Biden: We need Pennsylvania
2008-08-28 20:08
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President-elect Barack Obama's incoming administration could include Republicans, or even some members of the current Cabinet, a top transition aide says.
Denver - Vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden told Pennsylvania delegates on Thursday that running mate Barack Obama can't win the White House without the swing state.
"This is not hyperbole: We cannot win without Pennsylvania," Biden said at a breakfast.
Obama hopes Biden's working-class appeal will let him avoid a repeat of his Pennsylvania primary loss.
Biden, who spent part of his youth in Scranton, Pennsylvania, often uses a 'just-folks' speaking style that appeals to white, working-class voters - a group that Obama has struggled to persuade.
During his contentious primary campaigns against one-time rival Hillary Clinton, Obama consistently failed to win over that voting bloc, which he must connect with if he wants to win the White House race.
Polling in Pennsylvania shows that the race between Obama and McCain is a close one. A Quinnipiac University poll conducted last week showed Obama with a 7% lead over McCain, but neither reached more than 50%.
Obama's 49% support is likely to increase after a week of nonstop coverage of the Democratic National Convention here.
Biden's popularity in Pennsylvania also will not hurt.
He has worked with Pennsylvania political leaders throughout his 26-year career in the Senate, so much so that he's often referred to as Pennsylvania's Third Senator.
- AP