The US Democratic Party is taking steps to unify its coalition ahead of its national convention next week. On Thursday, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris made their first appearance together since Biden dropped his bid for reelection.
The two held a rally in Maryland to celebrate the success of their efforts to lower the prices of prescription drugs.
Harris said, “There’s a lot of love in this room for our president. And I think it’s for many, many reasons, including few leaders in our nation have done more on so many issues, including to expand access to affordable health care, like, than Joe Biden.” She made the appeal that her boss deserves much of the credit.
The gathering was billed as an official White House event, but it had the energy of a campaign rally. People in the crowd carried out a chant of “Thank you, Joe.”
Biden responded with a joke, saying, “I served in the Senate for 270 years. I know I only look 40, but I’m a little bit older.”
The Biden administration has negotiated with the pharmaceutical industry to lower the prices of 10 common prescription drugs used in the Medicare program for the elderly. It is part of their plan to ease concerns over rising costs ahead of the November elections.
Biden said, “This time we finally beat Big Pharma. And I might add, with no help of Republicans. Not a single Republican voted for this bill, period. Not one in the entire Congress.”
Biden stressed that Harris will continue his policies if she is elected president. The two are set to appear again at the Democratic National Convention, which starts Monday in Chicago.