Joe Biden makes campaign stop in Pittsburgh, says he's not banning fracking

Using the repurposed site of a former Pittsburgh steel mill as a backdrop, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden gave his first major campaign speech following the August convention. At the limited-access event, Biden called President Donald Trump a “toxic presence,” and forcefully condemned the violence at recent protests, while also blaming Trump for fomenting the divide that’s sparking it.

Biden’s speech at Hazelwood Green, where an LTV plant once stood, marked a new phase of the campaign as he traveled outside his home in Wilmington, Del., where he’s largely stayed during the coronavirus pandemic.

After centering his candidacy on accusing Trump of mishandling the pandemic, Monday’s speech made a broader push to argue that Americans won’t be safe if Trump wins reelection.

Limited access to the event was by design, his campaign said, as a precaution in the coronavirus pandemic.

The speech was given inside Mill 19, a former steel works redeveloped to house new industries, such as a high-tech robotics operation developed in part by Carnegie Mellon University. The venue offers views of Pittsburgh’s Downtown skyline in the background.

The campaign released few details in advance of the event; the Hazelwood Green location was not confirmed until late morning.

The campaign said it opted against holding a traditional campaign event, with large crowds flocking to a venue and the area around it, to adhere to guidelines aimed at limiting the spread of covid-19.

More than 100 Biden supporters and a few Trump supporters waited for hours outside the venue. They didn’t get a glimpse of Biden even as the motorcade left at 4 p.m.

“Due to covid-19 restrictions, the Biden campaign is following the guidance of scientists and health experts. The safety and well-being of all Americans is our first priority,” said Ike Hajinazarian, the Biden campaign’s regional secretary for Western Pennsylvania.

Those who gathered outside the venue listened to the speech on their phones.

“He doesn’t want to shed light, he wants to generate heat, and he’s stoking violence in our cities,” Biden said of Trump in the speech. “He can’t stop the violence because, for years, he’s fomented it.”

In one of his sharpest attacks on the president yet, Biden went on to call Trump a “toxic presence in this nation for four years” and accused him of “poisoning the values this nation has always held dear, poisoning our very democracy.”

Outside, Biden’s supporters agreed with that assessment.

Matthew Miller, 31, of Pittsburgh’s Mt. Washington neighborhood, is a former Republican who became a Democrat because of Trump, he said.

“I think Donald Trump has completely eroded what it means to be a Republican,” Miller said. “I just think that every single day, Trump, he just disregards being president. It’s just awful the things he says and does.”

Some of the supporters were more exuberant than others. Zed Armstrong of Highland Park wore a donkey head to illustrate her principles as a Democrat.

Here, Armstrong talks about why she supports @JoeBiden pic.twitter.com/Uf3L6QOtJR

— Tom Davidson (@TribDavidson) August 31, 2020

“We are passionately behind Joe Biden and saving our democracy,” Armstrong said.

Her husband, George Sparling, was blunt in his assessment of Trump: “As far as I’m concerned, our illustrious president is a fascist and must be removed at all costs.”

Armstrong’s husband George Sparling talks about why they oppose @realDonaldTrump and support @JoeBiden pic.twitter.com/OHb4WsQ6Ls

— Tom Davidson (@TribDavidson) August 31, 2020

There were also at least three Trump supporters who came out to counter the Biden supporters.

Scott Wadarek of Bellevue said Trump will go down as one of the greatest presidents ever.

“Not too many people have the guts to do what we do,” Wadarek. “I’m just here because I’m supporting my president.”

He and Darren Koles of McKees Rocks called themselves peaceful protesters and both said they weren’t there to cause trouble.

“I’m not here to fight,” Wadarek said.

At least two local @realDonaldTrump supporters came to the @JoeBiden event in Hazelwood: Scott Wodarek, left, of Bellevue and Darren Koles of McKees Rocks. pic.twitter.com/ixHUfhjGTJ

— Tom Davidson (@TribDavidson) August 31, 2020

During the speech, Biden went after those who have participated in violence and destroyed property during protests of police brutality and racial inequality in America over the past several months.

“Rioting is not protesting. Looting is not protesting. Setting fires is not protesting. None of this is protesting,” Biden said. “It’s lawlessness, plain and simple, and those who do it should be prosecuted.”

Biden added: “Violence will not bring change. It will only bring destruction. It’s wrong in every way.”

The former vice president argued that President Trump has not done enough to calm the unrest or combat the coronavirus. Instead, Biden said, the president has stoked the flames of discord and division for political gain.

“There’s no reason why we can’t do so much more than we’re doing,” Biden said.

Biden also focused his remarks on improving the nation’s economy, in part, through what he called a clean energy strategy.

“I am not banning fracking … no matter how times Donald Trump lies about that,” Biden said, referring to political ads aired in Pennsylvania suggesting he would eliminate the fracking process of extracting natural gas from the ground because of environmental concerns. “It’s the future.”

Political experts had mixed views over whether Biden can be effective using limited-access events to campaign in order to abide by recommendations against large gatherings because of the pandemic.

“I think the Biden campaign has realized they’ve got to get out and campaign,” said G. Terry Madonna of Franklin & Marshall College.

By limited access, “he still can say he was out and he’s keeping you safe,” Madonna said. “At least they can’t say he’s hiding out in his basement.”

This is the first time in modern history that a presidential candidate has largely conducted a “front porch” campaign. The last candidates to do so were Warren Harding in 1920 and William McKinley in 1896.

“It’s very strange,” said Philip Harold, a political science professor at Robert Morris University. It’s uncertain whether it can be successful because “playing it safe just doesn’t work.”

But the virtual convention the Democrats put on shows how it can be effective, he said.

Joe DiSarro, a longtime political science professor at Washington & Jefferson College, was skeptical a virtual campaign could be effective.

“The notion of a back porch or a front porch campaign. I don’t think it will work,” DiSarro said. “The voter needs to meet the candidate.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.