Sen. Joe Biden, Sen. Barack Obama’s 2008 Democratic vice presidential nominee, speaks on stage at the McIver Amphitheater at Meredith College Thursday. Biden focused on the economy throughout his speech, but also included comments about John McCain’s campaign. “[His ads] lie about Barack Obama and lie about his character,”Biden said. “But they do not hurt Barack, they hurt and divide this country.” (Photo by Tim O'Brien)
Raligh Democrats Rally for Biden
In a “Change We Need Rally,” Delaware senator and Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden came to Meredith College to a crowd of about 4,000 to talk about this change. The event, open to the public, attracted all types of Democratic supporters — including students.Biden advocated for a more unified America and a change in economic policy and foreign policy in a time of need. “For too many people, the American dream is literally receding before their eyes,” Biden said.
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Students React to Joe Biden Visit
“I was happy to cheer for at least half the stuff he said.“
“It was more than just the politician’s view of [uniting America]. He really believed it.“
— David Gordon, junior in international politics and Republican voter for the past five years
“The most important issues Biden addressed for North Carolinians were the jobs and taxes.“
“I’m not much for going to rallies …but it was really easy to get into it. It was very different than I expected. It was a lot more fun than I expected.“
“He did really well. He connected with North Carolinians really well.“
— Hannah Younce, junior in international politics
Obama’s deal with students
To the students in the audience, Biden said an Obama administration would give them opportunities for college if they took initiative in service.
“We should broaden the definition of national service,” he said, to include those willing to work in hospitals and senior centers, and not just those deployed in the armed services.
“We’ll make a deal with you,” he said. “You serve America, we’ll get you to college.”
He said while this election has drawn interest from young voters, it is especially important for every voter.
“Whether you’re a first time voter or you’ve been voting for a long time, this is the single most important election any of you have ever voted in,” Biden said.
Talking up Obama
Biden spent a lot of his roughly 30-minute speech promoting his presidential running mate, Obama, saying he was “certain Barack Obama will be a great president of the United States.”
He continued to accuse McCain of “politics of division and derision.”
Obama has a “backbone like a ramrod,” he said, so while he can handle McCain’s attacks for the next almosttwo weeks, “we cannot take four years of these divisive politics.”
An Obama administration would “reclaim America’s respect in the world,” as well as end the war in Iraq, he said.
“End this war now,” he said.
He said Obama would work to create 60,000 new jobs in North Carolina over the next 10 years, and Biden emphasized health care and economic issues.
Biden said they would cut taxes for the middle class and invest in America’s infrastructure.
“We need an economic plan that’s designed to jumpstart the economy for people on Main Street,” he said.
Localized talking points
Joe Biden, Democratic vice presidential candidate, addressed the crowd with state-specific terms, at times referencing NASCAR and down-ballot candidates like Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bev Perdue and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Kay Hagan.
Biden made a point to address Meredith College’s mascot, the Avenging Angels.
“My sister Valerie, she would’ve loved to have gone here with that name,” he said.
He also emphasized the need to vote early and vote for the other Democrats in North Carolina.
“I’m here not only on behalf of Barack Obama and myself, I’m also here on behalf of Kay Hagan and Bev Perdue,” he said.
Biden said with the election 12 days away, the campaign’s “goal is to have the biggest voter turnout in North Carolina.
Biden attacks
McCain and Palin rallies have gotten attention for some derogatory words from supporters, or booing when McCain or Palin use Obama’s name. The supporters at Meredith Thursday yelled when President George Bush and McCain’s names were mentioned, but for the rest of Biden’s speech, they were overwhelmingly silent.
Still, Biden made digs at McCain, Palin and the Bush administration.
“There is not one fundamental economic issue on which John McCain has challenged George Bush,” Biden said.
McCain recently compared Obama to Bush, Biden said, which brought laughs from the audience.
“Pretty soon he’s going to be calling me Dick Cheney,” he said, later adding “At least I know what the Vice President does.”
Biden referred again to McCain’s statement from September that the “fundamentals of the economy are sound,” and criticized McCain and Palin for calling themselves “mavericks.”
“You can’t call yourself a maverick when all you’ve been the past eight years is a sidekick,” he said.
Last week in Greensboro, Palin said she was glad to be in a place that was “pro-American.”
“I know how deeply patriotic North Carolina is,” he said.
Biden responded to Palin saying North Carolina is no different from anywhere else.
“There are heroes all over America, in every state, in every city, in every town,” he said. “We all love this country. We all love it.”
Why Obama/Biden?
David Gordon, a junior in international politics, said he has been a strong Republican because the party used to align more with his beliefs.
Now, however, he has cast his ballot for the Obama/Biden ticket.
“I decided to vote for Obama because I think McCain’s policies are too close for comfort with Bush’s policies,” he said. “I am picking the lesser of two evils.”
And for Gordon, the Obama administration seems to have the ability to bring change.
“America needs to be united in this time and we need a better reputation internationally. I think Obama and Biden can bring us that.”
Hannah Younce, a freshman in international politics and friend of Gordon’s, went to the event because she had to attend a certain number of political events for one of her classes and decided this one may be a good one to try out.
“It was a really good feeling being there,” Younce said.
Both Younce and Gordon agreed that the policy Biden and Obama hope to implement with service to the country including civil service in return for payment for education is a great idea.
“A lot of people take advantage of getting a free ride, but they don’t think about giving back to the community. They complain about taxes, but they don’t realize that other people’s taxes are paying [for their education],” Younce said.
Gordon said this new policy will help make it easier for students.
“Making it a service based thing that we have to serve in order to receive is a good idea… It’s more than just a free hand out, it teaches morals to people.”