The Guardian view on the Democratic convention: Kamala Harris must be the candidate of change as well as continuity | Editorial

To deserved applause, the president bowed out at the start of a pivotal week in Chicago. Now it is time to write the story of America's future

A month ago, Joe Biden and his aides were beginning to draft a closing speech with which, on Thursday, he would top off this week's Democratic convention in Chicago. The speech would seal Mr Biden's bid for a second White House term and send his party out to do battle with Donald Trump in November. Instead, on Monday, Mr Biden did not deliver the convention's closing address. He delivered his own.

Mr Biden's convention speech is one of his last big moments in the political spotlight, and the start of his withdrawal from the US political field after half a century. From today, the Democratic party belongs to Kamala Harris. It is she who matters now. For the next few days, Mr Biden will not be in Chicago or on the campaign trail, but on holiday.