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{mosimage}Joe Biden? What does he know about North Carolina?
Some North Carolinians are asking this question this week as they assess Biden’s vice presidential nomination.
I have a partial answer, coming from some personal memories. You see, I am responsible, at least in part, for one of Biden’s early political visits to our state.
Back in 1986, I was the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Congress in a district that had been represented by Republicans for many years. The race was close. Lots of senators and members of Congress came to campaign with me. I loved hobnobbing with famous political personages like Jim Wright, Claude Pepper and Charles Rangel-and future presidential candidates Bill Bradley, Dick Gephardt and Gary Hart. But these visits often drove our campaign volunteers crazy trying to figure out how to readjust our campaign schedule, develop an “appropriate” program for them and gather respectable crowds to greet them.
One of these visitors was Joe Biden. His staff gave our campaign scheduler Marcia Webster only a day or two to prepare. She called some of the loyal supporters who never said “no” even to the most challenging requests.
One of these, Brenda Barger remembers that she and her husband Hugh hosted a small group at their farm near Davidson. Davidson Mayor Russell Knox and College Union Director Shaw Smith came to meet Biden and hear him tell about a run for president someday.
Amy Steele, whose ability to organize campaign operations was unexcelled, took on the task of gathering a group of supporters to meet Biden in Statesville. She got a young couple, David and Sally Parker, to host an event.
But, as Sally Parker remembers now, they had planned a trip with their children that day to Carowinds in Charlotte, leaving Amy and her crew to prepare. Sally says, “Amy had a magic wand.” When the Parkers returned and Biden arrived, their home and garden were full of fresh flowers and a big crowd.
Biden was charmed. So were the Parkers.
Later, Sally quizzed Biden about his views on capital punishment. She remembers his thoughtful listening and response to her concerns. Biden was a hit with the Parkers. A few months later, soon after the publication of a photo of Donna Rice on Gary Hart’s knee ended Hart’s presidential campaign, the Parkers ran into Biden again. “What happened to that photo?” Biden asked them, smiling but maybe just a little worried that it could be misunderstood. “Don’t worry,” the Parkers told him, “the photo did not turn out.”
The Parkers remain Biden fans to this day. David Parker is a convention “super-delegate.” He says “if it had not been for John Edwards’ candidacy, I would have supported Biden’s presidential campaign this year. And I am glad I can vote for him this week in Denver.”
Our campaign manager Henry Doss remembers Biden’s visit to campaign headquarters where Doss’s 5-year-old daughter was visiting and drawing a picture of a red dog. She told Biden a story about that dog. “For that moment,” Doss says, “he was really interested in what Elizabeth was telling him and giving her his full attention. I think one of Biden’s greatest strengths is his ability to engage from moment to moment. This builds on his authenticity. He is what he is, and that’s what makes him powerful. I’ve always been in awe of his grasp of world affairs, and his comfort level around power. But his encounter with Elizabeth illustrates his rare ability and desire to connect with people. Maybe he even learned something about the red dog.”
Great memories for me. And for Biden, some North Carolinians who remember him well.
Remembering Biden’s Early Visit to North Carolina
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