SCRANTON -- The theme was a homecoming of sorts as Vice President Joe Biden joined Hillary Clinton to campaign for her in Scranton Monday.
Both have roots in the Electric City, and that was a big part of their speeches at Riverfront Sports Complex. Both made it clear that this part of Pennsylvania is a key to victory in November. Hillary Clinton's father was from Scranton. Biden was born here.
Many of the people who came out say Clinton's and Biden's connection with the area is a reason why they wanted to be here.
"It is so great to be back in Scranton, Pennsylvania!" Clinton addressed the crowd.
It was her first visit to her father's hometown since becoming the first female presidential nominee of a major political party.
Her pitch for president remained the same as it's been. Clinton, along with Biden, focused on their familiarity with northeastern Pennsylvania.
"I was christened at the Methodist church on Court Street, my grandfather went to work at the Scranton Lace Mill starting as a teenager," said Clinton.
Though he lived in and served the state of Delaware, Biden stressed that Scranton is home.
“Home is where your character is stamped, where it’s stamped into your soul, where your values are set, where your view of the world and your place in that world began. For me, that was 2446 North Washington Avenue,” Biden said.
Supporters said that local tie is one of the reasons why they plan to vote for Hillary Clinton in November.
“To hear about their background and their family, to hear about how they vacationed and visited, it makes you feel like they’re with us, they understand us,” said June Vassello of Kingston.
“They had the same experiences as we had growing up. They just grew up in our area. They understand what people in the Wyoming Valley and Lackawanna County really go through,” said Chuck Vassello of Kingston.
Perhaps the most personal local shout out was for Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds Evie McNulty--her elected office isn't usually on the list of mentions from a presidential nominee, but Clinton made exception.
“And your amazing Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds Evie Rafalko McNulty! We sure miss that husband of yours. We’re thinking about you and sending you our best wishes,” Clinton said.
McNulty lost her husband, a former mayor of Scranton, earlier this year. The couple has supported the Clintons for decades.
“(It) meant a lot. It really did, meant a lot. And it’s just the kind of people they are. They know who we are. They know what we’re about, and they remember when life changing events happen in our lives. That wasn’t scripted,” McNulty said.
Scranton city officials say there were about 2,000 people at Riverfront Sports for the event.
The crowd tapped all demographics, including some high school students still too young to vote in November.
"Just to show that the young community doesn't dislike Hillary as much as they say we do, and support what she's fighting for," Claire Reed of Clarks Summit said.
And then there were Clinton's longtime supporters like Tammy Queen, who traveled almost two hours from the Allentown area to Scranton.
“This was my first political rally, so I loved the whole thing. Just to see Hillary in person was enough for me," said Tammy Queen of South Whitehall.
If you missed the speech, you can watch it in its entirety below, or on our Facebook page.