Published: August 25, 2008 11:38 pm      

Biden will bring healing, Greenup Democrat says

BELLEFONTE — A few minutes with Joe Biden two years ago was enough to convince Carol Allen that he cares about the same things she does.

Biden, announced Saturday as presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama’s running mate, came to Greenup County in October 2006 to stump for Allen in her state senate bid.

“I was able to have some one on one time with him,” Allen said Monday. “He was not typical of politicians who have been in Washington so long they’ve lost touch with the grass roots.”

Biden was eager to hear about the issues important to rural Kentuckians, such as health care and the economy, she said.

Allen’s meeting with Biden came at the Greenup County Fairgrounds when she was running for the state senate in the 18th district. Allen, the widow of long-time state senator Nelson Allen, lost the race.

Biden was among the early field of Democratic primary candidates in this year’s presidential contest.

Allen believes the Delaware senator will be able to help bind a party bruised in the primary fight between Obama and Hillary Clinton.

“I feel it will be a healing situation for many who wanted Hillary Clinton,” she said.

A talk she had recently with a group of Democratic women suggested to her that some remain uncomfortable with Obama. Some Democrats are saying they won’t vote for him. The choice of Biden as vice-presidential candidate may change their minds, she believes.

Greenup Democratic chairwoman Hattie Zabrieszack thinks so too. “Who wasn’t a supporter of Hillary Clinton?” Zabrieszack said. Biden will help Obama win over her supporters, especially rural voters and older women. “Biden will make a difference. He did with me,” she said.

Zabrieszack and Allen said Biden’s years in the Senate and work on the foreign relations committee will balance the Democratic ticket.