Joe Biden Talks Race, SCOTUS, Green New Deal In Philly Town Hall

Reporting by The Associated Press:

PHILADELPHIA — Former Vice President Joe Biden fielded a slew of questions from voters at a town hall event Thursday night in Philadelphia as he vies for the presidency.

The town hall, held by ABC News with George Stephanopoulos hosting the event, took place in the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

The former vice president, who struggled growing up with a stutter, stuttered slightly at the start of the show and at one point squeezed his eyes shut and slowed down his response to clearly enunciate his words.

One of the first notable moments in the town hall was regarding the coronavirus and a potential vaccine.

Biden spoke about a possible vaccine mandate, saying it would be difficult to enforce and didn't commit to a mandate when a vaccine is available.

He also denounced the White House's handling of the virus that has claimed more than 215,000 American lives, declaring that it was at fault for closing a pandemic response office established by the Obama administration.

Biden, who in May said "if you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black," addressed a question about why Black American should vote for him.

He gave a five-minute answer that called for a more "fair" and "more decent" criminal justice system before moving on to an assortment of economic and educational policies.

When asked about the 1994 crime bill, which he helped author, he admitted it was a mistake.

He also proposed adding $70 billion to historically Black colleges and universities.

Biden later went on to say President Donanld Trump has not been “chastened” by the claims of racial injustice that have marked his presidency.

“People need hope," he said. "We’re a diverse country. And unless we are able to treat people equally, we’re never going to reach our potential."

Biden touched on another hot topic as Judge Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court nomination hearings are underway: "court packing."

Biden repeated Thursday that he’s "not a fan" of so-called court packing. But he also said he believes Republicans are violating the spirit of the Constitution with a confirmation process while people are already voting in the presidential election.

He said he is willing to take a position before Election Day on the idea of expanding the Supreme Court “depending on how” Republicans handle Barrett’s nomination.

The Green New Deal was brought up during the town hall, and Biden's answer regarding it likely had progressives scoffing.

He pointed to a piece of the deal that calls for 100% renewable and zero-emission energy sources by 2030. Biden says that “you can’t get there” and that the country needs more time to invest in technologies that will eventually lead to net-zero emissions.

He’s detailing his own climate plan that includes ending subsidies and tax breaks for oil companies, putting more land into conservation, planting more trees and plants to absorb carbon from the air and even finding more creative ways to use animal manure. Biden also says the country needs to ramp up its efforts around expanded use of electric vehicles.

Biden also got the name of the Green New Deal wrong, calling it the "New Green Deal."

Regarding the transgender community, Biden came out strong in support of the community and called for stronger protections for them.

He said he would reverse Trump’s moves to revoke protections for transgender people against sex discrimination in health care and restrict military service by transgender men and women. He also condemned violence against transgender women of color.

He told an anecdote about his late son, Beau Biden, helping pass a transgender protection law in Delaware while serving as state attorney general, an effort inspired by a worker in the attorney general’s office.

The former vice president also recounted a story from his youth where he witnessed two men kissing and said his father turned to him and said, “Joey, it’s simple: They love each other.”

Biden did not voice support for same-sex marriage until 2012. The New York Times reports in 2010 he voted to cut off federal funds to schools that teach the acceptance of homosexuality.

Biden's town hall comes about a month after President Donald Trump's town hall in Philadelphia.

Trump is also participating in a town hall event Thursday on NBC that began at 8 p.m. after plans for a second debate were canceled.

Trump joked that he wished he could watch Biden’s appearance Thursday night because "I wanna see if he can made it through the program."

Trump backed out of plans for the presidential faceoff originally scheduled for Thursday evening after debate organizers said it would be held virtually following Trump’s coronavirus diagnosis.

The two men are still scheduled to occupy the same space for a debate for a second and final time next week in Nashville.

Pennsylvania is a major battleground state for the general election. In the 2016 election, the state was decided by about 44,000 votes.

Pennsylvania was one of three traditionally blue states that propelled Trump to victory in 2016. Trump was the first Republican presidential candidate to win Pennsylvania since George H.W. Bush in 1988.

Both candidates have been campaigning heavily in the Keystone State in an effort to win over (mostly suburban) voters.

Trump at a campaign rally in Johnston recently asked suburban Pennsylvania women "Will you please like me?" and claimed to have saved suburban neighborhoods from a threat he did not name.

The plea comes around the same time Biden's polling numbers in Pennsylvania, his home state, reached their highest levels.

After Trump narrowed former Biden's lead in August and September, Biden has again gained an edge in the most recent data. His lead as of Wednesday, of 7 points, is the largest it's been since late July, when he briefly enjoyed an eight point lead.

The Keystone State's 20 electoral votes are tied for fifth-most.