global police state and OECD, now with Biden US will join EU efforts to crush places like Bahamas (and couple of others). And first of all they will put heavy restrictions on travel to/from US, eventually the airspace will be completely closed to "combat covid". If we have bad luck even no cargo will reach Bahamas. Say good bye to Bahamas basically with Harris and Biden. People in the Bahamas easily get fooled by Trump called racist and so on, but as you said he was keeping Bahamas from complete collapse. Now prepare for impact!
Amused 3 years, 5 months ago
The Bahamas just simply needs to step its game up plain and simple. What else the governments sell besides sun, sand, and sea? Many other places offer it as well ad have attractions and things to do, and if Cuba opens up like under the Obama administration then the government of the Bahamas/bahamas in general has no one else to blame but themselves. The tourism sector isn't only for the Bahamas, we just failed to diversify and keep relying on same old same old. What has the tourism product offered here as in something to do for the tourists staying on new providence in let's say 5-10 years?
Newgate 3 years, 5 months ago
This is exactly what i was saying for years. The bahamas really only has a convenient location going for it. There are MANY other places that provide what we do and more. I always railed on our government for not doing more to beef up our tourism. Every island in this country has something to call its own, some have ssports fishing, others have bird watching, some have beautiful reefs or blue holes to explore. Yet the focus is always nassua, a place where tourists, upon leaving Paradise Island quickly see a drop in beauty depending on the direction they go. Cuba opening will either end us or push us to be better and for the sake of everyone, we better hope its the latter
MrsQ 3 years, 5 months ago
This country could absolutely be doing more to improve its tourism. How many years has downtown Nassau been decaying the way it has? There need to be more activities and cultural experiences. People can have a nice beach anywhere in the Caribbean or even in Florida. Also, the people panicking about Cuba don't realize that Cuban hotels and resorts don't typically offer an experience that meets American standards. I have traveled to a lot of places and met a lot of Canadians (a huge percentage of tourists in Cuba) who have told me what it's like to travel to Cuba. Even they say the food isn't very good and the facilities are not as comfortable.
milesair 3 years, 5 months ago
Victory at last! The fascist wanna be dictator has got his due. The PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN!! As for renewing relations with Cuba, it is about time. They are our next door neighbor and the 60 year old embargo HAS NOT WORKED! Better to get the people of Cuba on your side in order to get a change in the government than to continue a policy that is obviously futile! The only thing that the embargo has done is hurt the Cuban people and not the Cuban government! Where or where is the soothsayer JoeBlow? He predicted Trump would win. Glad that didn't happen! And now for a victory drink! Maybe two! This win for which I worked my tail off has to be savoured!
GodSpeed 3 years, 5 months ago
You don't know what a Fascist is.
Porcupine 3 years, 5 months ago
You appear clueless.
GodSpeed 3 years, 5 months ago
Just go watch CNN.
DDK 3 years, 5 months ago
I am so glad that at least the Associated Press remains unbiased😂🤣😂
Honestman 3 years, 5 months ago
Joe Biden's victory is a good day for America and for the world. Trump will go down as the worst President in American history. He surrounded himself with sycophants, befriended tyrants, offended traditional allies, pulled out of climate agreements and trashed America's reputation as a world leader. Worst of all, through his negligence, he allowed hundreds of thousands of Americans to die of COVID. He should not be forgiven for that. The American people have spoken loud and clear: the character of the President matters. Joe Biden, however, is left with one huge mess to try and fix. Let's hope he succeeds - it is very much in Bahamas' interests that he does.
DDK 3 years, 5 months ago
Just like having the choice between the current FNM government and the PLP to run the country. Trying to pick the lesser of two evils. At least the exceptionally politically incorrect leaders spur the masses out to vote while they still maintain that privilege.....
TalRussell 3 years, 5 months ago
My Comrade DDK, a Healin' comes over we Commonwealth 1200 Out Islands, Cays, and Rocks are not something just pops right out televisions screens, the miraculous kinds likes see on Sunday mornings television evangelists who just be's yankin' a Healin right out blue. It goin' requires fulls scale smart hard-fought boots take to the streets general election.
Godson 3 years, 5 months ago
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS DONALD TRUMP AND IT SHALL REMAIN SO, THE LORD'S WILLING, FOR THE NEXT FOUR (4) YEARS & TWO (2) MONTHS.
Clamshell 3 years, 5 months ago
You got the 2 months part correct. And there’s no need to SHOUT. Typing in all-caps is rude, and across the internet it’s considered to be a sign of a moron at the keyboard.
tribanon 3 years, 5 months ago
Unfortunately the Trump campaign did not appreciate that no Red Wave could ever have been big enough to overcome the Blue Wave of ballot box stuffing engineered by the very sinister and evil forces behind the deep state military industrial complex, the high tech giants and big media. As a socialist state, the US will be ripe for the pickings by its superwealthy ruling class of oligarchs. The stars have never been aligned better for the Chinese Communist Party. LOL
ThisIsOurs 3 years, 5 months ago
that's the first nonsensical thing I've ever heard you say. There's no massive ballot box stuffing in the US. In fact I believe Trump did over and above what was expected. He could have won. But he dudnt. plain and simple he lost. Will Biden be a great President? I don't know. Nobody does. I am expecting that he will listen to the Joint Chiefs, he won't start any unnecessary conflicts, he wont support dictators and he'll listen to scientists on this covid thing. heavy is the head that wears the crown... with the exception of Donald, his was light as a feather
Clamshell 3 years, 5 months ago
Waiting patiently for actual evidence of “ballot box stuffing,” especially given that all the polls in the U.S. had both Democrat and Republican observers present during the voting and the counting. As for all the conspiracy theory crap ... 💤 💤
MrsQ 3 years, 5 months ago
Idiot Trump shot himself in the foot when he told his cult that they shouldn't trust vote by mail. Democrats' mail-in ballots are what killed him. Thank God.
Clamshell 3 years, 5 months ago
Yup ... ‘zackly ... in the midst of a global pandemic he cast suspicion over mail-in ballots and discouraged Republicans from voting by mail, or even in advance at dropoff locations. And then it all backfired on him. Whadda moron.
JokeyJack 3 years, 5 months ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qfd_V...">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qfd_V...
You can skip the first two minutes, and then hear what Diamond & Silk have to say.
DDK 3 years, 5 months ago
Just another DNC puppet, like his former boss!
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