Joe Biden Express rolls into Western Pennsylvania for whistle-stop train tour
An Amtrak passenger train carrying Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his campaign contingent rolled into Western Pennsylvania from Ohio on Wednesday, a day after a contentious televised debate with President Donald Trump.
Campaign organizers said the “Build Back Better” train tour will highlight Biden’s plans to rebuild the economy with a focus on working families.
We're in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for stop three of the Build Back Better Express Tour. Tune in now to watch. https://t.co/KoGBkEKUxS
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 30, 2020
His first stop in Pennsylvania was Downtown Pittsburgh, where the train pulled in to the train station along Liberty Avenue around 2:45 p.m.
Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better Express” train tour arrived at the Amtrak station in Downtown #Pittsburgh at about 2:45 p.m. for a brief stop closed to local news reporters.
Stay tuned for @TribLIVE coverage on his next Western #PA stops ..#Election2020 pic.twitter.com/CJNfR3cZl3
— Natasha Lindstrom (@NewsNatasha) September 30, 2020
Biden delivered brief remarks from the Amtrak station’s platform to a small group of invite-only guests, including elected officials and union members. His comments also were livestreamed to his campaign website, joebiden.com.
The former vice president opened by saying, “I’m a bright guy, I married a member of a union.”
“It’s great to be back in Pittsburgh, and I mean that sincerely, and I arrived my favorite way, Amtrak,” continued Biden, recalling having traveled some 2.1 million miles during his regular commute between Washington and Delaware while in the Senate.
Joining the train tour were Democratic U.S. Reps. Mike Doyle, of Forest Hills, and Conor Lamb, of Mt. Lebanon, along with Tom Conway, international president of the United Steelworkers union.
“The ironworkers, steelworkers, they built this town and the beautiful bridges that make Pittsburgh famous,” Biden said.
On the train ride from Ohio, the morning after his first debate faceoff against Trump, Biden said that he and Conway lamented the loss of family-sustaining union jobs in the region and Trump’s “trail of broken promises and lies.”
“We know who Donald Trump is, who he cares about and how he governs. We saw last night, it’s all about him. He didn’t speak to you in that debate, he spoke about him,” Biden said. “He cares only about what the super rich and the well-connected think. It’s about time we start rewarding work and not wealth.”
Biden argued that Trump “looks down on working families who are just trying to do the right thing and just trying to make it … who pay their taxes, who play by the rules.
“President Trump said he ran for office because he was concerned about the forgotten man. Well, as soon as he got elected and got inaugurated, he forgot the forgotten man,” Biden said. “The truth is, I don’t think he ever respected us in the first place.”
Biden touted his “Made in America” commitment to ensure the supply chain supports domestic jobs and American families, while accusing Trump of having “looked the other way while companies closed factories and shipped jobs overseas.”
Biden also touched on the importance of the Affordable Care Act and lowering health care and pharmaceutical prices for consumers around the country.
“I promise you that if I’m elected I will protect your health care like I protect my own family — it’s that basic,” Biden said to cheers and whistling from the small audience. “I plan to build our country and our economy back better than before.”
Biden boarded his chartered Amtrak around 3:45 p.m. to leave Pittsburgh for Westmoreland County.
Briefly after arriving at the Greensburg train station, Biden departed by car just before 5 p.m. He did not make public comments.
Hello, Greensburg! pic.twitter.com/m7L9zdM8uF
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 30, 2020
Outside the Greensburg train station, Sandy Furlo, a Democrat from Greensburg, displayed a sign that voiced support of Biden while playing on the “Sleepy Joe” nickname used by Trump and other critics.
Her sign declared that Biden will “wake up America.”
“I’m kind of tired of them calling him ‘Sleepy Joe,’” she said, arguing that during Tuesday’s presidential debate, “he wasn’t so sleepy, Trump was.”
Furlo said Biden’s choice of Westmoreland County locations for stops on his train tour is important.
“It’s very important because the last election went to Trump,” she said. “I’m hoping some people will turn around, like many of them are doing, voting Democrat again.”
Susan Witt of Greensburg, a leader with the local Voices of Westmoreland activist group, was among Biden supporters who crowded in the parking lot opposite the train station.
“We want him to know that we love him here in Westmoreland County, and we’re working really hard to get him elected” she said. “I believe he’s the candidate that the Democratic party needs right now. We need someone to bring back calm and civility to the country and stop all the violence.”
Some of the Biden supporters awaiting his arrival at the Greensburg train station chanted “Dump Trump” and “Black Lives Matter.”
On the opposite side of the street, Trump supporters displayed banners and signs for their chosen candidate.
Among the latter was Richard Bettis of Greensburg, who picked up on one of Trump’s comments during Tuesday’s debate.
“He’s done more for this country in 47 months than Biden has done in 47 years,” Bettis said. “The Democrats have done nothing to help this country since he’s been president. He’s done a tremendous job.”
Jill and Joe Biden arrive via Amtrak train in Greensburg as they depart by motorcade to seperate campaign events @TribLIVE @TribWestmoreCo pic.twitter.com/br5m42zDTJ
— Shane Dunlap (@shanedunlap) September 30, 2020
Other scheduled stops include a speaking event in New Alexandria — though for invited guests only — and the Latrobe train station.
Large crowd gathered at Greensburg train station to greet VP Biden when he arrives for motorcade to next stop pic.twitter.com/OtPYYCp83z
— Jeff Himler (@jhimler_news) September 30, 2020
Biden supporters allowed across the street from the Greensburg train station - @TribWestmoreCo @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/waQTnxnzbP
— Shane Dunlap (@shanedunlap) September 30, 2020
There has been some heckling between the two sides while they wait. But the atmosphere has been civil, with both sides laughing at each other @TribLIVE @TribWestmoreCo pic.twitter.com/WFkjih7T2N
— Shane Dunlap (@shanedunlap) September 30, 2020
The crowd of Biden supporters has grown, along with a smaller contingent of Trump supporters @TribLIVE @TribWestmoreCo pic.twitter.com/Jgcka5ZwPg
— Shane Dunlap (@shanedunlap) September 30, 2020
Trump supporters hold down a section of sidewalk before VP Biden’s arrival. pic.twitter.com/PLC1gzeDlR
— Jeff Himler (@jhimler_news) September 30, 2020
The train departed Cleveland, the site of the debate, on Wednesday morning and stopped in Alliance, Ohio, before making its way to Pennsylvania. Both are considered key swing states in the Nov. 3 presidential election.
The tour is scheduled to end with a 7:30 p.m. drive-up rally in Johnstown with Biden and his wife, Jill.
Even the press is socially distanced at Biden events. #SocialCircles pic.twitter.com/kBlznqTwix
— Debra Erdley (@deberdley_trib) September 30, 2020
In New Alexandria, Biden is expected to pick up endorsements from two labor unions: International Union of Operating Engineers and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Bloomberg reported ahead of the visit.
“Military is the spine of America. You’re the backbone of America... if I’m elected President you’ll have seat at the table,” Joe Biden tells union members at a stop at union training center in New Alexandria, pic.twitter.com/JUL5kaZjrK
— Debra Erdley (@deberdley_trib) September 30, 2020
“What we’re trying to explain is that union labor, working families cannot withstand another four years of assaults on the middle class,” said Bill Sproule, executive secretary-treasurer of the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters. The council represents 42,000 carpenters.
“Our members ‘ jobs, paychecks, livelihoods and the health of their families are at stake. We have to bring this country back together, “ Sproule said, speaking of the Atlantic Regional Council’s endorsement of Biden.
“What you get is a pretty box with nothing inside,” Jim Kuntz, business manager for Operating Engineers Local 66 said of President Donald Trump’s promises to working mea and women.
— Debra Erdley (@deberdley_trib) September 30, 2020
Joe Biden checking out cranes at Local 66 trading center in Westmoreland County pic.twitter.com/zxnT4VnckV
— Debra Erdley (@deberdley_trib) September 30, 2020
Biden departed New Alexandria around 6:15 p.m. enroute to Latrobe, where he was to rejoin his wife after her appearance at Rizzo’s Malabar Inn in Crabtree for a discussion with small business owners.
Groups of Biden and Trump supporters, gathered on either side of Latrobe’s Ligonier Street, traded chants deriding the opposing candidate.
A cry of “Lock Trump up” was met with another: “Biden is a loser.”
As the crowd began to thin, some of the Trump faithful crossed the street to continue the war of words at a closer range. But, no one’s personal space was invaded, and there was no violence.
Among the Biden supporters along Ligonier Street was Laurel Mountain Borough resident Donald Brant and his wife, Melanie, displaying a sign declaring “Veterans for Biden.”
A retired state trooper and an Army veteran who served in Iraq, Brant said he is a lifelong Republican but voted for Obama for president and now will vote for Biden.
“Biden is about as pro-military as you can get,” he said. “He cares about people past the end of his nose.”
Brant said he isn’t surprised that Biden decided to campaign in Westmoreland County, just as Trump did a few weeks earlier.
“This has always been a battleground area,” Brant said, adding, “We have more veterans per capita than any other part of the United States — the Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio tri-state area.
“We’re an extremely patriotic section of the country. We’re a working, blue class part of the country, and we vote.”
Amanda Hoffman of Latrobe attended Trump’s recent rally at the nearby Arnold Palmer Regional Airport and an appearance by Vice President Mike Pence in Greensburg, so she came to the Latrobe event to show her support for the White House incumbent once more.
Among the reasons she favors Trump: “He’s pro-law and order.”
Currently the scene at the Latrobe train station @TribLIVE @TribWestmoreCo pic.twitter.com/06Kt0M8pfg
— Shane Dunlap (@shanedunlap) September 30, 2020
The train has two engines and seven cars, including a dining car. Biden is riding in the president’s car, his campaign said. Conductor Don Lewis, who has worked for Amtrak for 46 years, is making his final trip before retiring.
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