By NEIL H. SIMON, Media General News Service
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MANASSAS--At a town hall style event here, Sen. Joe Biden talked economics and health care and hammered the campaign of John McCain for suggesting the November election would not be about issues.
At George Mason University's Prince William County campus, the Democratic vice presidential candidate spoke of 400,000 students throughout the country who get admitted to universities but can't afford tuition.
"That's an issue," he said, a refrain he also used after mentioning the rising costs of gas and health care.
McCain campaign manager Rick Davis had told The Washington Post this week that the election would "not be about issues."
But Biden talked a lot about "issues," using the word at least 10 times during the 80-minute event, which featured five northern Virginians sharing their stories of battling economic woes and questions from a ticketed audience of about 200 people.
Biden was introduced by Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine, who was also once considered to be Barack Obama's running mate. Biden said Kaine immediately called to congratulate him after Obama announced his pick.
"It's an honor to have the job," said Biden, of Delaware. "Quite frankly, there's no doubt in my mind, in Virginia, it sure would have been better to have the governor on the ticket than me."
Kaine, who did not stay for the entire event, was off the stage at the time and hollered, "We love this guy though, right?" The audience cheered.
Biden's visit was his first campaign stop in Virginia. Obama has stumped four times here seeking the state's 13 electoral votes. Virginia is considered a swing state this election year, though no Democrat has won it in more than 40 years.
On a conference call from the Republican convention, former Gov. George Allen said all the Obama campaign appearances and offices established in the state won't make a difference on Election Day.
"There's no substitute for experience, ideas and solutions," Allen said. "Appearances ... are nice, but in the end Virginians will vote on issues."
McCain has held one town hall meeting at his alma mater, Episcopal High School in Alexandria, and two fundraisers in the state.
Allen said McCain's Virginia roots and military connections will provide the Navy veteran with a "distinct advantage."
In a nod to the state's importance to Republicans, the McCain campaign announced today that his vice presidential running mate Sarah Palin will make her Virginia debut Sept. 18 in Virginia Beach, Va. No additional details were released.
Obama stumped in Virginia June 5, the day after sealing the Democratic nomination. Nancy Jimenez, 20, of Woodbridge, was not sure who she would vote for in her first presidential election, but after hearing Obama in person at Nissan Pavilion that day,she signed up to volunteer for the Democratic candidate.
"I said, 'I'm going to be part of this,'" Jimenez said.
Her volunteer hours earned herself a ticket to Biden's town hall.
In front of her, Marlies Smith of Montclair, laughed at pundits who have said Obama will struggle to win female voters.
"I'm one of those supposedly, old, white-haired ladies who doesn't support Obama. It's not true," Smith said.
Biden, after joking about his long-winded nature, made two minor gaffes during the event. He referred to Republican vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Palin as "lieutenant governor" and PBS anchor Gwen Ifill as "Gwen Ikill."
Neil H. Simon can be contacted at nsimon@mediageneral.com or (202) 662-7669.
At George Mason University's Prince William County campus, the Democratic vice presidential candidate spoke of 400,000 students throughout the country who get admitted to universities but can't afford tuition.
"That's an issue," he said, a refrain he also used after mentioning the rising costs of gas and health care.
McCain campaign manager Rick Davis had told The Washington Post this week that the election would "not be about issues."
But Biden talked a lot about "issues," using the word at least 10 times during the 80-minute event, which featured five northern Virginians sharing their stories of battling economic woes and questions from a ticketed audience of about 200 people.
Biden was introduced by Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine, who was also once considered to be Barack Obama's running mate. Biden said Kaine immediately called to congratulate him after Obama announced his pick.
"It's an honor to have the job," said Biden, of Delaware. "Quite frankly, there's no doubt in my mind, in Virginia, it sure would have been better to have the governor on the ticket than me."
Kaine, who did not stay for the entire event, was off the stage at the time and hollered, "We love this guy though, right?" The audience cheered.
Biden's visit was his first campaign stop in Virginia. Obama has stumped four times here seeking the state's 13 electoral votes. Virginia is considered a swing state this election year, though no Democrat has won it in more than 40 years.
On a conference call from the Republican convention, former Gov. George Allen said all the Obama campaign appearances and offices established in the state won't make a difference on Election Day.
"There's no substitute for experience, ideas and solutions," Allen said. "Appearances ... are nice, but in the end Virginians will vote on issues."
McCain has held one town hall meeting at his alma mater, Episcopal High School in Alexandria, and two fundraisers in the state.
Allen said McCain's Virginia roots and military connections will provide the Navy veteran with a "distinct advantage."
In a nod to the state's importance to Republicans, the McCain campaign announced today that his vice presidential running mate Sarah Palin will make her Virginia debut Sept. 18 in Virginia Beach, Va. No additional details were released.
Obama stumped in Virginia June 5, the day after sealing the Democratic nomination. Nancy Jimenez, 20, of Woodbridge, was not sure who she would vote for in her first presidential election, but after hearing Obama in person at Nissan Pavilion that day,she signed up to volunteer for the Democratic candidate.
"I said, 'I'm going to be part of this,'" Jimenez said.
Her volunteer hours earned herself a ticket to Biden's town hall.
In front of her, Marlies Smith of Montclair, laughed at pundits who have said Obama will struggle to win female voters.
"I'm one of those supposedly, old, white-haired ladies who doesn't support Obama. It's not true," Smith said.
Biden, after joking about his long-winded nature, made two minor gaffes during the event. He referred to Republican vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Palin as "lieutenant governor" and PBS anchor Gwen Ifill as "Gwen Ikill."
Neil H. Simon can be contacted at nsimon@mediageneral.com or (202) 662-7669.