Posted on 09/06/2008 1:48:05 PM PDT by Chet 99
Posted on Sat, Sep. 6, 2008
Biden gets mixed welcome in Northeast Local Dem leaders say race is issue for many voters
By DAVE DAVIES Philadelphia Daily News
daviesd@phillynews.com 215-854-2595 DEMOCRATIC vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden went stumping for votes yesterday in Northeast Philadelphia, where Democrats need to earn the love of Democrats who voted overwhelmingly for Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama in the April primary.
He worked a diner, gave a rousing speech on bread-and-butter issues at a union hall, and reeled off a memorable line tying the Republican candidate to the unpopular team in the White House.
"My friend John McCain and George Bush are joined at the hip," Biden said. "And we need a hip replacement very, very badly."
So how is the ticket doing with the Northeast's white working and middle-class voters?
Mike McAleer, the veteran Democratic ward leader of the 66th ward in the far Northeast, said Obama and Biden haven't closed the deal yet.
"The Dunkin' Donut crowd tells me that we've got everything going for us but Obama," McAleer said. "They can't give me a direct answer. Do I have them right now in the 66th ward? No. But I got 60 days to get them."
Asked what the problem is with Obama, McAleer paused and said: "It's his color . . . I tell them he's half white and half black. He's got a better perspective for everything in this country."
Joe Dougherty, business manager for Ironworkers Local 401, which hosted Biden's morning event, also said race is an issue for many Democrats.
"I hear it in the neighborhood, and I hear it in the union," Dougherty said. "But I remind them (Obama's) mother was white. He sees all sides, and he could be just what we need to bring this country together."
Biden talked to the crowd of about 200 senior citizens and union members about lower taxes, trade agreements that protect American jobs, and ending what he called the Republicans' "war on unions."
Later, Biden and Gov. Rendell worked the lunchtime crowd at The Dining Car, a neighborhood spot on Frankford Avenue.
Biden smiled, laughed, shook hands and sometimes hugged diners or slid into booths next to them. Sometimes he felt the love coming back, and sometimes he didn't.
Charles Daukas said he'd vote for the Obama-Biden team.
"Put it this way, if Hillary was running I would have really went hard for it," Daukas said. "But I'm a Democrat."
In a corner booth, Biden sat down and, after a moment's conversation, planted a kiss on the forehead of Carolyn Bauer, age 89. Bauer explained afterward it wasn't such a friendly encounter.
"I told him I'm not going to vote for him," Bauer said. "Anybody who runs with a guy with a name like that is not going to get my vote. It'd be disgusting to get a man named Barack Obama as president of the United States. No way. I mean it . . . I'm going to vote for McCain and the lady."
"[Obama's] a Muslim," Bauer added. "He pretends to be a Christian, and he isn't, he's a Muslim."
Obama has attended Christian churches for years, and his children are baptized.
After his stops in Northeast Philadelphia, Biden attended a rally in Langhorne. *
Who’s Joe Biden?
BOOOO. GET OFF THE STAGE, LOSER.
Biden sounds like he's drunk again.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
There is NOBODY showing up to see Joe Biden. And Barry thought Joe was going to deliver PA becasue he was born in Scranton?
Great choice by the Messiah.
Holy smokes. This story is real.
a rather unfortunate choice of words for a man his age.
That said, it speaks volumes that such an “experienced” member of the Senate has never been given a leadership position by his own party.
I heard he's some guy from Scranton, PA.
Trinity United - The Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Pastor
"Attended Christian churches" my ass.
As for me it's all about Marxist, gun grabbing, baby aborting, tax raising, American hating elitism. Can't stand those folks.
Hey, Joe Biden! If you want to get a big enthusiastic crowd out in the hustings... Next time just call Sarah Palin!
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Tell older Democrats that Biden supports the War on Drugs, including the militarization of law enforcement and property seizure without trial.
New Dem talking point.
Ouch!
"My friend John McCain and George Bush are joined at the hip," Biden said. "And we need a hip replacement very, very badly."
Yeah, that's a real knee-slapper. |
I wonder who he stole that line from?
He said “we,” not “they.”
The people who will vote against Obama based on his race are DEMOCRATS... don’t forget he’ll also get tons of votes just for being black. Whites who think it is fashionable, and he’ll get more than the usual 90% black vote for a Democrat, maybe 95% this time.
Still, Rendell made it clear during the primary that Obama cannot win in PA. This may not show up in polls, but it seems to be showing up in anecdotal evidence, like this report or in having Biden campaign there.
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