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LCCC hosting Women in STEM lecture today

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Casey, other lawmakers weigh in on Mueller probe

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; U.S. Sen. Bob Casey on Monday said he hopes former Vice President Joe Biden decides to get in the race for the Democratic Party presidential nomination.</p><p>But when asked if that should be construed as an endorsement of Biden&#8217;s candidacy, Casey said, &#8220;We&#8217;ll see.&#8221;</p><p>While Casey, D-Scranton, stopped short of jumping on the Biden for President bandwagon, the senator did say that Biden could win Pennsylvania and its 20 electoral votes &#8212; a critical must for any successful presidential hopeful.</p><p>Casey, who turns 59 on April 13, said whomever the Democratic candidate is, he or she must win Pennsylvania to have any chance of defeating Republican President Donald Trump in 2020.</p><p>&#8220;Winning Pennsylvania is why I spent any time thinking about (getting in the presidential race),&#8221; Casey said. &#8220;The Democratic nominee has to win Pennsylvania. You can&#8217;t win the presidential election without winning Pennsylvania.&#8221;</p><p>Biden is expected to enter the race &#8212; some say he will formally announce in April, but he has already told key supporters that he will be a candidate.</p><p>Casey said having a large field seeking the nomination is good for the process. But in the end, Casey said the candidate must be able to carry Pennsylvania if the Democrats hope to regain the White House and defeat Trump.</p><p>Casey said he knows all of the 15 or so candidates already in the field and those who are considering getting in, noting that he doesn&#8217;t know any of them &#8220;not to be good people.&#8221;</p><p>Casey said Trump has taken the GOP to the far right, citing federal judge appointments, the new tax policy and the significant budget cutting as examples.</p><p>Casey also said Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders will be in the race until the end. Sanders battled Hillary Clinton down to the wire in 2016 and many political observers claim the Democratic Party suffered because of the division between Clinton and Sanders supporters.</p><p>But Casey says having many candidates offers voters the opportunity to see what each is about.</p><p>&#8220;There&#8217;s no likely nominee out there,&#8221; Casey said. &#8220;Let&#8217;s let the process happen and allow the voters to sort it all out.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Former Vice President Joe Biden, center, takes the podium at a Democratic rally last fall flanked by of U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, left, and U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright at Pittston Area High School in Yatesville. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_TTL110518DemocraticRally_1CMYK.jpg</photo0><caption0>Former Vice President Joe Biden, center, takes the podium at a Democratic rally last fall flanked by of U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, left, and U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright at Pittston Area High School in Yatesville. </caption0><photoCredit0>Times Leader file photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Casey hopes Biden will run, stops short of endorsement