Biden Hits the Mines

Biden visited Castlewood, VA this week and spoke with members of the United Mining Workers of America. Biden, who was born in Scranton, PA, focused on the similarities between the laborers from Scranton and those from southern Virginia. Biden told members that McCain supported Bush's appointed anti-labor leaders in the U.S. Labor Department and the National Labor Relations Board.

Biden cited an article written by McCain that said that McCain would do away with state regulation of U.S. health care insurance in order to propose more choices. Biden responded to this quote by saying that the regulations are what keeps everything together and that, without them, the economy will only suffer because things, like health care, will not be protected. Biden also associated Bush and McCain with rising costs at the pump and the regressing health care for workers and veterans. Biden also mentioned Bush is not only fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but also is fighting a war against the laborers.

Biden's visit to southwestern Virginia was particularly important because Virginia is a swing state and it has voted Republican for the past 44 years. Southwestern Virginia is a blue-collar region and Biden used this to his advantage because Scranton is a blue-collar working town. By identifying with the union members, Biden was able to show them that he understands their needs and will do his best to protect their rights. Although Obama easily won the Virginia primary, Clinton dominated the southwestern tip of the state. By obtaining the vote of the southwestern tip of Virginia, Obama and Biden may be able to win Virginia.


http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/09/20/politics/fromtheroad/entry4462837.shtml
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i7K20RiBJeMQhhTZUST64ABObHjAD93AO7UO0
http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Statistics_Polling_Places/Index.html