Sen. Casey casts Pennsylvania’s DNC roll call votes outside Biden's childhood home

SCRANTON — Standing in front of Joe Biden’s childhood home late Tuesday night, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey reflected on the Scranton native’s local upbringing before nominating him to be the country’s next president.

“Pennsylvania casts 34 votes for Sen. Bernie Sanders and 175 votes for the next president of the United States, Scranton’s own, Joe Biden,” Casey said.

Casey participated in the Democratic National Convention’s “Roll Call Across America” — a reimagined roll call process to make Biden the party’s official nominee, according to a convention press release. He joined individuals from 57 states and territories for the virtual, televised roll call.

The senator and fellow Scranton native described an exchange between Biden and his father inside the home on N. Washington Ave.

Joseph R. Biden Sr. sat down on his son’s bed in their Scranton home, telling him he’d lost his job, Casey said.

“It’s a moment that’s stayed with Joe his entire life,” he said.

Working families across the country are experiencing the same fear and uncertainty, Casey said.

“But Joe Biden has a plan to help them, and to help our country ‘Build Back Better,’ creating millions of good-paying jobs so more parents will be able to tell their kids what Joe’s dad said to him all those years ago, ‘It’s gonna be OK,’” he said.

Although she could not attend the roll call, Democratic Party national committeewoman and Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds Evie Rafalko McNulty expressed optimism over both the nomination and Biden and Casey’s local ties. It’s sentimental, she said.

“We’re talking about homegrown guys doing this on the national stage,” she said.

Biden will accept the party’s nomination Thursday.