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brooklynite

(96,882 posts) Sun Jul 7, 2024, 08:20 PM Jul 2024

In Show of Force, President Biden Rallies Voters Across Pennsylvania

On Sunday, after a rally with over 1,000 supporters in Wisconsin, President Biden mobilized over 1,200 voters at four campaign stops in Philadelphia and Harrisburg, highlighting his record delivering for communities across the Commonwealth and Donald Trump’s ongoing assault on our fundamental freedoms, democracy, and economy. In the morning, the President delivered a powerful speech to hundreds of congregants at the Mount Airy Church of God in Northwest Philadelphia before rallying supporters at Democrats’ coordinated campaign field office in Roxborough. The President and First Lady then traveled to Harrisburg to fire up hundreds more supporters and union workers at a community organizing event at the AFSCME Council 13 Office in Harrisburg before stopping by Denim Coffee, a locally owned small-business.

Over the course of the day, President Biden was joined by Governor Josh Shapiro, Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman, Representatives Brendan Boyle and Madeleine Dean, Mayors Cherelle Parker and Wanda Williams and other elected and community leaders.

Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis: Pennsylvania is ready for @JoeBiden!

Senator John Feterman: One of us beat Trump’s ass in 2020.

State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta: Great to spend some time with President @JoeBiden in Philadelphia today. I told him this, “we have your back, because you’ve had ours.”

Democratic LGs: Lt. Gov @AustinDavisPA campaigning with President @JoeBiden in Harrisburg: “This election is about making sure we have a President who cares about each and every one of us, believes in the promise of America, and will always stand up for our fundamental rights and freedoms”

Harry Sisson: WOW! Look at the thunderous applause President Biden received before speaking at Mount Airy Church of God in Christ in Philadelphia this morning! Never let anyone tell you that people aren’t excited to reelect President Biden. Share this everywhere!

Allyson Bayless: Thunderous chants of “Four More Years!” greet @JoeBiden in Harrisburg! PA voters know what’s at stake in this election, and they’re ready to protect our democracy and freedoms this November.

Matt Viser: President Biden lingering long after putting down the microphone here in Harrisburg, Pa., removing his jacket to continue working the rope line.

Akayla Gardner: Biden makes a stop at a local coffee shop in downtown Harrisburg with @FLOTUS, @JoshShapiroPA and Mayor Wanda Williams.

On the Airwaves:

WPVI-PHI (ABC) - (TV - Philadelphia, PA):
Anchor: “President Joe Biden is back in Philadelphia at this hour speaking at a church in Mount Airy…”

President Biden: “While there are those who want to erase history, Kamala and I want to make it. Because Black history is American history.”

WCAU-PHI (NBC) - (TV - Philadelphia, PA):
Voter: “He’s put a lot of people in power, a lot of Black women in positions of leadership. My mom is a Black woman; my grandmom’s a Black woman; my daughter’s going to be a Black woman. So, I think that’s why I’m voting for him. He has a diverse cabinet. The other guy has 34 felonies. So.”

KYW-AM - (Radio - Philadelphia, PA):
President Biden: “It’s good to be home.”

Anchor: “President spoke briefly, but forcefully, from the altar of the Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ about the importance of the election.”

President Biden: “We need to protect our rights, the rights of all Americans, to make sure democracy works for you.”

Bishop Felton: “He’s a comeback kid. He’s a fighter. He’s a champion. He’s a winner.”

WPVI-PHI (ABC) - (TV - Philadelphia, PA):
Anchor: “Biden's answer is to hit the campaign trail even harder. His focus on the key battleground states like Pennsylvania. This is just one stop during a busy day of campaigning after Biden's speech is over here at the church, he plans to head to Harrisburg.”

In Print:

Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Biden returns to battleground Pennsylvania for campaign events in Philadelphia and Harrisburg
[Kim Lyons, John Cole, and Ian Karbal, 7/7/24]

Biden’s first stop on Sunday’s visit was at the Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ, a traditionally Black church in Northwest Philadelphia, where he spoke for about 10 minutes. Biden and first lady Jill Biden were originally scheduled to address the National Education Association conference in Philadelphia on Sunday, but canceled that appearance after a group of NEA workers went on strike Friday. The campaign said Biden refused to cross a picket line.

“I’ve been doing this a long time,” Biden told the congregation on Sunday in brief remarks, speaking in a quiet voice. “Honest to God, I have never been more optimistic about America’s future, if we stick together. I really mean it.” [..]

[Bishop] Felton said Biden was among family, and took some not-so-subtle jabs at former President Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee, during his remarks. [...]

Biden took selfies with some of the congregants immediately following the service, then made an unscheduled stop at the Roxborough Democratic Coordinated Campaign office in Philadelphia, speaking briefly to a gathering of supporters and volunteers ahead of canvassing efforts.

Fetterman, Dean and Parker joined him at the campaign office, which had signs on the wall with handwritten responses to the phrase “I’m onboard because.” The answers included “Inclusion and choice matters,” “Democracy is vital to our country,” and “I care about access to reproductive health,” according to the pool report. [...]

Biden next headed to Harrisburg, where union members, campaign staff and others began to arrive in the early afternoon at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employee Union event ahead of his appearance. [...]

“Biden is union,” Diaz said. “He’s always been with unions, where Trump wasn’t.”

CBS News Philadelphia: Biden says "we must unite America again" in speech at Philadelphia church before traveling to Harrisburg
[Alexandra Simon and Jessica MacAulay, 7/7/24]

President Biden said Sunday that his goal is to "unite America again" during a speech at Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ in northwest Philadelphia.

Mr. Biden's remarks came during the first of two stops of the day in Pennsylvania, a critical swing state. After speaking in Philadelphia, the president and first lady Jill Biden are headed to Harrisburg for an event at a local union hall.

"I've been doing this a long time, and I honest to God have never been more optimistic about America's future... if we stick together," the president said to the nearly 300 congregants in attendance. "We have to bring dignity and hope back in America." [...]

According to CBS News reporters inside the church, the crowd started chanting "four more years" once Mr. Biden concluded his speech and returned to his seat on the stage.

ABC News: Black churchgoers in Philadelphia come to Biden's defense amid fallout over debate performance
[Fritz Farrow, Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, and Will McDuffie, 7/7/24]

[President Biden] found safe harbor at a Black church in Philadelphia on Sunday, where the congregation came to his defense. [...]

"I've always felt the power of your faith in good times and in tough times," Biden later added of the Black church. "Fact is, the Scripture says, all things work together for good. To those who love God are in our call according to His purpose. Our purpose is to serve others." [...]

"President Biden, you are not only among friends, you're among family," [Bishop] Felton continued. "We did not come to beat up on you, to put you down, to criticize you, to magnify your flaws or mistakes. We come to love you."

New York Times: ‘Rejuvenate Him and His Spirit’: Biden Receives Warm Welcome at Philadelphia Church
[Nicholas Nehamas and Robert Jimison, 7/7/24]

On Sunday morning, Mr. Biden spoke at a Black church service in Philadelphia, seeking to reassure the group of voters who helped him win the White House in 2020 that he is still capable of beating former President Donald J. Trump.

“The joy cometh in the morning,” Mr. Biden told several hundred people at Mount Airy Church of God in Christ, a political fixture in the city often visited by Democrats. “You’ve never given up in my life. And as your president, I’ve tried to walk my faith.” [...]

“Let him know we’re with him, hallelujah,” one woman shouted out from the audience as Mr. Biden walked onstage and a choir sang.

USA Today: 'I've been doing this a long time': Joe Biden courts pivotal Pennsylvania voters after rocky debate
[David Jackson, 7/7/24]

“I’ve been doing this a long time," Biden told congregants at Mount Airy Church of God in Christ in Philadelphia. "And I honest to God have never been more optimistic about America’s future – if we stick together."

In brief remarks during a Sunday church service, the 81-year-old Biden joked about his age but did not otherwise mention calls for him to pass the torch. He also did not explicitly cite Republican opponent Donald Trump by name, but he said the presidential election is about protecting rights under threat.

"We have to bring back dignity and hope in America," Biden said.

Biden on Sunday also attended a community organizing event in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
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