For much of the weekend, the eyes of the political world were focused on the Greenville section of Wilmington.
That happens to be the affluent enclave where Sen. Joe Biden resides.
Early Saturday morning he became the choice of Democratic nominee-in-waiting Sen. Barack Obama to join him on the ticket as vice president.
Later on Saturday, the scene shifted to Springfield, Ill., where Biden joined Obama for their first appearance together.
Now the nation is riveted on Denver, where the “Joe-Bama” ticket will get the official blessing of the party faithful at the Democratic National Convention this week.
Excuse me, but my eyes are not focused on any of the above. In fact, my eyes continue to zero in on Pennsylvania. More specifically, the suburban Philadelphia area.
You see, I think that was one of the keys to Obama’s selection of Biden to ride shotgun on the ticket.
Just as it has the last few elections, Pennsylvania is, as they say, “in play.”
More than that, I believe the suburban Philadelphia counties, including Delaware County, will be the key, possibly tipping the state.
Democrats have been making gains in what was once turf dominated by the GOP. Here in Delaware County, we’ve seen Dems take the county in the last four presidential races. And we’ve seen upstart Rep. Joe Sestak show longtime incumbent Rep. Curt Weldon the door.
I think that’s the key to the Biden selection. Obama has not fared too well here. He got his clock cleaned by Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Pennsylvania Primary. His comments about Pennsylvanians clinging to guns and religion did not play well here. He is seen as somewhat of a snob, an elitist, someone who does not understand the middle-class that makes up so many of our neighbhorhoods.
Enter Biden.
We like him here, sometimes referring to him as “Pennsylvania’s third senator.”
Get used to seeing a lot of him. Pennsylvania is in play. Obama has made his own play, with the selection of local guy Biden to shore up his flagging support in the Keystone State.
Now our eyes will shift one more time. We now will wait for Sen. John McCain’s choice for VP.
Anyone else think McCain just might try to trump the Biden pick by putting former Gov. Tom Ridge on his ticket?
One thing is certain.
Pennsylvania is going to be a battleground state. And Delaware County will be right in the middle of it.
That happens to be the affluent enclave where Sen. Joe Biden resides.
Early Saturday morning he became the choice of Democratic nominee-in-waiting Sen. Barack Obama to join him on the ticket as vice president.
Later on Saturday, the scene shifted to Springfield, Ill., where Biden joined Obama for their first appearance together.
Now the nation is riveted on Denver, where the “Joe-Bama” ticket will get the official blessing of the party faithful at the Democratic National Convention this week.
Excuse me, but my eyes are not focused on any of the above. In fact, my eyes continue to zero in on Pennsylvania. More specifically, the suburban Philadelphia area.
You see, I think that was one of the keys to Obama’s selection of Biden to ride shotgun on the ticket.
Just as it has the last few elections, Pennsylvania is, as they say, “in play.”
More than that, I believe the suburban Philadelphia counties, including Delaware County, will be the key, possibly tipping the state.
Democrats have been making gains in what was once turf dominated by the GOP. Here in Delaware County, we’ve seen Dems take the county in the last four presidential races. And we’ve seen upstart Rep. Joe Sestak show longtime incumbent Rep. Curt Weldon the door.
I think that’s the key to the Biden selection. Obama has not fared too well here. He got his clock cleaned by Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Pennsylvania Primary. His comments about Pennsylvanians clinging to guns and religion did not play well here. He is seen as somewhat of a snob, an elitist, someone who does not understand the middle-class that makes up so many of our neighbhorhoods.
Enter Biden.
We like him here, sometimes referring to him as “Pennsylvania’s third senator.”
Get used to seeing a lot of him. Pennsylvania is in play. Obama has made his own play, with the selection of local guy Biden to shore up his flagging support in the Keystone State.
Now our eyes will shift one more time. We now will wait for Sen. John McCain’s choice for VP.
Anyone else think McCain just might try to trump the Biden pick by putting former Gov. Tom Ridge on his ticket?
One thing is certain.
Pennsylvania is going to be a battleground state. And Delaware County will be right in the middle of it.
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