Time: 2020 Person of the Year: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, President-elect and Vice President-elect of the United States

By Charlotte Alter 

    The President-elect has been frequently criticized for his message of unity and not fighting hate with hate. But in the end, "As Biden sees it, trusting his instincts and tuning out the nay sayers is a big reason why he’s going to be the next Commander in Chief." He also recognized the generational and racial challenge provided by his area of the demographic and selected Kamala Harris to fill that space.

    Now that they have won, the two have lots to do. They have to stop the damage done by the pandemic, repair a faltering economy, and if the Democrats do not win both Georgia Senate seats, reconcile with Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell. They'll also have to take on the entire Republican party, which still refuses to acknowledge his victory and has started looking into his tax records.

    Before becoming running mates, Harris and Biden were rivals in the Democratic primary. Biden's message seemed to be lost in a sea of candidates arguing that Trump must be met with a "clenched fist" and Harris, who has never fit into a single political message, was also lost. But in the first debate, she had her iconic moment where she attacked Biden's record on equality. 

"'As the only Black person on this stage, I would like to speak on the issue of race,' she said, turning to address Biden. She told him it was 'hurtful' to hear him praise segregationist Senators who had been his colleagues. 'Not only that, but you also worked with them to oppose busing,' she continued. 'There was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools, and she was bused to school every day. And that little girl was me.'"

    Although that attack was a slight misinterpretation and unfair, it boosted Harris's campaign - for a few weeks. Biden's family and advisors were upset at Harris's accusation because Biden personally was prideful of his progressive record. However, Biden himself did not bear a grudge - partially because his own mother taught him to put politics aside and love without bound, and because he understood that Harris was looking for something to boost her campaign.

    Harris's campaign eventually fizzled out, and although Biden's campaign initially struggled, his message of unity eventually got him on top. His next order of business was picking a vice president. He had pledged to choose a woman and felt increasing pressure to pick someone of color in light of the George Floyd protests. Recognizing that Harris could bring these and represent someone who herself had worked her way into her current position, he put aside their differences.

"Biden cut to the chase. 'Immediately he said, "So, you want to do this?"' Harris recalls, paraphrasing their conversation. 'That’s who Joe is. There’s no pomp and circumstance with him. He’s a straight shooter.'"

    Biden's political career has been average - he is the type that goes with the wind in terms of policy. But his biggest asset has always been empathy. He made calls and visited supporters, thanked White House staff, and even made friends with Republicans, policy aside. He says the only way to even have a chance at an agreement in the future is to leave politics where it belongs.

    Kamala Harris was one of two daughters of an Indian-Jamaican couple. Growing up, she attended civil rights protests. Her mother expected great things from her and told her what she told her supporters. "I will be the first, but I will not be the last." In terms of the policy, she was quite similar to Biden. Supporting certain things, but leaning in various directions based on the social environment, defying classification. She recorded a host of firsts in California's prosecutorial offices before being elected to the Senate.

"WHAT HE’D LIKE PEOPLE TO SAY OF HIM IN FOUR YEARS That America was better off and average Americans are better off the day we left than the day we arrived. That’s my objective."