Joe Biden and his chances of becoming president of the United States

Former US Vice President Joe Biden officially declared his candidacy for president Thursday for the 2020 elections, leaving immediately at the top of the long list of democratic candidates who want to challenge President Donald Trump.

He announced the decision in a video posted on the Twitter network, declaring that “we are in battle for the soul of this nation”.

“I am convinced that these four years with this president and all he supports will go into history as a rotten temporary moment. But if we give Donald Trump eight years at the White House, he will change forever and radically the character of this nation. I can't stay and see what's going on”, he said.

There have already been 20 democratic candidates struggling to win the candidacy for presidential elections, while other less-known names may join the race.

Biden, 76, a veteran senator from the state of Delaware and vice president for two mandates in the administration of former President Barack Obama, faces other democratic candidates, including Senator from Vermont Bernie Saunders, who is leading many polls and has demonstrated the ability to provide funds.

Among the Democrats, Mr. Biden has international experience and unique legislative experience and is among the best-known faces in U.S. politics.

But his time - out, physically expressed style of communication that might be considered inappropriate has recently caused him problems when at least seven women, including a former mayoral candidate for Nevada, recently accused him of touching, embracing and kissing inappropriate activities.

Mr. Biden defended his behavior by saying he complied with his whole life's efforts to create <x0-> human connection” with both women and men and promised that he would be careful from now on to the borders of the proximity of other people.

Mr. Biden has a skill many of his rivals lack over a century of experience in government and a long history of political decisions, some of which are at the highest levels of government.

He was a senator for nearly four decades, becoming chairman of the Juryd Commission and him for Foreign Relations. He was then vice president for eight years during the Obama presidency.

He supported several foreign interventions by the United States, including the war in Afghanistan in 2001 and the intervention in Iraq in 2003, and had an important role in adopting weapons control legislation as well as reforming the criminal justice system.

However, with the change of times and political values, some of Mr. Biden's decisions and actions have been criticised by the most liberal Democrats and independents.

Some in the Democratic Party think Mr. Biden's career in Washington will help convince voters that he can convince voters who could defeat President Trump last year, but others argue that the party needs a new face.

Early Years and Tragedy

When he was only 29, in 1972, Mr. Biden won the election to become the second - newest senator in American history.

Just a few weeks later, his wife, Neilia, and his little daughter, Naomi, lost their lives in a car accident a week before Christmas. His sons, Beau and Hunter, were badly injured but survived, and Mr. Biden took his oath as senator near his son Beau's hospital bed in 1973.

Over 40 years later, Mr. Biden, who had long since remarriage to Jill Biden, was again struck by tragedy when Beau died of brain cancer at the age of 46.

Mr. Biden mentioned his death as a reason he didn't enter the presidential race in 2015.

But Mr. Biden has also marked great successes, such as proposal and support for the Law on Violence against Women, which made it easier to prosecute domestic violence and sexual assault.

He also played an important role in adopting the Brady Law, which made past checks binding on those buying weapons.

National Policy

Mr. Biden ran twice for president in 1988 and 2008, but without success.

Barack Obama, who secured the appointment of his party and later the presidency, chose Mr. Biden as the candidate for vice president, largely because of his long experience on the international stage.

He became the person middleman to work with the Republicans on difficult issues.

“He had a central role in any agreement between Congress and the White House”, says Jim Kessler, of the progressive organisation “Third Way”.

Then President Obama surprised Mr. Biden in 2017 at the highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Biden has a longer public career than that of some of his democratic rivals. In these elections age will again be at the centre of the campaign. If elected, he will be the oldest person to assume the presidency. / VOA/