Ted Kennedy stumped for Obama during York County visit in 2008
U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy arrived in York, Pa., on April 20, 2008, to meet local Democrats. He died early today. (See additional photos, video of that visit below.) Background posts: Bobby Kennedy spoke to Foremen’s Club in York about labor racketeering and York, Pa.’s Loretta Claiborne about friend Eunice Shriver: ‘She could have gone anywhere, but she wanted to help humanity’ and JFK’s visit to York County a long-remembered event.
Ted Kennedy came to York on a rainy Sunday in April 2008 during the height of the race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.
He visited Obama headquarters, his choice of the pair. He later walked across West Market Street to the York County Democratic Party’s campaign office.
“Not only the eyes of Pennsylvania, but the eyes of the country, of the world, are going to be on what you do in Pennsylvania,” Kennedy told a gathering at Obama’s headquarters.
Here is the York Daily Record/Sunday News story on that visit (04/21/08):
U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., arrived in York, Pa., with a message on Sunday — one that explained his own presence in a cramped office back room off West Market Street.
“Not only the eyes of Pennsylvania, but the eyes of the country, of the world, are going to be on what you do in Pennsylvania,” Kennedy told a group of about 70 people.
At a little after 2 p.m., he stopped by the local Barack Obama headquarters. Kennedy has been an open supporter of Obama’s presidential candidacy.
The group waiting to see him included both Obama campaign volunteers, and others who were simply curious to see Kennedy after hearing or reading of his impending visit.
Upon entering the room, Kennedy announced two pieces of what he described as “good news.” In nine months, he said, President Bush will be out of office, and Barack Obama will be president.
But he made it clear that the latter part of his prediction depends on the actions of campaign volunteers before Tuesday’s primary. He urged them to do whatever they can in the way of canvassing, and to be sure to go out and vote Tuesday.
“The campaign is really all up to you,” Kennedy said. “The hours are moving on.”
– York Daily Record photos/video by Paul Kuehnel