Good crowd in Charleston for Biden

by: Carnacki

Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 17:20:31 PM EDT

Good sized crowd, though I have no idea how many people were there.  The stage was set up in the middle of the intersection of Capitol and Lee Streets.  The crowd filled at least half of the four surrounding blocks (one four lane street intersecting with a three lane street.) I was on the rope line, right behind the stage.  
The start was scheduled for 10:30, but, like most large events, started late -- 11:00.  Governor Manchin, Senator Rockefeller and Senator Byrd (in a wheelchair) came to the stage.  Manchin did three or four minutes of welcome/thanks for coming/yeah for all the Democrats, and then introduced Byrd.  

Byrd sat in his wheelchair at a low podium.  He got the crowd roaring Joe Bi-den! Joe Bi-den!, and then O-bam-a! O-bam-a!  (He looks so frail, I got a bit teary-eyed.) Then he introduced Rockefeller.

Jay just isn't a rabble-rouser, but he gave a serviceable three or four minutes on his old friend Joe Biden and his new friend Barack Obama, and how they would change the business-as-usual in Washington.  Then he introduced Joe Biden.

You can find the text of Joe's speech on the Intertubes. Let me just tell you that he had that crowd in the palm of his hand. He talked about service to ones' country, and how that service can be something other than military service.  He talked about everyone's right to a good education.  He talked about improving access to healthcare, and how that will actually improve the economy.

He told the story of his first wife and daughter's funeral.  He had been elected, but not yet sworn into the Senate.  Robert Byrd came to the funeral, driven by his aide Nick Rahall.  Byrd didn't tell anyone he was coming, and because the church was completely full, stood outside in the rain during the funeral service. (I got teary-eyed again.)

I don't know if we can win this one here in West Virginia. I have a couple of idjits in my office who plan to vote for McCain because they think that Sarah Palin is "cute".  But I have a warm feeling in my heart that the future of our country is about to be in very safe hands.

Update

Chaylee Cole, the telemarketer who refused to take part in McCain's smear calls, got a shoutout from Biden.

CNN:

Attending Biden's rally Friday was Chaylee Cole, the former employee of a public relations firm that was hired by the RNC to make calls to voters and read statements attacking Obama. She quit instead.

"She said she would not do it. And they fired her," said Biden. "She said, 'Democrat or Republican I wouldn't have done this.' End of quote. Ladies and gentlemen, Chaylee recognized that regardless of your personal politics, attacks like that, attacks like that are out of bounds."

Biden was introduced by 90 year-old ailing Senator Robert Byrd, who read his remarks from a lowered lecturn while seated in a wheelchair. At the end of his speech, Biden paid tribute to the longtime senator from West Virginia, "to learn the ways of the Senate from Bob Byrd is like getting a trumpet lesson from the Angel Gabriel."

Update 2

The New York Times:

Among the West Virginia politicians on hand to warm up the crowd before Mr. Biden spoke was Senator Robert C. Byrd, 91, the longest-serving member of the Senate.

Mr. Byrd, speaking from a wheelchair, declared Mr. Biden an honorary West Virginian, by dint of his having been raised in Scranton, Pa., steel and coal country.

He praised Mr. Obama for having picked Mr. Biden as his running mate.

"And my friend and colleague, Barack Obama, showed outstanding judgment when he asked Joe Biden! Joe Biden! Joe Biden! Joe Biden! to join the ticket," Mr. Byrd said, punching the air.

snip

Today Mr. Biden touted the technology and said that Mr. McCain had spoken of the need to transition away from the use of coal in power generation, prompting boos from the audience.

Cecil E. Roberts, president of the United Mine Workers, also took a swipe at Mr. McCain. He said that Mr. McCain had voted consistently with President Bush and would continue his policies if elected.

"That's not a maverick, that's a sidekick," Mr. Roberts said.

Update 3

Via CA_Berkeley_WV