About 500 welcome VP Biden

Joe Biden Visits Valley

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Vice President Joe Biden stopped in the Valley today to campaign for Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland. He stopped at the Golden Dawn in Youngstown and Astro Shapes in Struthers.

STRUTHERS — About 500 people showed up at Astro Shapes here to welcome Vice President Joe Biden, who is spending the day in the Mahoning Valley drumming up support and money for the re-election campaign of Gov. Ted Strickland.

A Norfolk & Southern train was stuck on State Street for 25 minutes, stopping traffic to the plant.

Biden’s day in the area started with a visit to the Golden Dawn Restaurant on Youngstown’s North Side. He broke bread with Strickland at the historic diner shortly after noon. About 75 people were in attendance.

Six people, invited by the Mahoning County Democratic Party, spoke with Biden about various issues including health care, manufacturing and the concerns of senior citizens.

Biden and Strickland, both Democrats, then traveled to the rally at Astro Shapes. Yvette McGee Brown, Strickland’s lieutenant-governor running mate, also was at the rally.

Biden will later attend a fundraiser for Strickland at the Canfield home of Bruce and Rori Zoldan.

The goal is to raise $150,000 to $200,000 for Strickland’s campaign. Zoldan is owner of B.J. Alan Fireworks and Phantoms Fireworks companies.

Most polls show Strickland in a tight race with Republican John Kasich for the gubernatorial seat.

This is Biden’s first visit to the Valley as vice president. He visited the area three times while running in 2008.

For more updates, check out Vindy.com throughout the day. Read the complete account of the vice president's visit in Tuesday's Vindicator