First Lady, Jill Biden, made a stop in western Washington Friday, greeted by Governor Jay Inslee and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell at Boeing Field.
Doctor Biden is politicking for cancer cures, students and candidates in tight election races. She’ll join US Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) for a fundraising even in Seattle on Saturday, and Murray could use the help, since a double-digit lead over Tiffany Smiley dropped to less than 3% in a recent poll.
During a 15-minute speech in San Francisco at a Democratic Congressional Power Luncheon for Women, hosted by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Biden talked about abortion rights. Abortion is a hot button Issue in Washington where the 30-year incumbent and the Pro Life Republican are in a statistical dead heat.
In Tacoma, flanked by Pierce County Executive, Bruce Dammier, and Mayor, Victoria Woodards, Doctor Biden made several stops at Bates Technical College to visit with students in their high school program, from those in fire and EMS training to a class in the welding shop.
Biden says not every student wants a bachelor’s degree, so she says more schools are going the way of helping high schoolers get a jump on their careers without waiting to graduate. “Students are identifying their interests early,” Biden says, “so that they’re saving time and they’re more focused on what they want to do in life, and they have these dual programs”. Some of the students Biden talked to at Bates say they can make up to $60,000 a year as a starting salary, with one 16 year old who’s already working telling her he makes about $30,000 already.
Since Doctor Biden will spend Saturday with Senator Murray, Republican opponent Smiley, issued a statement, which says, “The Biden-Murray education agenda is divisive and discriminatory. Their $400 billion student loan forgiveness plan is unfair to those who have already paid off their debts, making hair stylists and plumbers bail out lawyers and doctors. No wonder Patty needs Jill Biden to bail her campaign out financially when Joe Biden makes her support such unpopular policies.”
Northwest Newsradio’s John Lobertini contributed to this report.
