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Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden started and ended on Election Day in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. On the southern periphery, next to the city’s baseball stadium, a stage has been built. This is where Biden during the afternoon or evening can come talk to the American people.
The stadium is a 15-minute drive from Joe Biden’s residence in the thriving and lush Greenville district. When DN visits the area hours before the polling stations close, the police have blocked the road leading to the presidential candidate’s residence. Only residents with permission can pass.
Joe Biden lived during his formative years in Claymont, north of Wilmington. At the Claymont Steak Shop restaurant located in the area, there are photographs of the roads from when Biden was visiting.
Photo: Eva Tedesjö
In Greenville, people are certainly used to a big security operation. During Joe Biden’s eight years as vice president, Secret Service personnel often moved here in Greenville or lived in some of the houses nearby. Everyone here also knows that the police presence will increase even more if their neighbor is elected president.
Jeannine Caporaso bor a few hundred yards from Biden and goes for a walk with his daughter Dana Teoli, his granddaughter Emilia Paloni and their dog Gracie. Jeannine Caporaso will vote later in the day, but has not yet decided who will get her vote. He is from the same church as Biden and has met him there, but sees him as a “career politician” who has been in Washington for too long.
– I really don’t know who to vote for … There are parts that I like and I don’t like about both. The state of the country has changed dramatically in the last four years. There is so much hatred on both sides, says Jeannine Caporaso.
Jeannine Caporaso is walking through Greenville with her dog Gracie and her granddaughter Emilia Paloni. Jeannine Caporaso has perceived that Biden wants to reduce financial support to the police. “Why should I do that? You see a will that protects here,” says Jeannine Caporaso.
Photo: Eva Tedesjö
He takes us to the family home. There are Halloween pumpkins on the stairs and in the house next door, her husband Al Caporaso has put up a sign with the text “What an army. Beat the navy ”. It’s an inside joke with neighbor Larry Kiss, whose son was recently in the Navy. Al Caporaso himself graduated from West Point, the Army Officers’ College.
Al Caporaso has lived here in Greenville for 37 years. He is registered as an independent voter and dares not say whether Trump or Biden can get his vote. You will probably decide when you will be at the polling station later today. He doesn’t like Trump and in 2016 he voted for Hillary Clinton. But she finds it hard to believe that Biden, who is a devout Catholic, is in favor of free abortion.
– I wrote you a letter about it a long time ago, but got no response. I think his opinion on that issue is just because he wants more votes. You must fight with your own conscience. Many Catholics I know have a problem with this, even though they believe in a liberal policy, says Al Caporaso.
Larry Kiss voted for Joe Biden a few weeks ago, but neighbors Jeannine Caporaso and Al Caporaso have yet to make up their minds. They all live a few hundred yards from Joe Biden’s residence.
Photo: Eva Tedesjö
He and neighbor Larry Kiss also see that Joe Biden has strengths as a politician. They believe that he, as president, could benefit from his ability to work across partisan lines. Perhaps, says Al Caporaso, he can help heal American society. Greenville is usually quiet, but even here the hatred shows.
– I think they have reinforced security in the area because they are afraid of riots here, says Al Caporaso.
– Must have moved Trump supporters in the area. But I haven’t seen any, says Larry Kiss.
– Yes, you can hear them. They walk by and honk, says Al Caporaso, pointing to the road that runs past Biden’s house.
Biden voter Tim Brandau orders pepperoni pizza from Gianni Esposito. Earlier in the day, he knocked on the door to mobilize voters in Pennsylvania.
Photo: Eva Tedesjö
Wilmington People, which has just over 70,000 inhabitants, describes it as a city where everyone is connected in some way to each other. This also applies to Joe Biden. Gianni’s Pizza is not far from Greenville and when Biden was a senator he used to come here to eat. Later, home delivery was arranged. Biden generally chooses pepperoni pizza or a “chicken fillet with cheese,” says owner Gianni Esposito.
– If he is elected president, we will never see him again! It will only be a big problem if you want to come here. The secret service will shut out all the other guests, says Gianni Esposito.
Colleagues certify that Gianni Esposito will celebrate with champagne if Joe Biden wins the election, but he himself looks forward to the end of the campaign more.
– We’ve talked a lot about “Trump or Biden”. Hope we can move on soon. The country needs it, for the good of the economy and to deal with the pandemic.
Anne Pfister has sat at a table in Giannis. She describes the situation in the United States as depressing: “But it is encouraging that so many people have voted this year,” she says.
Photo: Eva Tedesjö
Joe Biden has in his hometown He was also presented with the full name of the train station. From here, Amtrak trains run regularly to and from Washington, DC, a distance that Biden has traveled thousands of times. His love of the state rail company has earned him the nickname “Amtrak Joe.”
Inside the station this election day is driver Wilson Johnson, who will soon begin his work shift. In service, he has had Joe Biden as a customer many times.
– Always take the train. He usually relaxes while traveling and talks to us. I like him, he’s a nice guy, says Wilson Johnson.
In the afternoon, you will work in the first class carriage en route to Washington DC.
– Now it depends on the people. They must vote now and whatever the outcome, we must accept it. We have to make the most of the situation, says Wilson Johnson.
