Upwelling of pride in Biden’s home state
By Joelle Farrell and Andrew Maykuth Even Republicans in Delaware were excited today that Sen. Barack Obama had chosen native son Joe Biden as his running mate on the Democratic ticket.
Even Republicans in Delaware were excited today that Sen. Barack Obama had chosen native son Joe Biden as his running mate on the Democratic ticket.
"We love Joe," said Terri Satterfield, 60, a registered Republican who rushed to the airport before dawn with her husband, Bob, fearing they would miss Biden's departure to join Obama in Illinois. They ended up outside Biden's house in Greenville, waiting for the senator to make a brief appearance.
"He makes you feel like he knows you and remembers you," said Satterfield, who said she had not intended to vote for Obama until he chose Biden as his vice presidential candidate.
Eric Hutts, 38, a registered Republican who typically votes along straight party lines, said he may vote for a Democratic president for the first time in his life.
"I have to respect his selection of Biden," said Hutts.
In a state with less than a million inhabitants, Obama's 3 a.m. announcement touched off an upwelling in pride in a place unaccustomed to the national limelight. It was perhaps the most exciting news in Delaware since DuPont invented nylon in 1935.
"People were calling and text-messaging throughout the night," said Theopalis K. Gregory, a Wilmington city councilman and head of the city's Democratic committee. He immediately saw the possibilities that the nation's First State might move up in status, if Biden becomes vice president.
"Our position should be seriously improved in terms of benefits for the state, especially for the city," he said.
For Wilmington residents, Biden is just a regular Joe. He likes Greek salads and orders black olives on his pizza, said Tony Matulas, 49, owner of Five Star Pizza.
"He's my best customer," said Matulas, who brought his two sons, a nephew and a niece to see Biden this morning. "He's a very nice guy and talks to everybody. It's a privilege, for us in Delaware, to have Joe Biden for vice president."
By the time Biden emerged from his home at 11:50 a.m. and a caravan of vehicles headed toward the open gate, at least 150 people lined the end of his driveway, yelling "Go Joe Go!" After stopping to kiss some of his family members and his mother, he and his wife, Jill, went to the airport and departed on a private flight to Springfield, Ill.
"It's big news for Delaware," said Beth Hutts, 28, of Wilmington, who came to Biden's house with her husband, Eric, and their three children. Their oldest, Michael, 8, held a sign that said, "Congrats Sen. Biden. Thanks for putting DE on the map!!"
At the Charcoal Pit on Route 202, a diner Biden has frequented for decades, patrons reminisced about some of their favorite encounters with the aspiring veep.
William Witsberger, 58, of Wilmington, who has worked at the diner for nearly 20 years, remembered that Biden once stayed at the diner until the early morning hours, talking to customers when the Iraq War began.
Joseph Grabowski, 56, who has managed the diner for the last 10 years, said Biden often stops in to buy butter pecan ice cream.
"He's just so down to earth and I'm really glad he got a chance to be somebody," said Grabowski.
Ben DuPont, 44, of Rockland, who was eating lunch with his son, acknowledged that Delaware is not exactly a make-or-break state in electoral politics. "I think we vote our three electoral votes with pride, but I don't think it decides any elections," he said.
Wilmington Mayor James M. Baker said that most of the nation knows Biden for his expertise on foreign affairs, Delawareans know the senator as somebody with a passion for local issues.
"Joe is extremely effective on issues like the economy, children and families and crime," Baker said in a statement. "His selection will prove to be a wise choice for the world, our country and our wonderful state of Delaware."
Not everyone was thrilled.
Christine O'Donnell, a political commentator who is the likely Republican opponent to Biden in his November bid to win re-election to a seventh term, congratulated Biden while calling for him to drop out of the U.S. Senate race. She said his appearance on the national ticket at the same time he was running for his Senate seat was an affront to Delaware voters.
Contact staff writer Andrew Maykuth at 215-854-2947 or amaykuth@phillynews.com.
