Wed Oct 30 13:00:02 UTC 2024: ## Biden Celebrates Diwali at White House, Praises Harris in Tight Race
**WASHINGTON** – President Joe Biden marked the Hindu festival of Diwali at the White House on Monday, praising Vice President Kamala Harris, who is locked in a close race for the presidency against former President Donald Trump.
Biden, in a warm speech to attendees, highlighted Harris’s experience and character. “She has more experience than the whole of that other guy she’s running against,” he said. “But most importantly, and I mean it sincerely from the bottom of my heart, she has character.”
The President also emphasized the contributions of the South Asian American community to American life. “The South Asian American community has enriched every part of American life,” he stated. “And that’s the truth. And it is among the fastest-growing and most engaged communities in the country.”
Biden’s remarks were met with enthusiastic applause from the crowd. He also spoke about the evolution of Diwali celebrations in America, highlighting the shift from initial suspicion to open and proud celebration within the White House.
The event, held in the Blue Room of the White House, included a traditional diya lighting ceremony by President Biden and a recorded video message from astronaut Sunita Williams.
Vice President Harris and First Lady Jill Biden were absent from the celebration due to their campaign commitments.
President Biden’s Diwali address comes at a pivotal moment in the 2024 election. His praise for Vice President Harris is likely seen as a strategy to bolster her campaign and rally support within the South Asian American community.
First Piper 