PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio, AP) — Thousands of people stood in a line that wrapped around Temple University’s Liacouras Center in North Philadelphia for blocks, waiting for hours to attend a rally there in support of Democrats on the ballot in Pennsylvania. The goal was to drum up enthusiasm ahead of Election Day, Nov. 8.
Democratic leaders both on and off the ticket included gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro, U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman, President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama.
There was enthusiasm among the attendees uncharacteristic of a typical midterm election. Gail Vladimir of Levittown echoed a sentiment of many in the crowd: “Women’s rights! For me, it’s all about that."
Jacqueline Assiri of Philadelphia said, with every election, people should have more rights, not fewer — “just to make sure we still have rights at the end of the day, ‘cause it starts with little things. They start taking away, and then they can start doing more.”
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Annabelle Walter of Philadelphia said the biggest issue for her this year is abortion.
“Protecting our right to abortion is really important for me,” she said. “And then, preventing gun violence, specifically in the city of Philadelphia. And then, any anti-racist rhetoric and policy is important as well.”
Walter says she’s motivated to vote on Tuesday, and she emphasized the importance of everyone getting out to vote.
“Pennsylvania is a swing state, and I think it's incredibly important for young people to get out and vote,” she said.
Alex Wallace of Blue Bell said this election will be the first in which she is eligible to vote. She says young people like her turning out will be key.
“My peers are voting,” Wallace said. “I’ll make sure of it. I’m seeing all my classmates in line, and I'm hoping that means for a really good change.”
All eyes will be on Pennsylvania on Tuesday, said Jeffrey Carroll of Kennett Square. “Oh, this is a key state,” he said.
The attention on Pennsylvania underscores the stakes in 2022 and beyond for the tightly contested state. The race between Oz and Democrat John Fetterman race could decide the Senate majority — and with it, Biden's agenda and judicial appointments for the next two years. The governor's contest will determine the direction of state policy and control of the state's election infrastructure heading into the 2024 presidential contest.
Josh Shapiro, the state attorney general, leads in polls over Mastriano, a state senator and retired Army colonel who some Republicans believe is too extreme to win a general election in a state Biden narrowly carried two years ago.
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Polls show a closer contest to replace retiring Republican Sen. Pat Toomey as Fetterman recovers from a stroke he suffered in May. He jumbled words and struggled to complete sentences in his lone debate against Oz last month, although medical experts say he’s recovering well from the health scare.
Having little trouble speaking on Saturday, Fetterman railed against Oz and castigated the former New Jersey resident as an ultrawealthy carpetbagger who will say or do anything to get elected. Gusty winds knocked several American flags off the stage during his remarks.
“I’ll be the 51st vote to eliminate the filibuster, to raise the minimum wage,” said Fetterman, wearing his trademark black hoodie. “Please send Dr. Oz back to New Jersey.”
Fetterman hugged Obama after they spoke in Pittsburgh. Later in Philadelphia, Fetterman linked hands with Biden, Obama and Shapiro.
Biden’s speech was largely the same he has been giving for weeks — spotlighting a grab bag of his major legislative achievements, while warning that abortion rights, voting rights, Social Security and Medicare are at risk should Republicans take control of Congress this week.
The president highlighted the Inflation Reduction Action, passed in August by the Democratic-led Congress, which includes several health care provisions popular among older adults and the less well-off, including a $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket medical expenses and a $35 monthly cap per prescription on insulin. The new law also requires companies that raise prices faster than overall inflation to pay Medicare a rebate.
But with a bigger and more energetic audience in his home state, Biden’s energy seemed lifted.
“I lived in Pennsylvania longer than Oz has lived in Pennsylvania, and I moved away when I was 10 years old," a fiery Biden said.
As for Trump, his evening rally in Latrobe was part of a late blitz that will also take him to Florida and Ohio. He's hoping a strong GOP showing will generate momentum for the 2024 run that he's expected to launch in the days or weeks after polls close.