Biden tells Missourians to ‘take back this country’ days before Tuesday primary
Three days before the Missouri primary, former Vice President Joe Biden rallied more than 2,000 Kansas Citians to get out and vote on Tuesday during an appearance outside the National World War 1 Museum and Memorial. He also took on housing issues and sexism during an exclusive interview with The Star.
Missouri voters will have a clear choice of the Democratic nominee for president after several candidates dropped out after the results of Super Tuesday.
The choices: A historically diverse Democratic primary field winnowed down more than 20 candidates to two white men in their seventies who have spent decades in Washington.
When Missouri voters cast ballots Tuesday, they could have a major impact on which candidate wins the nomination. Missouri offers 68 of the 352 up for grabs that day. Five other states also have primaries.
“We’re ready to unite the country,” Biden said during his appearance. “It’s time to get up and take back this country.”
Biden, 77, was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972 and remained there until his two terms as vice president from 2009 to 2017. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, 78, was first elected to the U.S. House in 1990 before making the jump to the U.S. Senate 16 years later.
“It is possible that this could be a real nail-biter if history is any guide,” said Roy Temple, the former chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party.
Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard remains in the race, but with only 2 delegates. Biden leads Sanders 621 to 553 going into Tuesday. A candidate needs 1,991 delegates to secure the nomination.
When asked how his housing plan would protect tenants from landlords who take advantage of housing vouchers while leaving properties in disrepair, Biden said his plan will invest in housing across the board.
The Star pressed for an answer on how he would help tenants facing eviction, like the dozens of residents forced to leave Nob Hill apartments when the housing authority pulled vouchers.
“Nobody should have to pay more than 30% of their income for housing,” Biden told The Star.
During the rally, four protesters began shouting at Biden, asking him about housing. He asked them to be quiet and listen, telling them that “this is not a Trump rally.”
He offered to speak with them after the event if they would listen to them, but they continued shouting. Security walked the four out.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas has been pressing candidates on the housing issue. His office told The Star on Saturday that Biden met with Lucas before the rally, but that the mayor does not plan to make an endorsement ahead of Tuesday’s primary.
Biden also said during the interview that his plan on healthcare will first restore cuts on Obamacare. He said it will bring down drug prices, remove hidden costs and ensure no hidden bills.
Biden would preserve the Affordable Care Act, Obama’s signature policy, and build on it with a public option.
Sanders has staked his candidacy on Medicare for All, a new federally-funded health care system that would effectively replace the private insurance industry.
Biden also addressed concerns of sexism during the primary campaign.
“Sen. Sanders and I are the two guys left standing and we’re supposed to be the ones explaining the sexism that occurred,” Biden said. “I can’t make that judgment. All I know is there’s a number of very qualified women ... I guess a lot of it has to do with the moment and the nature of the campaigns.”
Dozens of Missouri Democrats endorsed Biden in the days before the election, including former Missouri governor Jay Nixon, Jackson County executive Frank White Jr., former Kansas City Mayor Sly James, as well as City Council members and state representatives.
Former Gov. Bob Holden, who spoke during Saturday’s event, encouraged supporters to get their friends to go to the polls on Tuesday. He was followed by Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, of Missouri’s 5th District, who introduced Biden.
Both had previously endorsed the candidate.
Lucinda Noches Talbert, 54, of Kansas City, Kansas, said she first registered as a Democrat to vote for former President Barack Obama. She’s voting for Biden because she likes how moderate he is.
“It’s just really important that we win,” Noches Talbert said. “We have to beat Donald Trump. That’s imperative. And I believe that Joe Biden is the candidate who could beat Donald Trump.”
Before a crowd of a hundreds in St. Louis earlier Saturday, Biden promised he would build on the legacy of “the most successful president of our lifetime, Barack Obama.”
This story was originally published March 7, 2020 at 8:40 PM.
