Joe Biden

=== Campaign ===
As the 2020 campaign season heated up, voluminous public polling showed Biden as one of the best-performing Democratic candidates in a head-to-head matchup against President Trump.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Ashley Pratte |last=Oates |title=Opinion {{!}} Joe Biden is the Democrats' best chance to beat Trump in 2020. Period. |website=[[NBC News]] |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/joe-biden-democrats-best-chance-beat-trump-2020-no-other-ncna961836 |access-date=May 14, 2023 |agency=[[NBC News]] |date=January 24, 2019 |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003526/https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/joe-biden-democrats-best-chance-beat-trump-2020-no-other-ncna961836 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 17, 2019 |title=Every 2020 Democrat Wants To Be The Electable Candidate |first1=Kevin |last1=Robillard |first2=Amanda |last2=Terkel |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/electability-2020_n_5cb73acbe4b0c53a1705763f |access-date=May 14, 2023 |website=HuffPost |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003526/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/electability-2020_n_5cb73acbe4b0c53a1705763f |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Pramuk |first=Jacob |title=Here's how Biden, Sanders, Warren and other top Democrats are faring against Trump in national polls |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/05/how-biden-warren-and-sanders-fare-vs-trump-in-2020-election-polls.html |access-date=May 14, 2023 |agency=CNBC |date=November 5, 2019 |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003522/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/05/how-biden-warren-and-sanders-fare-vs-trump-in-2020-election-polls.html |url-status=live }}</ref> With Democrats keenly focused on "electability" for defeating Trump,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barabak |first=Mark Z. |date=January 31, 2020 |title=Desperate to beat Trump, Democrats differ over who is best |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-01-31/democrats-electability-2020-iowa-caucus |access-date=May 14, 2023 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003532/https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-01-31/democrats-electability-2020-iowa-caucus |url-status=live }}</ref> this boosted his popularity among Democratic voters.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Scocca |first=Tom |date=April 12, 2020 |title=Biden's Electability Only Works if There Is an Election |magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/04/biden-won-without-votes.html |access-date=May 14, 2023 |issn=1091-2339 |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003526/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/04/biden-won-without-votes.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It also made Biden a frequent target of Trump.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Mike |date=July 25, 2018 |title=Scoop: Trump fears Biden 2020, losing Pennsylvania |url=https://www.axios.com/2018/07/25/scoop-trump-fears-biden-losing-pennsylvania-1532514558 |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=Axios |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003522/https://www.axios.com/2018/07/25/scoop-trump-fears-biden-losing-pennsylvania-1532514558 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first=Adam |last=Edelman |title=Trump says Biden would go down "fast" and "crying" in a fight |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-attacks-crazy-biden-tweet-physically-mentally-weak-n858981 |access-date=May 14, 2023 |agency=[[NBC News]] |date=March 22, 2018 |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003522/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-attacks-crazy-biden-tweet-physically-mentally-weak-n858981 |url-status=live }}</ref> In September 2019, it was reported that Trump had pressured Ukrainian president [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]] to investigate [[Biden–Ukraine conspiracy theory|alleged wrongdoing]] by Biden and his son [[Hunter Biden]].<ref name="pressure">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/world/europe/ukraine-trump-zelensky.html |title=Ukraine Pressured on U.S. Political Investigations |last=Kramer |first=Andrew E. |date=September 20, 2019 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=September 20, 2019 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920171010/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/world/europe/ukraine-trump-zelensky.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite the allegations, no evidence was produced of any wrongdoing by the Bidens.<ref>{{cite news |last=Isachenkov |first=Vladimir |title=Ukraine's prosecutor says there is no probe into Biden |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ukraines-prosecutor-says-there-is-no-probe-into-biden |access-date=October 1, 2019 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=September 27, 2019 |quote=Though the timing raised concerns among anti-corruption advocates, there has been no evidence of wrongdoing by either the former vice president or his son. |archive-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001005328/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ukraines-prosecutor-says-there-is-no-probe-into-biden |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=White House 'tried to cover up details of Trump-Ukraine call' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49842895 |access-date=October 1, 2019 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=September 26, 2019 |quote=There is no evidence of any wrongdoing by the Bidens. |archive-date=September 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930105132/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49842895 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Matthew |last1=Brown |date=January 15, 2021|accessdate=July 7, 2021|title=Fact check: False conspiracy theories allege connection between Biden victory and Ukraine |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/01/15/fact-check-conspiracy-theories-falsely-link-bidens-victory-ukraine/4149335001/|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|archive-date=June 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608213107/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/01/15/fact-check-conspiracy-theories-falsely-link-bidens-victory-ukraine/4149335001/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Trump's pressure to investigate the Bidens was perceived by many as an attempt to hurt Biden's chances of winning the presidency.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Mackinnon |first=Amy |date=September 20, 2019 |title=Is Trump Trying to Get Ukraine to Take Out Biden for Him? |magazine=[[Foreign Policy]] |publisher=[[Graham Holdings]] |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/09/20/is-trump-trying-to-get-ukraine-to-take-out-biden-for-him/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920210034/https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/09/20/is-trump-trying-to-get-ukraine-to-take-out-biden-for-him/ |archive-date=September 20, 2019}}</ref> Trump's alleged actions against Biden resulted in [[Trump–Ukraine scandal|a political scandal]]<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-defends-conversation-with-ukraine-leader-11568993176 |date=September 21, 2019 |title=Trump Repeatedly Pressed Ukraine President to Investigate Biden's Son |first1=Alan |last1=Cullison |first2=Rebecca |last2=Ballhaus |first3=Dustin |last3=Volz |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-date=September 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923092317/https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-defends-conversation-with-ukraine-leader-11568993176 |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[First impeachment of Donald Trump|Trump's impeachment]] by the House of Representatives for abuse of power and obstruction of congress.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 10, 2021 |title=This is why Donald Trump was impeached the first time – previous charges against former US president explained |first=Matt |last=Brooks |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/world/why-was-donald-trump-impeached-the-first-time-previous-charges-against-the-former-us-president-explained-3100617 |access-date=May 14, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Scotsman]] |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003522/https://www.scotsman.com/news/world/why-was-donald-trump-impeached-the-first-time-previous-charges-against-the-former-us-president-explained-3100617 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2019 and April 2019, eight women accused Biden of previous instances of inappropriate physical contact, such as embracing, touching or kissing.<ref>{{cite web|title=All the Women Who Have Spoken Out Against Joe Biden|url=https://www.thecut.com/2020/04/joe-biden-accuser-accusations-allegations.html|work=[[The Cut (website)|The Cut]]|access-date=May 19, 2021|date=April 12, 2020|archive-date=December 17, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201217214742/https://www.thecut.com/2020/04/joe-biden-accuser-accusations-allegations.html|url-status=live|first1=Amanda|last1=Arnold|first2=Claire|last2=Lampen}}</ref> Biden had previously called himself a "tactile politician" and admitted this behavior had caused trouble for him.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-joe-biden-kiss-lucy-flores-20190329-story.html |title=Nevada Democrat accuses Joe Biden of touching and kissing her without consent at 2014 event |access-date=December 30, 2019 |last=Brice-Saddler |first=Michael |date=March 29, 2019 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |archive-date=June 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620090227/https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-joe-biden-kiss-lucy-flores-20190329-story.html/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Journalist [[Mark Bowden]] described Biden's lifelong habit of talking close, writing that he "doesn't just meet you, he engulfs you... scooting closer" and leaning forward to talk.<ref name=":6">{{Cite magazine |last=Bowden |first=Mark |date=August 30, 2010 |title=The Salesman |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/10/the-salesman/308226/ |access-date=March 27, 2023 |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |archive-date=November 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123045827/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/10/the-salesman/308226/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In April 2019, Biden pledged to be more "respectful of people's personal space".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ember|first1=Sydney|last2=Martin|first2=Jonathan|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/03/us/politics/joe-biden-women-video.html|title=Joe Biden, in video, says he will be 'more mindful' of personal space|date=April 3, 2019|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=March 28, 2020|archive-date=June 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620090251/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/03/us/politics/joe-biden-women-video.html/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Joe Biden Rally at Hiatt Middle School - 49480899101.jpg|left|thumb|Biden at a rally on the eve of the Iowa caucuses, February 2020|alt=Photo of Biden holding a microphone, with a crowd in the background]]

Throughout 2019, Biden stayed generally ahead of other Democrats in national polls.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/nbc-wsj-poll-former-vice-president-joe-biden-frontrunner-in/article_24e6b0ee-2256-11ea-9a8d-e79be1ad7f68.html |title=NBC/WSJ poll: Former Vice-President Joe Biden frontrunner in race for Democratic nomination |date=December 19, 2019 |access-date=February 10, 2020 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213155327/https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/nbc-wsj-poll-former-vice-president-joe-biden-frontrunner-in/article_24e6b0ee-2256-11ea-9a8d-e79be1ad7f68.html |agency=[[NBC News]] |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/biden-is-the-front-runner-but-there-is-no-clear-favorite/|title=Biden Is The Front-Runner, But There's No Clear Favorite |last=Silver |first=Nate |author-link=Nate Silver |date=January 10, 2020 |work=[[FiveThirtyEight]] |access-date=February 10, 2020 |archive-date=February 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214220639/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/biden-is-the-front-runner-but-there-is-no-clear-favorite/|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite this, he finished fourth in the [[2020 Iowa caucuses|Iowa caucuses]], and eight days later, fifth in the [[New Hampshire presidential primary|New Hampshire primary]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |title=2020 Iowa Democratic Caucuses Live Results |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/election-results/iowa/ |date=February 3, 2020 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=March 22, 2020 |archive-date=December 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207234356/https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/election-results/iowa/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=February 11, 2020 |title=New Hampshire results |work=[[NBC News]] |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-primary-elections/new-hampshire-results |access-date=February 12, 2020 |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212082135/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-primary-elections/new-hampshire-results |url-status=live}}</ref> He performed better in the [[Nevada presidential caucuses|Nevada caucuses]], reaching the 15% required for delegates, but still finished 21.6 percentage points behind [[Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign|Bernie Sanders]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Nevada Election Results 2020|url=https://www.politico.com/2020-election/results/nevada/|access-date=November 14, 2020|website=[[Politico]]|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115105350/https://www.politico.com/2020-election/results/nevada/|url-status=live}}</ref> Making strong appeals to Black voters on the campaign trail and in the South Carolina debate, Biden won the [[2020 South Carolina Democratic primary|South Carolina primary]] by more than 28 points.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/b9872b58b495fd17044f359338ab3f2a|title=Biden wins South Carolina, aims for Super Tuesday momentum |date=February 29, 2020 |work=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=March 1, 2020 |first1=Steve |last1=Peoples |first2=Meg |last2=Kinnard |first3=Bill |last3=Barrow |archive-date=February 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229231101/https://apnews.com/b9872b58b495fd17044f359338ab3f2a |url-status=live}}</ref> After the withdrawals and subsequent endorsements of candidates [[Pete Buttigieg]] and [[Amy Klobuchar]], he made large gains in the March{{nbsp}}3 [[Super Tuesday]] primary elections. Biden won [[Results of the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries|18 of the next 26 contests]], putting him in the lead overall.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Montanaro |first1=Domenico |date=March 4, 2020 |access-date=November 14, 2020 |title=5 Takeaways From Super Tuesday And Joe Biden's Big Night |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/03/04/811868704/5-takeaways-from-super-tuesday-and-joe-bidens-big-night |publisher=[[NPR]] |archive-date=November 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113205101/https://www.npr.org/2020/03/04/811868704/5-takeaways-from-super-tuesday-and-joe-bidens-big-night |url-status=live }}</ref> Elizabeth Warren and Mike Bloomberg soon dropped out, and Biden expanded his lead with victories over Sanders in four states on March 10.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/11/politics/2020-primary-election-takeaways/index.html |title=5 takeaways as Biden takes command of Democratic race on Super Tuesday II |work=[[CNN]] |access-date=March 11, 2020 |date=March 11, 2020 |first1=Eric |last1=Bradner |first2=Gregory |last2=Krieg |first3=Dan |last3=Merica |archive-date=March 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311093752/https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/11/politics/2020-primary-election-takeaways/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

In late March 2020, Tara Reade, one of the eight women who in 2019 had accused Biden of inappropriate physical contact, [[Joe Biden sexual assault allegation|accused]] Biden of having sexually assaulted her in 1993.<ref name="nytimesallegations">{{cite news |last1=Lerer |first1=Lisa |last2=Ember |first2=Sydney |title=Examining Tara Reade's Sexual Assault Allegation Against Joe Biden |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/12/us/politics/joe-biden-tara-reade-sexual-assault-complaint.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412090835/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/12/us/politics/joe-biden-tara-reade-sexual-assault-complaint.html |archive-date=April 12, 2020 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=April 14, 2020 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 12, 2020}}</ref> There were inconsistencies between Reade's 2019 and 2020 allegations.<ref name="nytimesallegations" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=McGann |first1=Laura |title=The Agonizing Story of Tara Reade |url=https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/2020/5/7/21248713/tara-reade-joe-biden-sexual-assault-accusation |access-date=May 19, 2021 |work=[[Vox (website)|Vox]] |date=May 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507224441/https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/2020/5/7/21248713/tara-reade-joe-biden-sexual-assault-accusation |archive-date=May 7, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Biden and his campaign denied the sexual assault allegation.<ref name="WaPoDenial">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sexual-assault-allegation-by-former-biden-senate-aide-emerges-in-campaign-draws-denial/2020/04/12/bc070d66-7067-11ea-b148-e4ce3fbd85b5_story.html|title=Sexual assault allegation by former Biden Senate aide emerges in campaign, draws denial |date=April 12, 2020|access-date=April 14, 2020|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |first1=Beth |last1=Reinhard |first2=Elise |last2=Viebeck |first3=Matt |last3=Viser |first4=Alice |last4=Crites |archive-date=April 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200428141345/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sexual-assault-allegation-by-former-biden-senate-aide-emerges-in-campaign-draws-denial/2020/04/12/bc070d66-7067-11ea-b148-e4ce3fbd85b5_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Phillips |first=Amber |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/30/who-is-tara-reade-biden-accuser/ |title=What we know about Tara Reade's sexual assault allegation against Joe Biden|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=June 1, 2020 |access-date=August 27, 2021 |archive-date=June 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618153105/https://www.washingtonpost.com//politics/2020/04/30/who-is-tara-reade-biden-accuser/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

When Sanders suspended his campaign on April 8, 2020, Biden became the Democratic Party's [[presumptive nominee]] for president.<ref name="NYT4-8-2020">{{cite news |last=Ember|first=Sydney|date=April 8, 2020|title=Bernie Sanders Drops Out of 2020 Democratic Race for President |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/08/us/politics/bernie-sanders-drops-out.html |access-date=April 8, 2020 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408160232/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/08/us/politics/bernie-sanders-drops-out.html |url-status=live}}</ref> On April 13, Sanders endorsed Biden in a live-streamed discussion from their homes.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/13/us/politics/bernie-sanders-joe-biden-endorsement.html|title=Bernie Sanders Endorses Joe Biden for President|last1=Ember|first1=Sydney|last2=Glueck|first2=Katie|date=April 13, 2020|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=April 13, 2020|archive-date=April 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413182004/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/13/us/politics/bernie-sanders-joe-biden-endorsement.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Former president [[Barack Obama]] endorsed Biden the next day.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Merica |first1=Dan |last2=Zeleny |first2=Jeff |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/14/politics/obama-endorses-biden/index.html |title=Obama endorses Biden for president in video message |date=April 14, 2020 |publisher=CNN |access-date=April 14, 2020 |archive-date=April 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414183659/https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/14/politics/obama-endorses-biden/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On August 11, Biden announced U.S. senator [[Kamala Harris]] of California as his running mate, making her the first African American and first [[South Asian American]] vice-presidential nominee on a major-party ticket.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53739323 |title=Biden VP pick: Kamala Harris chosen as running mate |website=[[BBC News]] |date=August 12, 2020 |access-date=August 26, 2021 |archive-date=October 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010223842/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53739323 |url-status=live }}</ref> On August 18, 2020, Biden was officially nominated at the [[2020 Democratic National Convention]] as the Democratic Party nominee for president in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 election]].<ref>{{cite news |title=DNC Nominates Joe Biden to Lead Nation Through Pandemic |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-to-nominate-joe-biden-bill-clinton-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-to-speak-11597777946 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=August 18, 2020 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |first1=Joshua |last1=Jamerson |first2=Chad |last2=Day |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818221830/https://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-to-nominate-joe-biden-bill-clinton-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-to-speak-11597777946 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Joe Biden officially becomes the Democratic Party's nominee on convention's second night |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2020/08/18/democratic-national-convention-live-updates/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=August 19, 2020 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |first1=Toluse |last1=Olorunnipa |first2=Chelsea |last2=Janes |first3=Felicia |last3=Sonmez |first4=Colby |last4=Itkowitz |first5=John |last5=Wagner |archive-date=November 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117190515/https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2020/08/18/democratic-national-convention-live-updates/ |url-status=live }}</ref>