On June 27, Americans will witness the first debate of the 2024 US election – a much-anticipated contest between President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump.
The televised contest comes just four months before the November vote, with both candidates competing fiercely for a second term.
Here are some key biographical details to know about Biden, a Democrat and Washington veteran, ahead of Thursday’s big event.
– Political Experience –
Mr Biden is no stranger to Washington. Biden, an 81-year-old longtime politician, served as vice president under Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017.
Prior to that, he spent 36 years in the Senate. He was first elected by Delaware voters at the age of 29, making him one of the youngest senators ever.
– Family and religion –
Mr Biden was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1942, the eldest of four children. The Democrat often touts his Irish-American, middle-class upbringing.
His father held several different jobs and although the family was not poor, they faced financial difficulties.
On the religion front, Mr Biden is a devout Catholic who regularly attends mass, but he still supports abortion rights.
As a family man, Mr. Biden has not hesitated to declare his love and support for his son Hunter, who was recently convicted of purchasing a handgun during a crack cocaine addiction.
The president is sometimes called a “grief-monger” for his sympathy for his constituents in times of tragedy.
His own life has also been filled with many sorrows. He lost his first wife Neilia and his young daughter Naomi in a car accident in 1972. Along with Hunter, Mr Biden’s other son Beau was also injured in that accident.
Beau then died of cancer in 2015.
Mr Biden has been married to First Lady Jill Biden since 1977. In addition to raising Beau and Hunter, the couple also have a daughter, Ashley.
– Property –
Although Mr Biden is not a billionaire like his Republican rival Trump, he is still rich.
According to Forbes magazine, Biden’s wealth is estimated at around $10 million, thanks largely to the family’s two homes in Delaware.
– Feeling –
Mr Biden is neither a brilliant orator nor does he draw the kind of enthusiastic response from his supporters that Mr Trump does. Yet he is known for a certain unflinching determination, and cultivates an image of empathy.
However, this characteristic has recently been tarnished due to US support for Israel in the Gaza War, particularly among younger and Arab-Americans.
Mr Biden’s advancing age and his increasingly strident demeanour have led to Republican taunts and public concern about his age.
– Legal troubles –
Earlier this year, Mr Biden was acquitted of charges of storing classified documents at his home in Wilmington, Delaware.
In a blow to his campaign, however, the report by the special counsel overseeing the case said Biden came across as a “well-intentioned, senile man with a failing memory,” a finding rejected by Democrats but attacked by Republicans.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
