Visit excites supporters

BILL O ’ BOYLE

boboyle@timesleader.com

WILKES-BARRE – Mike Annone, a union member from Wilmington, Del., said Thursday he will go door to door in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties on behalf of the Democratic presidential ticket because he knows winning Pennsylvania won’t be easy.

He said he’ll spend every weekend until the November election canvassing neighborhoods to get the Democratic message out because voters have to know where Sen. and Sen. Joe Biden stand on key issues.

Nearly 500 people came out to hear Biden talk about the economy, ending the war in Iraq, lowering taxes, providing universal health care and the need for strong leadership.

“It’s critical that the people know how the candidates stand on the issues,” Annone said. “I’ll be knocking on doors in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton – wherever I can – to get the message out. Pennsylvania is a battleground state; you can tell how important it is by the amount of time and money the Republicans are spending here.”

Annone said Pennsylvania has traditionally gone Democrat and he feels it must stay that way in this election. The last time Pennsylvania went Republican was in 1988 for George H.W. Bush.

“Both Obama and Biden come from working-class families,” Annone said. “They know the struggles of the middle class. They will provide the direction, inspiration and motivation that the country needs.”

Joanne McDade, a 50-year-old psychiatric nurse from Wilkes-Barre, introduced Biden and said it was an honor she would never forget. McDade and her husband, Thomas, have four children – two just out of college, another in college and a high schooler.

She talked about her struggles and the strugglers of many Americans. She said the poor economy has changed her neighborhood because many have sold their homes to cope with the trying economic times.

“I’m proof of Barack Obama’s grassroots movement,” McDade said. “I’ve never done anything like this before; the most I’ve ever gotten involved in a political campaign was to put a sign in my yard. I truly believe in him and Sen. Biden and their message.”

Many elected officials attended the rally, including Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton, Luzerne County Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla, state Reps. Eddie Day Pashinski and Phyllis Mundy, Wilkes-Barre City Council Chairwoman Kathy Kane and Vice Chairman Tony Thomas Jr., and Lackawanna County Commissioners Mike Washo and Corey O’Brien.

U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, did not attend, but several people from his staff did. Kanjorski is in Washington attending to legislative business related to the current economic crisis.

County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak did not attend, but county Communications Director Jason Jarecki said Skrepenak was invited. Skrepenak said Wednesday that he has been a supporter of Obama, but he is tired of being neglected by the county party hierarchy and is thinking of switching his support to McCain.

Joe Evan, 35, of Kingston, came with his wife and two children to hear Biden.

“We need leaders who are going to tackle the major issues – the economy, the energy crisis, foreign policy – that are facing the country,” Evan said. “We need competent leadership to attack the issues intelligently. We need Obama and Biden.”

Betty Daniels, a retired teacher’s aide, said it’s high time the Democrats took back the White House.

“The Republicans have had it too long,” she said. “And they haven’t done a very good job.”

Bill O’Boyle, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7218.