Biden just finished. He spoke for 42 minutes.

Posted by David Wickert

Biden scored big points with the crowd by rebutting a comment he said Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin made yesterday in North Carolina. Apparently she said she was glad to visit a "pro-American" part of the country.

Biden said that's an example of the kind of divisive politics the Republicans have resorted to in this campaign.

"North Carolina is pro-American, but Tacoma is not?" Biden said.

After criticizing his opponents at length, he added, "We're all Americans."

Posted by David Wickert

Biden couldn't resist mentioning Joe the Plumber, who dominated campaign news this week. But he says he's more worried about Joe the teacher, Joe the salesman and Joe the clerk, among others. He said an Obama-Biden administration would work to raise the minimum wage.

Posted by David Wickert

Seen on a sweatshirt at the Biden rally: "Cute girls love Obama."

Posted by David Wickert

One of the purposes of the Biden appearance at Cheney Stadium today was to boost Chris Gregoire's re-election campaign. While Obama has a good lead in most polls, Gregoire is running either even or only slightly ahead of GOP challenger Dino Rossi.

To that end he tried to connect Gregoire to the change message that has been the center of the national campaign.

"The kind of change that Barack Obama and I and trying to bring will be lost here in the state of Washington if you don't reelect Chris Gregoire."

He also warned against relying on polls.

"Polls don't determine the outcome of elections. Votes do," Biden said. And Gregoire, he said, knows that better than any governor in the nation.

"Every vote counts," Biden said.

Biden got a big response by mentioning today's news that former Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed Obama today. Biden said the endorsement of "one of the most respected men to ever wear the uniform" belies Republican arguments that Obama is not ready to be commander in chief.

"Barack Obama will be a commander in chief we can all respect," Biden said.

Posted by David Wickert

Biden just started speaking, getting a huge ovation from a crows that we figure is about 12,000.

"This is as close as I've come to playing pro baseball," Biden told the crowd.

He left the microphone and put his arm around Gregoire and pointed to Sen.s Murray and Cantwell and said: "I'll tell you why you're here. Where I come from, this is called power."

And he joked that the stadium was temporarily renamed from Cheney Stadium to "Obama-Biden Stadium."

"If it was Cheney Stadium, you'd never be able to find it. It would be at an undisclosed location."

Gov. Chris Gregoire is speaking now. But not everyone is hanging on these politicians' every word. My heart goes out to the two young boys playing with Hot Wheels cars while the crowd shouts "Yes we can!" around them.

Posted by David Wickert

Patty Murray is taking her shots now.

"We can't just sit back and hope they're going to win on Nov. 4. There's simply too much at stake," Murray said.

Her biggest applause line: "We are going to say yes to ending this war and brining our troops home."

Posted by David Wickert

Sen. Maria Cantwell took the stage a few minutes ago. She's scoring some big points with the crowd by comparing Joe Biden to Vice President Dick Cheney.

"Joe Biden will be a different vice president than the one we just had," she said.

Another applause line:

"If you want to keep your job, vote for Barack and Joe."

Posted by David Wickert

Not that there's much doubt about who the folks attending today's Joe Biden rally support for president. But Sheilia Bachler of Tacoma wears her choices on here sleeve, her hat, here necklace and her ponytail.

Bachler came to the rally with three Barack Obama pins braided in her long ponytail. She wound up with five more waiting for the rally to begin.

"I never thought I would see the day where we could have a black president in my lifetime," said Bachler, who is African American.

But Bachler said her choice isn't simply about skin color. She wants change, and she doesn't think John McCain - who she described as angry - can deliver.

As for Biden, she likes the experience he brings to the Democratic ticket.

"He's quite handsome, too," she added.

Posted by David Wickert

The downside of not allowing home-made signs into a political rally seems to be boring signs.

Amid all the "Pierce County 'hearts' Obama" and "Yes Hope" signs, I've only noticed a few that are mildly interesting:

"This Joe's for Real"

"Barack my world"

and "Barack 'n Roll"

It's almost 2:20 and folks are still coming into the stadium. The thousands who have been here for a while broke out in the wave a few minutes ago.

Now they're chanting "Let's go Joe!"

No sign of Biden yet.

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith told those gathering at the Biden rally that they should ignore any news about a big lead in the presidential race.

"We all have to be paranoid for 16 more days," the Tacoma Democrat said. "Someone wrote a book called 'Only the Paranoid Survive.' I don't know if it's that bad but we have to act as though we're two votes behind."

State and local Democratic politicians took advantage of the big crowd at Cheney Stadium this afternoon to press the flesh.

County Councilman and executive candidate Calvin Goings seemed determined to shake the hands of everyone in line. Councilman Tim Farrell sought votes for his re-election and pitched Barbara Gelman for assessor-treasurer.

Inside, U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks and others warmed up the crowd. As of 2:11 p.m., folks were still waiting and clamoring for Joe Biden. Keep checking back for updates.

Posted by David Wickert

Waiting in line to see Joe Biden, Sue Richardson of Burley remembered seeing another Democrat at Cheney Stadium: John F. Kennedy.

Richardson said she saw Kennedy speak here when he was running for president in 1960. She was a teen-ager.

"There was an electricity in the air," she remembered. "I remember exactly where I was standing, looking up at him."

"It was a bright day and it just seemed like he was the center of the brightness," Richardson said.

She sees similar qualities in Barack Obama. She likes his energy and positive outlook.

Posted by David Wickert

Cheney Stadium is nearly full and the crowd is waiting for Joe Biden. Norm Dicks and other Democratic luminaries have been warming up the crowd, which filled the parking line before it filled the stadium.

Shortly after the gates opened at noon, thousands crowded a line that snaked around the Cheney Stadium parking lot. Barack Obama buttons and t-shirts were nearly as common as shoes on feet.

Derrek Berkompus of Sumner wore an "NEA for Obama" t-shirt. That's NEA as in National Education Association, the teacher's union. He's taught school in Sumner for 12 years.

"I don't need eight more years of the same," Berkompus said as he waited in line.

Further up the line, Dan Herman of University Place bragged of being "Dan the Plumber." He owns Paradise Environmental Plumbing and supports Obama.

"I started working in '76. Most of what I installed was American made," Herman said. "Now it's mostly not."

Posted by David Wickert