PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia’s Democratic City Committee welcomed President Joe Biden to its annual fall dinner on Tuesday.
Party officials may have gotten a bit spoiled over the last few years, as the president became a frequent visitor, but their enthusiastic welcome showed that Biden can still bring a bit of awe.
Enthusiasm may be a deciding factor in the presidential election, if it drives enough of a turnout in Philadelphia to overcome Republican votes in what is known as the “T”—the central and northern parts of Pennsylvania. The president was there to rally the party foot soldiers who do the turning out.
Biden came to Philadelphia to rally the city’s Democratic Party faithful for the final push of the presidential election.
“How you go and what you turn out is going to determine the outcome of this election. We have to talk to our friends, our families, our neighbors, our co-workers, we have to beat back the lies with truth — and most of all, we have to vote and get out the vote.”
It’s a message Philadelphia area voters are sure to hear a lot in the next three weeks.
Party officials held signs reading “Thank you, Joe,” welcoming the president to their annual fall dinner, a fundraiser that helps finance their get-out-the-vote efforts.
Biden’s message was familiar — that he and Vice President Kamala Harris have overseen an economic boom, record employment and higher wages while her opponent — well … Biden called Donald Trump unhinged and a loser.
“The Biden-Harris economy has left the Trump administration in the dust. It wasn’t hard to leave him in the dust. I think he lives in the dust,” Biden said.
The president was, obviously, preaching to the choir but hoping to inspire even more energy to focus on getting out the vote in Philadelphia, in hopes of winning Pennsylvania for Harris.
Committee Chair Bob Brady says the party is working hard, tracking absentee ballots, door knocking, calling voters — but he understands concerns about turnout in the city.
“I’m worried. You want to be worried. This way you’re not complacent. Being worried means you’re going to go out and do something. And we’re going to do that.”