Biden backs Harris in first televised address since dropping reelection

President Joe Biden backed Vice President Kamala Harris and urged voters to "preserve our democracy" in a prime-time address Wednesday night.

Just three days after exiting the race, Biden urged voters to back Harris, describing her as a strong and accomplished leader who can take on and defeat GOP nominee former President Donald Trump .

"I believe my record as president, my leadership in the world, my vision for America's future all merited a second term," he said. "But nothing — nothing — can come in the way of saving our democracy; that includes personal ambition. So I've decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation."

Biden implied but did not state directly that he felt he could not defeat Trump and that Harris had a more realistic shot at winning. Preserving democracy was also a prominent theme of the address, which lasted roughly 10 minutes. Biden later said he stepped down "in the defense of democracy, which is at stake."

The Democratic Party has thrown almost its entire weight behind Harris in the three days since Biden stepped down. He joined in that effort himself in touting her record.

"I'd like to thank our great vice president, Kamala Harris," Biden said. "She's experienced. She's tough. She's capable. She's been an incredible partner to me and a leader for our country. Now the choice is up to you, the American people."

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The choice this fall, as Biden presented it, is not between Harris and Trump but rather between continuing to have a functioning democratic system of government or not.

"When you make that choice, remember the words of Benjamin Franklin," Biden said. "When Ben Franklin was asked, as he emerged from the convention going on, whether the founders had given America a monarchy or a republic, Franklin's response was: 'A republic, if you can keep it.' A republic, if you can keep it. Whether we keep our republic is now in your hands."