Biden, Harris tout party unity; Trump lays on the insults

Biden announces lower medication prices for retirees on social welfare programmes

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US President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris made an upbeat show of unity on Aug 15 as they held their first joint public event since Ms Harris replaced Mr Biden as the Democratic Party's candidate in November's election.

Chants of "Thank you, Joe!" rang out from the audience at a community college in the Maryland suburbs outside Washington.

Mr Biden announced a major deal to reduce medication prices for retirees on social welfare programmes.

But the biggest star was Ms Harris, who has surprised many by uniting the Democratic Party and surging in the polls against Republican Donald Trump since her abrupt entry into the White House race.

"She can make one hell of a president," Mr Biden said of Ms Harris.

Shortly after the joint appearance, Trump delivered rambling and often angry remarks from his New Jersey golf club, before taking questions from a handful of journalists.

Ms Harris has a "very strong communist lean" and will mean the "death of the American dream", he said.

The real estate billionaire and scandal-engulfed former president has struggled to pivot his campaign since Mr Biden dropped out on July 21 amid Democratic concerns that he lacked the stamina at 81 to do the job.