This archive report was first published on 29 August 2019.
Published on August 29, 2019, a time when Joe Biden's presidential campaign was gaining momentum.
Ms. Flores, a critic of Joe Biden, emphasized the importance of personal responsibility in changing one's behavior. She stated, 'When someone behaves badly, it's incumbent on them — not us — it's incumbent on them to change their behavior.' However, she questioned whether Mr. Biden was genuinely interested in changing his behavior or attitude.
Supporters of Mr. Biden, on the other hand, were quick to defend his tactile campaigning style, which has raised eyebrows among some voters. They argued that hugging was a natural expression of affection and a generational difference.
At a campaign event in Henderson, Nevada, Elizabeth Walek-Sowin, 74, shared her experience of hugging Mr. Biden. She said, 'If you like somebody, you hug them. It doesn't take a Ph.D. to figure that out.'
Ms. Walek-Sowin's statement was echoed by Mary McWhorter, 72, who also hugged Mr. Biden at a campaign stop in Charleston, S.C. She said, 'We're in a period of time right now where we need hugs. I was thrilled to get to hug Joe Biden.'
Some supporters went as far as to defend Mr. Biden's record, insisting that he was not a racist. Bernadette Brown, a 51-year-old administrative assistant from North Charleston, S.C., said, 'He has not a racist bone in his body. Racism exists but Vice President Biden did not cause the racism. He is not the problem.'
