President Biden campaigns for Harris in Scranton

Geraldine Gibbons, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.
·5 min read

SCRANTON – President Joe Biden returned to his hometown Saturday to make for a final campaign stop in support of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate.

Speaking at the Carpenters Local Union 445 on Pear Street in South Scranton, across town from his boyhood home on North Washington Avenue in Green Ridge, Biden emphasized the importance of reward for hard work and support for the middle class.

“Unions built the middle class,” he said. “There are politicians who have a hard time saying, ‘unions’ but I’m not one of them and neither is Kamala.”

Biden, who has famously and often referenced his early upbringing in Scranton, introduced his granddaughter Natalie Biden, the daughter of Biden’s late son, Beau. When Natalie learned her grandfather was coming to Scranton, she asked to come with him, and he was more than happy to bring her along, Biden said.

Frank C. Lauri

A member of the U.S. Secret Service Counter Sniper Team climbs a ladder onto the roof of the Carpenters Local Union 445 building in Scranton before an event with President Joe Biden on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer)

CHRISTOPHER DOLAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Kids listen to President Joe Biden speak at the Carpenters Local Union 445 in Scranton on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer)

Kathleen Batten

U.S. Secret Service walk past signs in support of President Joe Biden before an event with the president at the Carpenters Local Union 445 building in Scranton on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer)A member of the U.S. Secret Service Counter Sniper Team climbs a ladder onto the roof of the Carpenters Local Union 445 building in Scranton before an event with President Joe Biden on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer)

Kathleen Batten

Union workers wear bright green shirts as they arrive for an event with President Joe Biden at the Carpenters Local Union 445 in Scranton on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer)

Jack Dempsey

President Joe Biden greets union workers after speaking at the Carpenters Local Union 445 in Scranton on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer)President Joe Biden greets union workers after speaking at the Carpenters Local Union 445 in Scranton on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer)

CHRISTOPHER DOLAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

President Joe Biden speaks to union workers at the Carpenters Local Union 445 in Scranton on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer)

Kathleen Batten

President Joe Biden greets union workers after speaking at the Carpenters Local Union 445 in Scranton on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer)

CHRISTOPHER DOLAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER,

President Joe Biden shakes hands with United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America general president Doug McCarron during an event at the Carpenters Local Union 445 in Scranton on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer)President Joe Biden speaks to union workers at the Carpenters Local Union 445 in Scranton on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer)

CHRISTOPHER DOLAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

President Joe Biden speaks to union workers at the Carpenters Local Union 445 in Scranton on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer)President Joe Biden walks onto the stage before speaking to union workers at the Carpenters Local Union 445 in Scranton on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer)Union workers wear bright green shirts as they arrive for an event with President Joe Biden at the Carpenters Local Union 445 in Scranton on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer)

Kathleen Batten

President Joe Biden speaks to union workers at the Carpenters Local Union 445 in Scranton on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer)President Joe Biden greets union workers after speaking at the Carpenters Local Union 445 in Scranton on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer)

Times-Tribune FILE

President Joe Biden hugs his granddaughter, Natalie Biden, during an event at the Carpenters Local Union 445 in Scranton on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer)

Rebecca Blackwell

President Joe Biden speaks to union workers at the Carpenters Local Union 445 in Scranton on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer)

Biden told more than a hundred union workers from several states Scranton was more than just a place, but a reflection of the family values and traditions that built the country.

“Families stuck together, we looked out for each other,” he said.

He encouraged voters to stay strong during the three days leading up to the election and to encourage others to vote for Harris, who he said will maintain social security benefits, Affordable Care Act protections and avoid tax cuts for the rich.

Billionaires, he said, only pay 8.2% of their income in taxes.

“(Republican Candidate Donald) Trump thinks tax cuts for the rich are more important than social security,” he said.

Biden asked attendees to continue the work he did in his four years as president and vote for Harris, who he handpicked as his vice president.

“The choice couldn’t be any clearer,” he said.

Biden pointedly avoided personal attacks Trump and the Republican party, instead repeating several times he was simply against Trump’s policies, which he didn’t think were in the best interest of the country.

“Workers should get a fair shot, that’s all, a decent chance to get a good education, to have health care so they can sleep at night,” he said.

Douglas McCarron, General President United Brotherhood of Carpenters, said it was the grit and spirit of workers who made Scranton great, rather than “Dunder Muffin.”

“Scranton gets knocked down, but not knocked out,” he said.

McCarron said it was Biden’s third visit to the carpenters union hall, once during his 2020 campaign and twice as President.

Following the Pear Street visit, Biden stopped at the AFSCME union hall in Dunmore, where he again voiced support for Harris.

Many of those attending said it was likely Biden’s last visit to Scranton during his presidency. Most recently, Biden visited the area in September for the funeral of his childhood friend, Thomas Bell.

A contingent of local elected officials were in the audience, including Scranton Mayor Paige G. Cognetti.