In Scranton, college students give high marks to Biden's first campaign speech

While Biden gave his first campaign speech in Pittsburgh on Monday, across the state in Scranton — where he was born and lived until age 10 — five undergraduates at the University of Scranton watched from a conference room. By and large, the students defied Biden’s low polling with voters their age — and at least one skeptic had a change of heart during the course of his speech.

As they watched, the students wrote down comments about a man as old as their grandparents, who repeatedly mentioned the city of his birth to invoke working class roots. All of the students were from the Scranton area, and some were from backgrounds similar to Biden’s and working to pay for college.

The students were: Alexa Anzulewicz, a health administration major; Christina Brannon, a journalism student; Conor Nealon, a political science-strategic communications double major; Simon Peter, a political science major; and Grace Seechock, a political science major.

Biden began by thanking a long list of union officials. “I make no apologies: I am a union man,” he said. He continued:

“Let me tell you why I chose Pittsburgh to begin this effort. I believe that Pittsburgh and my native town of Scranton and my hometown of Wilmington and Claymont, they represent the cities and towns made up of hardworking, middle-class Americans who are the backbone of this nation. That’s no hyperbole. The backbone of this nation.”

Christina Brannon: He came out to Bruce Springsteen, he knows union leaders by their first name, he shouts out Scranton immediately, and he presents himself as a family man by having his wife speak. He portrays himself as the optimal blend of traditional and progressive.

Alexa Anzulewicz: As a Democrat from Scranton, I feel somewhat connected to Biden’s purpose. My mother is currently part of a union. While I think Biden is a great candidate with a great purpose, I just feel that he is too old. I do not want to have to worry about if my president will suffer from senility or be too sick to step up for our country.

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“All my time in public life since I’ve gotten involved I’ve been referred to as ‘middle-class Joe.’ It’s not always meant as a compliment. It’s usually that I’m not sophisticated. But the fact of the matter is I am awfully sophisticated about why, how and who built this country. Let me say this simply and clearly, and I mean this: The country wasn’t built by Wall Street bankers, CEOs and hedge fund managers. It was built by you, it was built by the great American middle class. And the American middle class was built by unions.”

Grace Seechock: “Middle-class Joe” is relating to the middle class and blue-collar workers, saying that the middle-class is what built this country. He is definitely trying to gain their vote with his message. Trying to take votes away from President Donald Trump.

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“Being middle class is not a number, it’s a value set … It’s being able to own your own home and not just have to rent it. It’s being able to send your kid to a good school, if they do well and go beyond high school, to trade school or college or beyond. It’s being able to take care of your geriatric mom when your dad passes, and hope your children never have to take care of you because you’ve earned a solid and decent retirement. That’s middle class. That’s not asking a lot.”

Simon Peter: As the “We Want Joe” chants roared in the hall, all I could think about is my family. My grandfather worked many years on the railroads in Northeast Pennsylvania. My mother is a retired postal worker and my father is a retired teacher, who was also a member of the local teachers’ union. The blue-collar mentality, just like Biden, is in my blood. My grandparents and parents worked hard for countless years so that I did not have any worries growing up. Their work ethic serves as my inspiration.

Christina Brannon: The language choice he uses is very colloquial. He’s not using lofty words or proclaiming lofty ideals. He’s talking like your uncle would at a family party, an average blue-collar man.

— — —

“All across America, communities are hurting, with too many people left out or left behind. Our political system is broken; we’re tearing America apart instead of lifting it up. The major moral obligation of our time is to restore, rebuild and protect the backbone of America — the middle class.”

Conor Nealon: I love Biden’s confidence. He is giving a powerful general election message. He is going straight for the president.

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An emotional high point of Biden’s speech was a story he told about being in high school and seeing his father, distraught at his office.

“I thought, My god, did something happen to Mom or my brothers or sister ... I said, ‘What’s the matter, Dad?’ He said, ‘I went to the bank today to try to borrow money to help you get to school, but they won’t lend it to me. I’m so ashamed.’ How many people in America today are in that situation — hardworking, decent people who (struggle) because the cost of education has skyrocketed so badly and access is so difficult?”

Christina Brannon: Biden’s story about his “gentle and decent” father who was ashamed about not being able to afford his education is one that can pull on pretty much every blue-collar American’s heartstrings.

— — —

“Speaking of overtime, it’s well past time that the minimum wage nationally should be a minimum of $15. It’s time to start rewarding work over wealth. The first step is to reverse President Trump’s tax cuts for the very wealthy and corporations.”

Grace Seechock: I really enjoyed his comment about the minimum wage. I currently work two jobs where I make just above the minimum wage. For many college students who work minimum-wage jobs, a rise in the national minimum wage would help with expenses that are left to college students.

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“It means rebuilding America clean — renewable energy, cleaner safer faster transportation, which will not only make us safer, will make our communities (safer) for our children, but will provide millions of good paying, middle-class jobs.”

Grace Seechock: One sentence on climate change is not enough, especially in our current political climate, where climate change is a huge issue. He should have mentioned the Green New Deal.

— — —

“The only thing that stands in our way is our broken political system that’s deliberately being undermined by our president to continue to abuse the power of the office. Donald Trump is the only president who’s decided not to represent the whole country. The president has his base. We need a president who works for all Americans.”

Alexa Anzulewicz: I was surprised at how energetic and spry Joe Biden appears. Had I not known he was 76, I would have though him to be in his late 50s. Initially, I was doubtful that an older adult would be a good fit for president, but after seeing how well Joe Biden spoke and how he appeared, I have a change of heart.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.