Biden visit stirs pro, con sentiments among Westmoreland residents

Former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign swing through Westmoreland County this week elicited strong opinions from local residents — both those who want to see a change in the White House and others who want President Donald Trump to get four more years.

Jeff Leonard came to Biden’s last stop in the county Wednesday at the Latrobe train station, waving a U.S. flag on an oversized pole. The patriotic display made the Latrobe resident stand out in the crowd of fellow Biden supporters along Ligonier Street.

Leonard said he believes Biden has “solid morals. We just don’t have that in the White House now.” He also charged that Trump is “only interested in himself.”

Republicans don’t have a monopoly on patriotism, Leonard said. Members of his Democratic Party will “make the sacrifices to make this country good. We are just as patriotic,” he said.

On hand earlier, when Biden and his wife, Jill, arrived at Greensburg’s train station, Biden supporter Lisa Matri displayed a sign equating patriotism with “paying your real taxes, promoting social justice, honoring those who serve, respecting others.”

The Murrysville resident accused Trump of “using our tax dollars for his own agenda. We need someone in office who’s going to help America.”

Latrobe resident Pam Myers attended Trump’s recent rally at the nearby Arnold Palmer Regional Airport and wasn’t interested in Biden’s visit.

She believes the former vice president “has no clue what’s going on.”

She shared her contrasting view of Trump: “Everything he’s promised, he’s completed and done — other than what the Democratic Party won’t let him.”

Spouses Scott and Suzanne Cole, of Unity, said they likely will cancel each other out with their presidential votes this year.

Both agreed they don’t like Trump’s behavior. “He’s such a bully,” Suzanne Cole said, adding, “He scares me.”

But Scott Cole indicated he probably will vote to keep the president in office for another four years because he likes some of his policies, “trying to cut back on the regulations.”

He doesn’t have any reservations about Trump promoting a conservative nominee — Judge Amy Coney Barrett — for the Supreme Court, rather than waiting and allowing the nomination to be made by whomever wins the election.

“If it were the other way around, the Democrats would do the same thing,” he said.

Annie Smith, a mental health worker who lives in Latrobe, said she usually votes for Green Party candidates. Since that party’s presidential hopeful was removed from the ballot in Pennsylvania, Smith said she’s leaning toward Trump but remains undecided.

“I think whoever is more for the people is who I would vote for,” she said, “who’s going to actually hold to what they say and follow through.”

Tuesday’s often-chaotic televised debate between Trump and Biden didn’t help her to decide. “It seemed like two kids arguing,” she said.

Jason Williams of South Greensburg was in Latrobe on Wednesday and expressed interest in staying for Biden’s visit, although he said he intends to vote for Trump.

Williams said his personal fortunes have grown during Trump’s presidency: “What I like is my 401(k) is soaring.”

Regardless of which candidate wins, Williams sees their separate visits as a boon for the Latrobe area.

“It’s always good to have a political figure or a celebrity come to town,” he said. “It’s always going to bring business and money and support to your local town.”