More Than 1,000 Gather to Hear Biden at Penn State

UPDATED @ 7:37 a.m. Wednesday: A far more thorough news report from Tuesday’s Democratic rally, including a colorful photo gallery, is now posted on StateCollege.com. It’s available right here.

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Well more than 1,000 people turned out Tuesday to hear Vice President Joe Biden make a case for Democratic candidates in the Nov. 2 elections.

The crowd exceeded the 1,000-person capacity of Alumni Hall at the HUB-Robeson Center, the Penn State venue where Biden spoke for 43 minutes. A number of attendees — estimated in the hundreds — were redirected into an overflow space nearby, where a television was set up.

Invoking forceful tones and personal themes, the vice president drew stark comparisons between Republican and Democratic candidates in the mid-term elections. He touted what he termed the success of the federal stimulus efforts. And he said the Obama administration has effectively helped to reverse an economic downturn that it inherited from the Bush White House era.

‘We’ve done everything we possibly can thus far, keeping our eye on that ball,’ Biden said. He said the federal stimulus effort created as many as three million to 3.5 million jobs; without it, he went on, the national unemployment rate would be two percentage points higher than it is now.

Biden also underscored the Obama White House’s efforts in regulating Wall Street, growing Pell Grants and encouraging the development of alternative energy — among other policy priorities.

‘I’m proud that we’re able to lead the way,’ Biden said. ‘ … We still have a long, long way to go.’

Biden was introduced by Penn State College Democrats President Rob Ghormoz. Just before Ghormoz spoke, university assistant football Coach Jay Paterno addressed the crowd for several minutes.

Paterno said the U.S. can be only as happy as its most unhappy child. He lamented the ‘dark hours’ when parents are awake at night, wondering how they’ll be able to make ends meet.

‘I was born to visionary parents,’ said Paterno, a son of Joe and Sue Paterno. ‘I grew up in a home that taught unity, tolerance, acceptance and a belief in the dignity of all humanity. …

‘Every child who goes to bed hungry for want of food, education or health care is a reflection on us all,’ he said.

StateCollege.com will post more thorough coverage of Tuesday’s political events later this evening. Meanwhile, check out our live Tweets — posted from the HUB — to get a sense of how the afternoon unfolded.

Earlier coverage

• Jay Paterno to Join Biden at PSU Democratic Rally (Sept. 28, 2010)

• PSU Students Plan Protest to Counter Biden Appearance (Sept. 27, 2010)