Did Joe Biden pass his big test? Five things we learnt from the Democratic convention
It was a political convention unlike any in history, the first to be conducted virtually.
Here are the main takeaways from the four-night event.
Joe Biden passed his big test
The speech in which a candidate accepts their party's presidential nomination is one of the biggest set pieces of a US election.
With no crowd to cheer him on Democrats hoped that, at age 77, Joe Biden could summon the energy and vision to inspire them.
Meanwhile, Republicans were waiting to seize on any verbal missteps.
What Mr Biden delivered was a heartfelt, and passionate fireside chat. It was deeply personal. He talked about the death of his son Beau, and the sense of purpose it had given him.
And he described the battle between himself and Donald Trump as one between "light and dark".
Mr Biden has been in politics for five decades. Many commentators described it as the best speech he has ever given.
Barack Obama has joined the fray
For four years Mr Obama has remained almost silent as his successor in the White House set about dismantling his political legacy
But in his convention speech Mr Obama dispensed with decorum and delivered a blistering attack on the sitting president, painting him as an existential threat to democracy.
It was a signal that Mr Obama will be very much part of this campaign, firing up the Democrat base and trying to push Mr Biden over the line.
However, it was also a reminder that Mr Obama remains a more popular figure for Democrats than Mr Biden himself.
Democrats have declared a truce
The "Bernie Sanders problem" appears to be no more.
In 2016 after Mr Sanders, the democratic socialist, lost the nomination to Hillary Clinton, the party continued to be undermined by internecine warfare.
Four years on Mr Sanders was unequivocal in throwing his support behind Mr Biden, instructing his followers that the overwhelming priority was to defeat Mr Trump.
The few supporters of Mr Sanders who did speak at the convention, including New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, were restrained in their remarks.
Whether the truce endures after the election remains to be seen.
Joe Biden made a concerted pitch to moderate conservative voters
A host of Republican figures and voters appeared at the Democrat convention, detailing why they were abandoning Mr Trump and supporting Mr Biden.
They included John Kasich, who finished third to Mr Trump in the race for the 2016 Republican nomination, and Colin Powell, the former secretary of state.
A video recounting Mr Biden's close friendship with the late John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, was also given major prominence. It was narrated by Cindy McCain, the late senator's widow.
Ed Good, 95, a Second World War veteran who voted for Mr Trump in 2016, described him as the "worst president we've ever had".
A successful convention can be held virtually
The party conventions that precede the election are traditionally jamborees with boisterous crowds, barnstorming speeches, and large quantities of balloons and ticker tape.
What this convention lacked in atmosphere it made up for in other ways.
It was a made-for-TV event and speeches, delivered mostly from living rooms, were shorter and perhaps more effective for that. Technical glitches were minimal.
The "roll call" of states, in which each state delivers its vote tallies for the nomination, turned into an entertaining virtual tour of America. Many have argued that, when conventions return to normal, the "roll call" should stay that way.
You can listen to The Telegraph's weekly political podcast, Chopper's Politics, on the audio player above or subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast app. This week our US editor, Ben Riley-Smith, looks at the challenges facing Joe Biden at the convention and beyond.
