Biden vows 'not to divide but unify' as President

'Let us be the nation we know we can be'

Biden concludes his speech on a note of optimism.

"Let us be the nation that we know we can be. A nation united, a nation strengthened, a nation healed," he says.

"The United States of America. Ladies and gentlemen, there's never been anything we've tried and not been able to do."

He ends: "Spread the faith. Love you all, bless America."

With that, celebrants and family join him on the stage, as fireworks are launched, confetti flies and the strains Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" can be heard on the telecast.

'It's time for our better angels to prevail'

"Folks America has always been shaped by inflection points, by moments in time we've made hard decisions about who we are and what we want to be," Biden continues.

"Lincoln in 1860 coming to save the union, FDR [Roosevelt] in 1932 promising a beleaguered country a new deal. JFK in 1960 pledging a new frontier and when Barack Obama made history and told us: 'Yes we can'."

"Our nation is shaped by the constant battle between our better angels and our darkest impulses," Biden continues. "Now, a president's say in this battle matters. It's time for our better angels to prevail."

"Tonight, the whole world is watching America and I believe at best, America is a beacon for the globe."

Biden to name Covid advisers on Monday

Biden says the first task is to get the coronavirus pandemic under control. "That's the only way we can get back to living," he says.

"On Monday, I will name a group of leading scientists and experts as transition advisers to help take the Biden-Harris Covid plan and convert it into an action blueprint that will start on January 20, 2021," he says. "That plan will be built on bedrock science."

He says he will "spare no effort" to turn the pandemic around.

'Stop treating our opponents as enemies'

After acknowledging his family and the family of his running-mate, Biden praises the coalition - bipartisan, young, old, urban, rural, different races - who helped his campaign.

He then addresses those who supported Trump.

"Let's give each other a chance," Biden says. "It's time to put away the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature, see each other again, listen to each other again...stop treating our opponents as enemies."

He quotes the Book of Ecclesiastes, saying "there is time" for everything.

He emphasises to honks: "This is the time to heal in America."

"I will work as hard for those who didn't vote for me as for those who did," he says.

'I am humbled by the trust you've placed in me'

"I am humbled by the trust and confidence you've placed in me," Biden continues.

"I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide, but to unify; who doesn't see red states and blue states, only sees the United States. To work with all my heart to win the confidence of all of you. "

America, he adds, is about people.

"I sought this office to restore the soul of America, to rebuild the backbone of this nation, the middle class and to make America respected around the world again, and to unite us here at home."

He says it's the honour of his lifetime that so many have voted for that vision - and now it's "the task of the time".

He thanks African American voters in particular for lifting his campaign when he was behind in the primary contest.

Biden: A victory for 'we the people'

Biden greets the crowd - highlighting the various senators and family in the crowd.

"Folks, the people of this nation have spoken. They delivered us a clear victory - a convincing victory, a victory for we, the people."

He notes he's won with the most votes ever cast in a US presidential election - 74 million.

Biden's up

Harris wraps up her comments by saying she's ready to go to work. She and Biden will tackle the pandemic, address the ongoing issues of racism.

She says Biden will be president for all Americans.

And with that, she introduces Joe Biden, who jogs onto the stage.

'I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last'

From talking about Biden's family, Harris moves into discussing her own - and what this moment means for women.

Harris says her mother "believed so deeply in an America where a moment like this is possible."

She says she's thinking about her mother - who raised Harris and her sister as a single parent - and the other generations of black, Asian, white, Latina, and native women who have "paved the way for this moment tonight".

"They are the backbone of our democracy," Harris says, these women who fought 100 years ago for the 19th amendment, 55 years ago for the voting rights act, and now in 2020 as the next generation of women cast their votes.

"Tonight I reflect on their struggle, their determination, and the strength of their vision to see what can be unburdened by what has been. And I stand on their shoulders."

Harris praises Biden for having the "audacity" to break barriers and select a woman as his vice-president.

"While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last."

[Source: BBC]