This morning I took a look at my schedule and checked for any issues in my work inbox. There wasn’t anything burning, so I took some time out of the office to check out the Biden rally on the University of Delaware mall.
I have been wondering what the heck they were doing having a rally in a state that wasn’t worth one iota in this election. It was safely blue and will only serve as a cherry on top of what may be a big election night. Sure Joe is from Delaware and it was convenient, if he wanted to spend a night at home before the election, but why not have a rally in Pennsylvania. The answer was so simple that I walked right past it.
In fact I walked past it a dozen times. The Obama ground game had come to Delaware to steal our young people away to Pennsylvania for some much needed canvassing. As I approached the security checkpoint, I was approached by no fewer that 10 volunteers from the University Democrats asking me to make a trip to PA in the next few days. I have to admit, there were some cute volunteers that I almost considered signing up just based on them.
I was very impressed at how ingenious this plan is. Sign up these students (who probably have a lot more free time on the weekend than me) and take them on a road trip for a good cause. It is brilliant.
When we got into the corral area, it was crowded, but not packed. I think I just made it, because a crowd started building about 50 yards behind us. I had a pretty crappy sightline to the podium, but it was adequate. There were speeches by Carper (tankfully short) and Markell. Thank skydad that they didn’t make Carper kill time before Joe got there, like they did at the J & J Dinner. I think I would have left. I swear, if I hear Jobama from him again, I’ll puke.
Markell spoke glowingly of UD and his life as a UD brat. He had a great joke about how he and Matt Denn were looking forward to riding the Obama/Biden coattails all the way to victory.
Jill Biden introduced Joe. Jill was in excellent form and gave a moving speech in her own right. Joe joked in his speech that at some speeches the crowd was chanting Jill, baby, Jill. I joked to some of the people around me that we could now say “Jill here. Jill Now.”
Joe was likely making his last speech in Delaware before he becomes Vice President or at least VP-elect. He made a wide ranging speech about why Obama was the right man for the job. From foreign policy, to unflappability, to economic stability to social issues. Joe made the case for Obama that was a perfect summary to all that has happened in the past year. When Joe mentioned Sarah Palin, there were boo’s in the crowd and joe chided the crowd. “No, don’t boo her, she is a good person.” He also referred to McCain as “My friend, John McCain.” What a difference from what we see from the Palin rallys.
Biden also evoked a theme that has been missing from the Bush/McCain worldview. Each of us is responsible for helping fix this country. We will have to sacrifice and work hard to fix the problems facing us. Bush has been unwilling to ask us to do anything besides shopping and stocking up on duct tape. That failure of leadership has been inherited by McCain/Palin. It is an ech of JFK’s “ask not what your country can do for you…”
At the end of the speech, he extended the coattails to Markell and Denn, praising both men for their skills and judgement. He also reminded everyone that what is really needed, in order to win, is for all of us to help however we can. It is going to be a tough 4 days, but we are in the homestretch, people.
What are you doing to ensure an Obama victory?