Elizabeth Warren wowed ‘em and Vice President Joe Biden got a warm reception as the firefighters union began hearing Monday from possible 2016 presidential candidates.
More hopefuls are on tap Tuesday at the Capitol Hill conference, including Democrats Jim Webb, the former Virginia senator and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley as well as Sen. Bernard Sanders, Ind.-Vt. Republicans scheduled to appear include Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Marco Rubio, R-Fla. and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., former New York Gov. George Pataki and, in a prerecorded appearance, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Among those not scheduled to attend are former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.
The union will decide later this year on an endorsement.
Warren, a Democratic senator from Massachusetts, has said she’s not running, but a lot of firefighters in the audience were hopeful she would.
They cheered her populist message. “It’s criticai that we all speak up, that all of us work to get rid of the rigged game in Washington and to make this country work once again for working people,” Warren said.
She took aim at big money.
“Ask a thousand Americans if they would rather give subsidies to the biggest oil companys or the richest banks or put another $5 billion on the line for equipment and training for firefighters” and others, she said. “The answer would be big oil and big banks just need to make it on their own.”
Biden spoke for about half an hour, recalling his longstanding relationship with the firefighters. He recalled how they helped him through personal struggles, as well as his loyalty to the labor movement.
He called them the “most under-appreciated group of women and men in all of America. You always say the same thing when I show up: ‘I’m just doing my job sir, I’m just doing my job.’’’
Biden would not be fooled. “I know you. I know who you are. I grew up with you in Claymont, Scranton,” he said.
Biden reminded the firefighters he’s with them. “You always respond,” he said. “We have an obligation to respond to your needs as well.”