DENVER—Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden arrived in downtown Denver today, introducing himself to a cheering crowd outside a downtown barbecue house and ordering five pulled-pork sandwiches—to go.
The US senator from Delaware and his wife, Jill, posed for pictures, shook hands and waved to several hundred people outside Boney’s Smokehouse on Denver’s 16th Street pedestrian mall before grabbing his sandwiches, wrapped in brown paper, and hopping back into his motorcade.
Trina Lynch, a worker at the barbecue stand, had been told to reserve five turkey legs for Biden’s visit. Biden, who skipped the usual 10-deep line at lunchtime, changed the order and added a lemonade.
“I’m an Obama supporter and, as of two days ago, a Biden supporter,” a smiling Lynch said.
Ann Stephens of St. Louis, Mo., said Biden stepped out his SUV, Secret Service security detail in tow, and headed straight for her three children—Meta, 6, Mitchell, 9, and Truman 10.
“I just watched my kids shake hands with history,” Stephens said.
Michele Bortner of York. Pa., had her picture taken with Biden.
“We consider him our third senator in Pennsylvania. He’s been good to Pennsylvania,” Bortner said. “I think he’ll be good for the Obama ticket.”
Before flying to Denver Monday, Biden made a surprise appearance at the Wilmington, Del., Amtrak station he has used for years to commute to his day job in the U.S. Senate.
“These guys have been my family,” said Biden, who has taken Amtrak during his 35 years in the Senate. After Senate sessions, Biden travels home almost every day to Wilmington on a train.
He visited the station with Jill Biden and his security detail, and he greeted vendors and travelers.
Biden did not take questions from reporters, but did respond to one about his Wednesday night Democratic convention speech, which he said “is all ready.”
Jill Biden stopped at a newsstand and grabbed Newsweek magazine with a cover photo of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and Biden, flashing it at her husband.
“Obama looks good man. Obama looks good,” Biden said.
