We've come to the end of the 2020 Democratic Convention - and our live coverage. Thanks for joining us!
Joe Biden's big night went off without a hitch as he gave the most important speech of his political career and then celebrated (while wearing a mask) with fireworks outside.
Fun fact: at 24.5 minutes, his speech, according to CSPAN, was the shortest of any Democratic political nominee in over 30 years (Bill Clinton tops the list with a 64.5- minute speech in 1996).
Here's a roundup of the night's key points:
Biden gave an impassioned speech, promising to end America's 'season of darkness'. Under his presidency, "we'll choose hope over fear, facts over fiction, fairness over privilege," he said
He outlined some general policies, promising to properly address the pandemic (including a national mask mandate) restore US relationships with allies, address climate change, student debt and ensure equal pay for women
The evening, hosted by Veep actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, featured Biden's former 2020 primary rivals, rising political stars, and the nominee's children and grandchildren, who pitched the candidate as a man of character
The Democrats also paid tribute to Congressman John Lewis, the civil rights icon who passed away last month
The president was doing his own interview tonight, but Trump's campaign was quick to weigh in at the end of the convention, calling Biden a 'pawn' for the 'radical left'
Up next: we'll do this all over again, but in Republican style, next week.
Tonight's coverage was brought to you by Ritu Prasad, Holly Honderich, David Walker, Boer Deng and Matthew Davis.
Reality Check
A final claim fact-checked
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
We have a final fact check from Biden's keynote speech: Describing the
impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the US economy, he said: “More than
50 million people have filed for unemployment this year.”
And he’s right, based
on the total number of Americans who have filed jobless claims since the virus
struck, according to US Labor Department statistics.
The number of
people still claiming unemployment benefits is 14.8m, according to the latest
release of weekly figures. It has been declining since May, when there were
more than 20m claims.
There were 1.1m
claims in the week ending 15 August - a slight increase compared to the
previous week.
The unemployment
rate is still much higher than pre-pandemic levels and currently stands at
10.2%.
The conventions aren't over yet
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
It's been a back to back week of political fanfare for the Democrats, but we're only halfway through the 2020 convention season.
Next week, the Republicans will have their turn to host, and officially make Donald Trump their party nominee.
Unlike their Democratic counterparts, the Republicans still plan on hosting some in-person business at their event in Charlotte, North Carolina, though people will reportedly be required to wear masks and social distance.
Party members in Charlotte will also don Bluetooth badges that allow for tracking and contact tracing.
Those attending will be given a self-swab Covid-19 test before traveling and entering their hotels, and will have their temperatures checked.
"It won't be your typical convention," President Trump told Fox News last month. "But it's going to be be very safe and I thought I had an obligation not to have large numbers, massive numbers, crowded into a room."
As of 17 August, Trump has said he'll accept the nomination in a "real speech on Thursday", live from the White House.
Let's not overlook the bigger picture. Joe Biden has been ahead of Donald Trump in national polls for most of the year - and as we head into the Republican political convention next week, the numbers don't read well for the sitting president.
Biden has hovered around 50% in recent weeks and has had a double digit lead on occasions.
Let's pop over to Twitter for some instant reaction, shall we?
Some conservatives - like Fox News host Laura Ingraham - have been quick to point out the lack of a clear plan from the Democratic presidential hopeful.
Others, like conservative author Rod Dreher felt Biden had a good showing, particularly with demonstrating his empathy.
University of Wisconsin, Madison political science professor Barry Burden ruled that the Democrats had pulled off a "highly effective convention".
But it looks like most on social media can agree, that Brayden Harrington, who spoke about his stutter, was one of the night's highlights.
Our voter panel shares their thoughts on Biden's big night
BBCCopyright: BBC
As the convention wraps up, and we've finally heard from its main star, here's what our voter panel had to say about Joe Biden's big night.
Democrat Bilal Aksoy, 21, says: "I am for Joe because of who he is. I want a president who I can relate to".
Elisa Ruth-Calleiro, a 37-year-old independent, says her Trump-supporting family members are concerned Biden's "not mentally up to the job".
"But the speech is good," she says. "He seems fine."
Two of the sceptics - one Democrat and one Republican - remain unconvinced.
Trump supporter Gavin Thompson, 22, says Biden was just offering "liberal platitudes" without plans. But, Gavin says "he doesn’t scare me - which worries me, because I think moderates may be drawn to him."
Sanders supporter Urmilla Deshpande, 57, is also critical of the Biden team's policies.
"It’s lots of metaphors, sweetness and light, lots of sentimentality. Are we gonna give Medicare for All? No. Are we going to end fossil fuel use? No."
But Urmilla says despite those problems, she's going to vote for Biden "because Donald Trump terrifies me".
"The past five years have been really hard. Every day I think about my child in Oklahoma. Is he gonna be OK? I’ve never felt like this before."
How will Republicans respond next week?
Republican strategist Ron Christie, who was an adviser to President George W Bush, tells the BBC how his party may try to exploit perceived Biden weaknesses.
"Coming out of the Democratic convention in Wilmington, Delaware, this
week, Republicans will try to make the case next week that Donald Trump should remain in
office for four more years, when it's their turn to convene in Charlotte, North Carolina.
"Republicans will seek to exploit a trifecta - fighting the
pandemic, reviving the economy and dealing with social unrest. Trump will make
the case that he has acted swiftly to ban flights from China while bringing in
a White House 'Dream Team' to fight the pandemic.
"The economy was roaring before
the pandemic struck a blow to the US and the world. I expect to
see Republicans allege Democrats will hinder economic progress with an increase
in taxes.
"Just as Richard Nixon rode the wave of the “Silent Majority”
to victory, pledging law and order, expect President Trump to do the same with
the social unrest and rioting across the country. The contrast between
the two candidates will be in stark relief.
"I believe America is watching. This election will be razor tight on 3 November."
'Biden did what he needed to'
Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America reporter
Call it
Joe Biden’s “return to normalcy” speech.
That was
Warren G Harding's campaign slogan when he ran for president in 1920, with a
campaign centred around healing and calming Americans after the trauma of World
War I. In his winning presidential bid, he preached healing, serenity and
restoration. To put it in modern terms, an end to all the drama.
Biden
bills his campaign as a “battle for the soul of this nation”, but his message
on Thursday night – the message of many of the Democratic speakers
this week - was not so different from Harding’s.
“It’s time for people to come together,” Biden said. “This
is not a partisan moment, this must be an American moment.”
He spoke
of his campaign being an opportunity to heal, to reform, to unite, to “be a
path of hope and light”.
There
was a lot of pressure on Biden to deliver with this speech, particularly when
Republicans have suggested the 77-year-old was in decline or “diminished”. At
least for one night, the former vice-president, who has given rousing speeches in the past, hit all his marks. He was angry when he had to be, and
reassuring when needed to be.
Biden
gave a powerful speech, delivered powerfully. If he loses in November, it won’t
be because of anything that happened Thursday night or at the convention this
entire week - which is exactly what a party currently leading in the polls
wants.
A real-life celebration after a virtual convention
Democratic National ConventionCopyright: Democratic National Convention
Democratic National ConventionCopyright: Democratic National Convention
Democratic National ConventionCopyright: Democratic National Convention
Closing his speech out, Biden takes a sombre tone, pleading with voters to "end the chapter of American darkness, here, tonight".
But the seriousness of Biden's message is quickly swapped out for scenes of Democrats across the US, celebrating the nominee.
As it's been said, it's an unconventional convention, but that's not stopping the celebration. Americans are shown waving flags and honking their horns - all in a socially distanced formation.
Joe Biden and his wife Jill then join Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emoff outside for a fireworks show - a US convention staple - to the tune of Coldplay.
Trump campaign calls Biden leftist 'pawn'
The first reaction from the Trump campaign is coming in.
"By accepting his party’s nomination tonight, Joe Biden has formally become a pawn of the radical leftists," says Trump 2020 communications chief Tim Murtaugh.
"His name is on the campaign logo, but the ideas come from the socialist extremists."
The Trump campaign argues Biden's policies would raise taxes, give permits to undocumented workers, kill energy jobs and be anti-police in nature.
"Joe Biden is a twice-failed candidate for president and is, without question, a far worse candidate the third time around."
We broke down Trump and Biden's policy platforms to see what both candidates have actually promised. Check out Biden's here, and Trump's here.
Reality Check
Is the US worse than others on coronavirus?
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Joe Biden criticised President Trump’s response to the coronavirus
pandemic, saying: “More than 170,000 Americans have died - by far the worst
performance of any nation on earth.”
The US does have the highest
coronavirus death toll in the world, with 174,248 deaths recorded, according
to Johns Hopkins University.
But it has a larger
population than many other countries.
If you look at deaths per
capita - as a proportion of each country's population - the US is no longer top
of the list, but remains in the top 10 worst hit countries.
The US has recorded more than
52 coronavirus deaths per 100,000 people - according to Johns Hopkins - but there are a handful of countries
that have recorded more, including the UK and Italy.
But it’s worth remembering
that there are differences in how countries count coronavirus deaths, making
exact comparisons difficult.
'Daddy changed the world'
Biden says one of the most important conversations he's had on the campaign trail is speaking with George Floyd's 6-year-old daughter, Gianna, the day before her father's funeral.
"When I leaned down to speak to her, she looked in my eyes and said - I quote - 'Daddy changed the world.'"
Biden says Floyd's murder may have been the breaking point, or perhaps John Lewis' death was the inspiration.
"But however it's come to be, it's happened, America is ready, in John's words, to quote, 'lay down the heavy burden of hate at last'."
He says it's in America's darkest moments that its greatest progress has been made.
"I've always believed you can define America in one word: possibilities."
'The days of cosying up to dictators are over'
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
In perhaps the most pointed contrast with Donald Trump, Biden outlines his foreign policy promises.
"I'll be a president that will stand with our allies and friends and make it clear to our adversaries that the days of cosying up to dictators is over," he says.
"Under President Biden, America will not turn a blind eye to Russian bounties on the heads of American soldiers. Nor will I put up with foreign interference in our most sacred democratic exercise: voting."
He returns to a key campaign theme: common values, promising to stand for human rights and dignity, working to achieve a more "secure, peaceful, and prosperous world".
Reaction from the White House
Donald Trump has faced a lot of criticism tonight - but he is hitting back on Twitter.
Above all else, if there
is a Biden Presidency, UK-US relations will snap back to something like
“business as usual”.
In Downing Street and the
Foreign Office, there’ll be no more of the sharply raised eyebrows, expletives
even, which followed each successive Trump denunciation of America’s allies.
Those condemnations of democratic leaders were often accompanied by a startling
endorsement of some populist, authoritarian, foreign leader.
In stark contrast, Joe
Biden has committed to an immediate return to America’s global leadership of
alliances based on shared values and democratic institutions. Britain will
breathe a collective sigh of relief.
In particular, candidate
Biden is promising that a President Biden will “ … lead the
world to take on the existential threat we face—climate change…
“I will rejoin
the Paris climate agreement on day one of a Biden administration and then
convene a summit of the world’s major carbon emitters, rallying nations to
raise their ambitions and push progress further and faster.”
That’s hugely
important to Britain, which will chair the critically important UN
Global climate
change talks in Glasgow now postponed to November 2021. If Joe Biden is in the
White House, not Donald Trump, that shifts the entire balance of power towards
active support for more radical action. We could even imagine China and the US
competing with each other in a “virtue” contest.
There is one
area, however, where Britain may still find it has a mountain to climb in
Washington if Joe Biden occupies the White House—trade.
He’ll be no
push over agreeing the terms of a UK-US trade agreement. It was made necessary
by Britain’s decision to leave the EU—something Donald Trump hailed as a
triumph-- but which Joe Biden has apparently, like President Obama, always seen
as a colossal mistake.
Biden tackles policy promises
Democratic National ConventionCopyright: Democratic National Convention
The Democratic nominee now looks at some specifics - reviewing the major policy promises that will animate his campaign.
He vows to bring manufacturing jobs to America and "build back better". He says he will deliver an education system "that trains our people for the best jobs of the 21st century" and doesn't leave graduates with crippling debt.
Biden promises equal pay for women, and says he'll make life better for those keeping the country going through Covid-19.
"We're going to do more than praise our essential workers, we're going to pay them," he says.
"I'm not looking to punish anyone, far from it, but it's long past time the wealthiest people and the biggest corporations in this country paid their fair share."
And he'll protect social security and medicare, he says, "you have my word".
Biden attacks Trump coronavirus response
Biden says Trump has failed in his duty as president with his flawed virus response. He promises that his first action as president, if elected, will be to get Covid-19 under control.
"Because I understand something this president hasn't from the beginning - we will never get our economy back on track, we will never get our kids safely back in schools, until we deal with this virus."
He goes on to say: "After all this time, the president still does not have a plan, Well I do."
Biden says he'll develop and deploy rapid tests with "results available immediately". He says he'll make medical supplies and protective gear in the US, "so we will never again be at the mercy of China or other foreign countries in order to protect our own people".
He also promises a national mask mandate.
"We'll take the muzzle off of our experts so the public gets the information they need and deserve - the honest unvarnished truth. They can handle it."
"In short, we'll do what we should have done from the very beginning."
Biden: Thank you, Obama
Democratic National ConventionCopyright: Democratic National Convention
Turning to his former boss, and Donald Trump's predecessor, Biden thanks Barack Obama "a man I was honoured to serve alongside with for eight years as vice-president".
"Let me take this time to say something we won't say nearly enough: thank you. You were a great president, a president that our children could and did look up to," he says. "No one is going to say that about the current occupant of the White House."
Trump, Biden says, has made the presidency all about himself - ignoring the American people.
Our voter panel reacts to the night so far
A quick look at what our voter panel thinks of the nearly two hours it's taken to get to this point.
Two of the sceptics - one Democrat and one Republican - remain unconvinced.
Sanders supporter Urmilla Deshpande reacts to this long video introducing Biden: “This is the problem I have with the Democrats. It’s always about individuals. Why should it be about individuals? It has to be about policy.”
Trump supporter Gavin Thompson tells us: “None of what is being said right now is about what he [Biden] has done or wants to do. Everything that’s been said right now – it’s not a vision.”
Bilal, a Democrat, adds: “Right now he’s just trying to bring people together. He’s just trying to unify the party.”
BBCCopyright: BBC
The BBC's voter panel watching Biden's speechImage caption: The BBC's voter panel watching Biden's speech
'A time of real peril, but also extraordinary possibilities'
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Biden continues, saying young Americans who've only known rising inequities and shrinking opportunities deserve to know America's promise in full.
"No generation ever knows what history will ask of it. All we can ever know is whether we're ready when that moment arrives. And now history has delivered us to one of the most difficult moments America has ever faced."
The former vice-president says the country is at "an inflection point".
"A time of real peril but also of extraordinary possibilities."
"Character is on the ballot," Biden says. "Decency, science, democracy - they're all on the ballot."
Live Reporting
Edited by Matthew Davis
All times stated are UK
Get involved
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images -
Biden gave an impassioned speech, promising to end America's 'season of darkness'. Under his presidency, "we'll choose hope over fear, facts over fiction, fairness over privilege," he said
-
He outlined some general policies, promising to properly address the pandemic (including a national mask mandate) restore US relationships with allies, address climate change, student debt and ensure equal pay for women
-
The evening, hosted by Veep actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, featured Biden's former 2020 primary rivals, rising political stars, and the nominee's children and grandchildren, who pitched the candidate as a man of character
-
The Democrats also paid tribute to Congressman John Lewis, the civil rights icon who passed away last month
-
The president was doing his own interview tonight, but Trump's campaign was quick to weigh in at the end of the convention, calling Biden a 'pawn' for the 'radical left'
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Latest PostThat's all folks!
We've come to the end of the 2020 Democratic Convention - and our live coverage. Thanks for joining us!
Joe Biden's big night went off without a hitch as he gave the most important speech of his political career and then celebrated (while wearing a mask) with fireworks outside.
Fun fact: at 24.5 minutes, his speech, according to CSPAN, was the shortest of any Democratic political nominee in over 30 years (Bill Clinton tops the list with a 64.5- minute speech in 1996).
Here's a roundup of the night's key points:
Up next: we'll do this all over again, but in Republican style, next week.
You can follow updates to this story here.
Want more analysis? Our North America reporter Anthony Zurcher's got you covered.
Tonight's coverage was brought to you by Ritu Prasad, Holly Honderich, David Walker, Boer Deng and Matthew Davis.
Reality Check
A final claim fact-checked
We have a final fact check from Biden's keynote speech: Describing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the US economy, he said: “More than 50 million people have filed for unemployment this year.”
And he’s right, based on the total number of Americans who have filed jobless claims since the virus struck, according to US Labor Department statistics.
The number of people still claiming unemployment benefits is 14.8m, according to the latest release of weekly figures. It has been declining since May, when there were more than 20m claims.
There were 1.1m claims in the week ending 15 August - a slight increase compared to the previous week.
The unemployment rate is still much higher than pre-pandemic levels and currently stands at 10.2%.
The conventions aren't over yet
It's been a back to back week of political fanfare for the Democrats, but we're only halfway through the 2020 convention season.
Next week, the Republicans will have their turn to host, and officially make Donald Trump their party nominee.
Unlike their Democratic counterparts, the Republicans still plan on hosting some in-person business at their event in Charlotte, North Carolina, though people will reportedly be required to wear masks and social distance.
Party members in Charlotte will also don Bluetooth badges that allow for tracking and contact tracing.
Those attending will be given a self-swab Covid-19 test before traveling and entering their hotels, and will have their temperatures checked.
"It won't be your typical convention," President Trump told Fox News last month. "But it's going to be be very safe and I thought I had an obligation not to have large numbers, massive numbers, crowded into a room."
As of 17 August, Trump has said he'll accept the nomination in a "real speech on Thursday", live from the White House.
Read more about the 2020 Republican National Convention
Who is ahead in the polls?
Let's not overlook the bigger picture. Joe Biden has been ahead of Donald Trump in national polls for most of the year - and as we head into the Republican political convention next week, the numbers don't read well for the sitting president.
Biden has hovered around 50% in recent weeks and has had a double digit lead on occasions.
US election 2020 polls: Who is ahead - Trump or Biden
Social reaction: No plans or a strong speech?
Let's pop over to Twitter for some instant reaction, shall we?
Some conservatives - like Fox News host Laura Ingraham - have been quick to point out the lack of a clear plan from the Democratic presidential hopeful.
Others, like conservative author Rod Dreher felt Biden had a good showing, particularly with demonstrating his empathy.
University of Wisconsin, Madison political science professor Barry Burden ruled that the Democrats had pulled off a "highly effective convention".
But it looks like most on social media can agree, that Brayden Harrington, who spoke about his stutter, was one of the night's highlights.
Our voter panel shares their thoughts on Biden's big night
As the convention wraps up, and we've finally heard from its main star, here's what our voter panel had to say about Joe Biden's big night.
Democrat Bilal Aksoy, 21, says: "I am for Joe because of who he is. I want a president who I can relate to".
Elisa Ruth-Calleiro, a 37-year-old independent, says her Trump-supporting family members are concerned Biden's "not mentally up to the job".
"But the speech is good," she says. "He seems fine."
Two of the sceptics - one Democrat and one Republican - remain unconvinced.
Trump supporter Gavin Thompson, 22, says Biden was just offering "liberal platitudes" without plans. But, Gavin says "he doesn’t scare me - which worries me, because I think moderates may be drawn to him."
Sanders supporter Urmilla Deshpande, 57, is also critical of the Biden team's policies.
"It’s lots of metaphors, sweetness and light, lots of sentimentality. Are we gonna give Medicare for All? No. Are we going to end fossil fuel use? No."
But Urmilla says despite those problems, she's going to vote for Biden "because Donald Trump terrifies me".
"The past five years have been really hard. Every day I think about my child in Oklahoma. Is he gonna be OK? I’ve never felt like this before."
How will Republicans respond next week?
Republican strategist Ron Christie, who was an adviser to President George W Bush, tells the BBC how his party may try to exploit perceived Biden weaknesses.
"Coming out of the Democratic convention in Wilmington, Delaware, this week, Republicans will try to make the case next week that Donald Trump should remain in office for four more years, when it's their turn to convene in Charlotte, North Carolina.
"Republicans will seek to exploit a trifecta - fighting the pandemic, reviving the economy and dealing with social unrest. Trump will make the case that he has acted swiftly to ban flights from China while bringing in a White House 'Dream Team' to fight the pandemic.
"The economy was roaring before the pandemic struck a blow to the US and the world. I expect to see Republicans allege Democrats will hinder economic progress with an increase in taxes.
"Just as Richard Nixon rode the wave of the “Silent Majority” to victory, pledging law and order, expect President Trump to do the same with the social unrest and rioting across the country. The contrast between the two candidates will be in stark relief.
"I believe America is watching. This election will be razor tight on 3 November."
'Biden did what he needed to'
Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America reporter
Call it Joe Biden’s “return to normalcy” speech.
That was Warren G Harding's campaign slogan when he ran for president in 1920, with a campaign centred around healing and calming Americans after the trauma of World War I. In his winning presidential bid, he preached healing, serenity and restoration. To put it in modern terms, an end to all the drama.
Biden bills his campaign as a “battle for the soul of this nation”, but his message on Thursday night – the message of many of the Democratic speakers this week - was not so different from Harding’s.
“It’s time for people to come together,” Biden said. “This is not a partisan moment, this must be an American moment.”
He spoke of his campaign being an opportunity to heal, to reform, to unite, to “be a path of hope and light”.
There was a lot of pressure on Biden to deliver with this speech, particularly when Republicans have suggested the 77-year-old was in decline or “diminished”. At least for one night, the former vice-president, who has given rousing speeches in the past, hit all his marks. He was angry when he had to be, and reassuring when needed to be.
Biden gave a powerful speech, delivered powerfully. If he loses in November, it won’t be because of anything that happened Thursday night or at the convention this entire week - which is exactly what a party currently leading in the polls wants.
A real-life celebration after a virtual convention
Closing his speech out, Biden takes a sombre tone, pleading with voters to "end the chapter of American darkness, here, tonight".
But the seriousness of Biden's message is quickly swapped out for scenes of Democrats across the US, celebrating the nominee.
As it's been said, it's an unconventional convention, but that's not stopping the celebration. Americans are shown waving flags and honking their horns - all in a socially distanced formation.
Joe Biden and his wife Jill then join Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emoff outside for a fireworks show - a US convention staple - to the tune of Coldplay.
Trump campaign calls Biden leftist 'pawn'
The first reaction from the Trump campaign is coming in.
"By accepting his party’s nomination tonight, Joe Biden has formally become a pawn of the radical leftists," says Trump 2020 communications chief Tim Murtaugh.
"His name is on the campaign logo, but the ideas come from the socialist extremists."
The Trump campaign argues Biden's policies would raise taxes, give permits to undocumented workers, kill energy jobs and be anti-police in nature.
"Joe Biden is a twice-failed candidate for president and is, without question, a far worse candidate the third time around."
We broke down Trump and Biden's policy platforms to see what both candidates have actually promised. Check out Biden's here, and Trump's here.
Reality Check
Is the US worse than others on coronavirus?
Joe Biden criticised President Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, saying: “More than 170,000 Americans have died - by far the worst performance of any nation on earth.”
The US does have the highest coronavirus death toll in the world, with 174,248 deaths recorded, according to Johns Hopkins University.
But it has a larger population than many other countries.
If you look at deaths per capita - as a proportion of each country's population - the US is no longer top of the list, but remains in the top 10 worst hit countries.
The US has recorded more than 52 coronavirus deaths per 100,000 people - according to Johns Hopkins - but there are a handful of countries that have recorded more, including the UK and Italy.
But it’s worth remembering that there are differences in how countries count coronavirus deaths, making exact comparisons difficult.
'Daddy changed the world'
Biden says one of the most important conversations he's had on the campaign trail is speaking with George Floyd's 6-year-old daughter, Gianna, the day before her father's funeral.
"When I leaned down to speak to her, she looked in my eyes and said - I quote - 'Daddy changed the world.'"
Biden says Floyd's murder may have been the breaking point, or perhaps John Lewis' death was the inspiration.
"But however it's come to be, it's happened, America is ready, in John's words, to quote, 'lay down the heavy burden of hate at last'."
He says it's in America's darkest moments that its greatest progress has been made.
"I've always believed you can define America in one word: possibilities."
'The days of cosying up to dictators are over'
In perhaps the most pointed contrast with Donald Trump, Biden outlines his foreign policy promises.
"I'll be a president that will stand with our allies and friends and make it clear to our adversaries that the days of cosying up to dictators is over," he says.
"Under President Biden, America will not turn a blind eye to Russian bounties on the heads of American soldiers. Nor will I put up with foreign interference in our most sacred democratic exercise: voting."
He returns to a key campaign theme: common values, promising to stand for human rights and dignity, working to achieve a more "secure, peaceful, and prosperous world".
Reaction from the White House
Donald Trump has faced a lot of criticism tonight - but he is hitting back on Twitter.
'A President Biden no pushover for UK'
James Robbins
Diplomatic Correspondent
Above all else, if there is a Biden Presidency, UK-US relations will snap back to something like “business as usual”.
In Downing Street and the Foreign Office, there’ll be no more of the sharply raised eyebrows, expletives even, which followed each successive Trump denunciation of America’s allies. Those condemnations of democratic leaders were often accompanied by a startling endorsement of some populist, authoritarian, foreign leader.
In stark contrast, Joe Biden has committed to an immediate return to America’s global leadership of alliances based on shared values and democratic institutions. Britain will breathe a collective sigh of relief.
In particular, candidate Biden is promising that a President Biden will “ … lead the world to take on the existential threat we face—climate change…
“I will rejoin the Paris climate agreement on day one of a Biden administration and then convene a summit of the world’s major carbon emitters, rallying nations to raise their ambitions and push progress further and faster.”
That’s hugely important to Britain, which will chair the critically important UN
Global climate change talks in Glasgow now postponed to November 2021. If Joe Biden is in the White House, not Donald Trump, that shifts the entire balance of power towards active support for more radical action. We could even imagine China and the US competing with each other in a “virtue” contest.
There is one area, however, where Britain may still find it has a mountain to climb in Washington if Joe Biden occupies the White House—trade.
He’ll be no push over agreeing the terms of a UK-US trade agreement. It was made necessary by Britain’s decision to leave the EU—something Donald Trump hailed as a triumph-- but which Joe Biden has apparently, like President Obama, always seen as a colossal mistake.
Biden tackles policy promises
The Democratic nominee now looks at some specifics - reviewing the major policy promises that will animate his campaign.
He vows to bring manufacturing jobs to America and "build back better". He says he will deliver an education system "that trains our people for the best jobs of the 21st century" and doesn't leave graduates with crippling debt.
Biden promises equal pay for women, and says he'll make life better for those keeping the country going through Covid-19.
"We're going to do more than praise our essential workers, we're going to pay them," he says.
"I'm not looking to punish anyone, far from it, but it's long past time the wealthiest people and the biggest corporations in this country paid their fair share."
And he'll protect social security and medicare, he says, "you have my word".
Biden attacks Trump coronavirus response
Biden says Trump has failed in his duty as president with his flawed virus response. He promises that his first action as president, if elected, will be to get Covid-19 under control.
"Because I understand something this president hasn't from the beginning - we will never get our economy back on track, we will never get our kids safely back in schools, until we deal with this virus."
He goes on to say: "After all this time, the president still does not have a plan, Well I do."
Biden says he'll develop and deploy rapid tests with "results available immediately". He says he'll make medical supplies and protective gear in the US, "so we will never again be at the mercy of China or other foreign countries in order to protect our own people".
He also promises a national mask mandate.
"We'll take the muzzle off of our experts so the public gets the information they need and deserve - the honest unvarnished truth. They can handle it."
"In short, we'll do what we should have done from the very beginning."
Biden: Thank you, Obama
Turning to his former boss, and Donald Trump's predecessor, Biden thanks Barack Obama "a man I was honoured to serve alongside with for eight years as vice-president".
"Let me take this time to say something we won't say nearly enough: thank you. You were a great president, a president that our children could and did look up to," he says. "No one is going to say that about the current occupant of the White House."
Trump, Biden says, has made the presidency all about himself - ignoring the American people.
Our voter panel reacts to the night so far
A quick look at what our voter panel thinks of the nearly two hours it's taken to get to this point.
Two of the sceptics - one Democrat and one Republican - remain unconvinced.
Sanders supporter Urmilla Deshpande reacts to this long video introducing Biden: “This is the problem I have with the Democrats. It’s always about individuals. Why should it be about individuals? It has to be about policy.”
Trump supporter Gavin Thompson tells us: “None of what is being said right now is about what he [Biden] has done or wants to do. Everything that’s been said right now – it’s not a vision.”
Bilal, a Democrat, adds: “Right now he’s just trying to bring people together. He’s just trying to unify the party.”
'A time of real peril, but also extraordinary possibilities'
Biden continues, saying young Americans who've only known rising inequities and shrinking opportunities deserve to know America's promise in full.
"No generation ever knows what history will ask of it. All we can ever know is whether we're ready when that moment arrives. And now history has delivered us to one of the most difficult moments America has ever faced."
The former vice-president says the country is at "an inflection point".
"A time of real peril but also of extraordinary possibilities."
"Character is on the ballot," Biden says. "Decency, science, democracy - they're all on the ballot."