Presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden visits CCU

A line of few hundreds of people of various ages wrapped around the Williams-Brice Building at Coastal Carolina University, on Thursday, March 5, all in hopes of catching a glimpse of former Vice President Joe Biden.

Biden made a stop in Conway before his primary election on Saturday, March 7, ensuring he would keep his first spot in the Democratic polls for the end results of South Carolina. He had surpassed Sen. Bernie Sanders and Tom Steyer in polls during the week. At his rally, he was joined by Democratic Rep. Roger Kirby of Lake City and actress Vivica A. Fox, who both immensely conveyed their support and trust in Biden.

Biden threw some jabs at President Trump, voicing the discrepancy between he and the working class, mocking the legacy he preaches and the morals he stands for, and his relationship with Vladimir Putin. He did not waste a majority of his time on stage insulting Trump. His focus was shifted on how he would be a much better president.

“This guy is more Joe Walsh than George Washington,” said Biden.

He shared many personal stories ranging from his relationship with the Obamas, how he went from public defense lawyer to vice president, his close-knit family, and his heavy emphasis on how he is the most relatable candidate due to his middle-class status. Lowering taxes were a big part of his discussion, and how it is unfair for the middle-class to have to take out loans just to get by monthly. He showed that the hard-working people of the middle class do not go unseen.

“Ordinary, hard-working people built America,” said Biden.

He also touched upon the subject of wanting to make community colleges free, throwing in statistics that the average American carries 75 thousand dollars of debt on their back from private colleges, and 30 thousand from public. He spoke of his own personal struggles with debt, having to take out three mortgages on his home, just to send his own children to private universities.

Diversity was one of his main topics, and spoke his beliefs upon equal minority rights, and how everyone should be entitled to healthcare, no matter where they come from.

“If you give people a chance no matter what their background, they will do well,” said Biden.

During his question and answer session with the crowd, questions of women’s rights were brought up, and he told statistics relevant to college culture. He discussed how one out of every four women will experience sexual assault in college, and how men need to start using their voice if they are aware of a situation. He stressed that safety and change does not come with silence. He showed full moral support that all men and women are equal. He talked about what it is like for women in other countries, and how they look up to the U.S. for guidance with women’s advantages.

“No country can succeed economically in the 20th century by continuing to keep women behind,” said Biden.

Another controversial topic discussed was gun laws. He voiced his opinions on how they should be banned and are a threat to human nature and advocated for universal background checks, so guns don’t end up in the wrong hands. This would be the largest change to American gun laws in over two decades, if passed.