Biden stops in Scranton

September 3
Biden stops in Scranton

Ashley T. Yando Abington Journal Correspondent

SCRANTON - Speaking to a small crowd Monday, Sept. 1, in his former backyard, Vice Presidential hopeful and Senator Joe Biden spoke of how he and his mother felt visiting 2446 N. Washington Avenue in Scranton. “This is an emotional time for us,” said Biden. In his first visit to Scranton since being nominated as Democratic candidate for Vice President, Biden, accompanied by his mother Jean, his brother Jim, Governor Ed Rendell and Senator Bob Casey spent the sunny Labor Day afternoon talking about old memories, health care, the economy and energy.

From left, are Jean Finnegan Biden with her sons Jim Biden and Senator Joe Biden on a Monday visit in Scranton.

Abington Journal/Ashley T. Yando

Gov. Ed Rendell, Jean Finnegan Biden and Senator Joe Biden in Scranton on Monday.

Senator Joe Biden at his childhood homestead speaks with panelists. He is shown standing near the son and daughter of panelist Tom McClaine of Scranton.

Abington JOurnal/Ashley T. Yando

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“If it is one thing I learned from this neighborhood it’s ‘A promise made is a promise kept.’ It’s that simple. All you had was your word,” he said.

Biden took questions from a five- member panel of which Dalton resident Bruce Newman, 38, was a member. Newman, who was contacted by the Barack Obama campaign, was excited to participate. Not only was he excited by Biden’s presence, he said he was equally impressed by the support of Governor Rendell and Senator Bob Casey. “It was great,” he said. “I never thought I would be doing this.”

A senior at Abington Heights High School, Andrew Cutillo, 17, of Clarks Summit joined the Obama campaign as an intern two weeks ago. He said he was excited by the Senator’s visit and the opportunity to meet him. “I never thought that by volunteering I would get this close.”

Biden said he was reluctant to engage in some of the typical political activities that accompany such a visit because of Hurricane Gustav, which came ashore early Monday, in Louisiana, touching just west of New Orleans as a Category Two storm. He did address the issues that the panelists wanted to discuss, which were the rising costs of healthcare, energy and the economy.

In regard to healthcare, he spoke of creating a standardized insurance form that doctors can use at their office in order to cut costs as they did in Utah, saving half a million dollars there. He also spoke about off – shore drilling, but not without insuring a fair price of gas for the American people for what they own. Biden did not hesitate to criticize Republican presidential candidate John McCain on all of these issues. Most importantly while discussing Iraq, he said, “Barack Obama was right and John McCain was wrong.”

Once Biden wrapped things up at his childhood home, he made a stop at Scranton’s La Festa Italiana at Courthouse Square. Biden expressed his happiness at being home, but also his concern over Hurricane Gustav and its impact on the Gulf Coast. After meeting with some of the members of the crowd, he bid farewell to his hometown. That was, of course, not without putting in a to-go food order from Colarusso’s for the trip.