Joe Biden poised to quickly move to announce more pieces of transition

Joe Biden is poised to deliver an address to the nation today or tonight.

The timing is outside his immediate control, aides point out, but that may not be the most important task on his agenda today.

If he is declared the winner early today, the Biden team plans to move quickly to announce more substantial pieces of his transition. There are no plans to wait for any of the legal challenges, a person familiar with the plan said. Biden intends to immediately shift into the mode of president-elect to avoid ceding any momentum, they added.

The Biden transition team has been working behind-the-scenes for months – as required of all candidates seeking the presidency – but the urgency of the plan is being seen by Biden advisers as even more importance in the wake of President Trump questioning the legitimacy of the election.

If the call is made early, look for a speech today from the former vice president – but that won’t be all. Other announcements are ready to go to occupy the forthcoming role as president-elect.

The stage is still set in Wilmington, with fireworks still waiting if the speech happens tonight, but advisers to Biden know the real fireworks are waiting in Washington.