OH-16: John Boccieri, Ted Strickland and Joe Biden Move The H.O.F.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Senator Joe Biden made a campaign stop at the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Thursday morning, addressing an estimated outdoor crowd of 2,500.

After an hour long tour of the Hall of Fame, Gov. Ted Strickland and state Sen. John Boccieri, D-Alliance, who is running for Congress, introduced him to the crowd.

With the three of them locking hands in a victory pose, Strickland called Boccieri one of his "closest personal friends."

Boccieri, D-Alliance, told the audience:

''It is time we elect change. That is why we need Barack Obama and Joe Biden.''

Boccieri added:

"Joe Biden is from a middle-class family and is a tough, smart and realistic leader."

Biden, spoke for about 32 minutes, and tied Republican presidential nominee John McCain to the current president.

"Well, we know how that story ended. Eight straight years of trouble. Eight months of unemployment rising every month. Nearly 46 million people in America without health insurance. Foreclosures skyrocketing more than anytime since the Great Depression."

"John McCain stands alone in saying the economy is strong. "He is totally out of touch with the problems of average people."

He recalled getting knocked out when he played football as a fourth-grader. He said his father told him:

"If nothing is broken, get up. It's time for America to get up!"

Biden briefly paused during his remarks as a person in the audience held up a sign that read, "Abstinence Only is Phony Baloney."

He asked security not to take the sign, adding, "I happen to agree," and told the sign-holder they'd talk later.

Biden said he and Obama would create 2 million jobs by rebuilding America's infrastructure and another 5 million jobs by investing in green technology, including solar and wind.

Dennis Brommer, a subdirector for the United Steelworkers District 2 based in Canton, said Biden has been a strong supporter of labor.

He said Biden is a "middle class guy who understands the problems of the middle class."