Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden boarded a train from the Downtown Cleveland lakefront Wednesday morning headed for Pennsylvania, with a stop in Alliance, Ohio.
He spent the previous night in Northeast Ohio , then joined his wife Jill at a morning campaign rally by the Amtrak station.
In a speech meant to appeal to 鈥渨orking people,鈥� Biden criticized President Donald Trump for the closure of the General Motors plant in Lordstown and said the president lied to autoworkers in the Mahoning Valley.
鈥淵ou remember what he said? He said, 鈥楧on鈥檛 move,鈥欌�� Biden reminded the crowd about Trump鈥檚 2017 rally in Youngstown. 鈥溾�楧on鈥檛 sell your house because no Ohio factory will shut down in Donald Trump鈥檚 America.鈥欌��
The , and GM laid off some 1,500 workers.
Biden asked the crowd of about two dozen supporters gathered along the train tracks whether they believed the president understands the problems they鈥檙e facing.
鈥淒oes he care? Does he try to walk in your shoes to understand what鈥檚 going on in your life?鈥� he asked. 鈥淥r does he just ignore you and all the folks all over America who are in a similar situation?鈥�
Biden delivered a stump speech at the Amtrak station in Cleveland before boarding the train headed for Alliance. [Gayle Putrich / ideastream]
He continued his theme, pointing to detailing that Trump paid $750 in income taxes in 2016 and 2017 and alleging the president referred to members of the U.S. military as 鈥渟uckers.鈥�
鈥淗e doesn鈥檛 pay his fair share in taxes. He says that makes him smart,鈥� Biden said. 鈥淲hat does that make you, make me, and millions of hard working Americans 鈥� decent people who pay the taxes? Are we the suckers? Are we stupid because we go by the rules?鈥�
Trump has denied making such statements about veterans. During Tuesday night鈥檚 debate, in response to a question from moderator Chris Wallace, Trump said he had paid millions in taxes but did not confirm the specifics of his income tax payment.
Biden cast the election as a referendum on values 鈥� Cleveland values versus Park Avenue values, he said Wednesday morning.
鈥淏ut it鈥檚 also about something deeper,鈥� he continued. 鈥淐an these parents look their kids in the eye and say, 鈥楬oney, everything鈥檚 going to be OK.鈥欌��
Biden and his wife Jill wave to supporters standing on an overpass above the train station. [Gayle Putrich / ideastream]
At a stop in Alliance, Biden responded to questions about Tuesday night鈥檚 debate, saying he would tell the Proud Boys to 鈥渃ease and desist鈥� in contrast to the president鈥檚 call for them to 鈥渟tand by.鈥� The Proud Boys have been identified as a .
Biden also said he hopes the Commission on Presidential Debates will limit interruptions to candidate answers in the remaining two debates. The commission Wednesday issued a statement saying it was .
After Ohio, Biden鈥檚 whistle-stop tour rolls through Pennsylvania, with visits to Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Latrobe and Johnstown.
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