Hide Transcript Show Transcript WEBVTT THE LABOR DAY PARADE IN DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH. UNION MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, FIREFIGHTERS AND STEELWORKERS TURNING OUT TO CELEBRATE TOGETHER. AND MARCHING ALONG WITH UNION MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, WAS A FORMER VICE PRESIDENT. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS 4 REPORTER BOB MAYO WAS THERE, FOR JOE BIDEN’S RETURN TO THE STEEL CITY. BOB: PITTSBURGH’S LABOR DAY PARADE HAD TONS OF PEOPLE MARCHING THROUGH THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH. AND A RETURN GUEST, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN. THIS A PATH JOE BIDEN’S WALKED BEFORE, IN THE HEART OF PITTSBURGH’S ORGANIZED LABOR’S LONG RUNNING PARADE, BURNISHING HIS PENNSYLVANIA CONNECTIONS. ( { 13:25 FOR THE LONGEST TIME, YOU MAY REMEMBER FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS, I WAS REFERRED TO AS PENNSYLVANIA’S THIRD SENATOR WHEN THERE WAS NO DEMOCRAT. BOB: IS THERE ANY CHANCE WE’D SEE YOU CAMPAIGNING HERE FOR PRESIDENT IN A COUPLE OF YEARS? >> WELL, IF I WERE TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT, I’D BE HERE A LOT. BOB: AFTER MASS AT SAINT BENEDICT THE MOOR CHURCH BEFORE THE PARADE, BIDEN SAID, WE ARE IN A FIGHT FOR THE SOUL OF AMERICA, AND IT’S TIME WE RESTORED DIGNITY TO WORK, AND DEAL WITH ONE ANOTHER WITH RESPECT. >> YOU KNOW, MY DAD USED TO HAVE EXPRESSION. HE’D SAY A JOB’S ABOUT A LOT OF THAN A PAYCHECK. IT’S ABOUT YOUR DIGNITY. IT’S ABOUT YOUR RESPECT. IT’S ABOUT BEING ABLE TO LOOK YOUR KID IN THE EYE AND SAY, HONEY, IT’S GOING TO BE OK. THAT’S WHAT THESE GUYS FIGHT FOR. THAT’S WHY I’M FIGHTING FOR THEM. BOB: BIDEN MINGLED WITH THE RANK AND FILE AND RENEWED HIS TIES WITH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL LABOR LEADERS. >> I’D GO ANYWHERE WITH THESE GUYS. THESE ARE THE GUYS THAT BRUNG ME TO THE DANCE, AS THE SAYING GOES. IT’S CALLED LOYALTY. >> JOE BIDEN IS PITTSBURGH. HE SPEAKS ABOUT EVERYTHING WE ARE. WE ARE SO PROUD TO HAVE HIM HERE. AS YOU SEE, WE’LL FOLLOW ANYTHING HE DOES AND WE’LL SEE WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS. BOB: COVERING THE LABOR DAY PARADE I Advertisement Former Vice President Joe Biden leads Pittsburgh Labor Day Parade, campaigns for Democrats ahead of midterms Share Shares Copy Link Copy As local labor showed its strength on the streets of Pittsburgh this Labor Day, former Vice President Joe Biden took to Pittsburgh's streets by marching in Pittsburgh's Labor Day parade just like he has many times before.While he delivered no speeches this time, the former vice president shared a public message as he left Mass at St. Benedict the Moor Church before the parade. "We're in a fight for the soul of America. It's about time we restored dignity to work. It's about time we started talking to each other like we're civilized and deal with one another with respect. That's what this is about. That's what labor's about, Biden said on the steps outside the church, with the United Steelworkers union international president to his left and Pennsylvania U.S. Sen.Bob Casey to his right. "You know, my dad used to have (this) expression. He'd say, 'A job's about a lot more than a paycheck.' It's about your dignity. It's about your respect. It's about being able to look your kid in the eye and say, 'Honey, it's going to be okay.' That's what these guys fight for. That's why I'm fighting for them. "It's a path Biden's walked before -- in the heart of Pittsburgh labor's long-running parade, burnishing his Pennsylvania connections. "A lot of these guys, from Leo Girard on, have been my friend for over 30 years. And so I'm happy to be here. For the longest time, you may remember, for about 20 years, I was referred to as Pennsylvania's third senator - when there was no Democrat." Biden said.Biden went out of his way to mingle with the rank-and-file who were gathered in a parking lot staging area before they marched. "I'd go anywhere with these guys. These are the guys that 'brung me to the dance,' as the saying goes. It's called loyalty," Biden said.Asked by Pittsburgh's Action News 4 if the visit made him hungry for the 2020 presidential race, Biden smiled but said, "No. "As labor showed its strength at the parade, Biden touched on politics -- but not presidential politics. "This year is probably among the most important years to win back the house for the Democrats," Biden said as he stood next to the parade reviewing stand outside the USW International headquarters in downtown Pittsburgh.Asked by Pittsburgh's Action News 4 if there's any chance we'd see him campaigning here for president in a couple of years, Biden did not rule it out. "Well, if I were to run for president, I'd be here a lot," Biden said with a laugh. "Joe Biden is Pittsburgh. He speaks about everything we are. We are so proud to have him here, as you see," said Darrin Kelly president of the Allegheny/Fayette Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO. "We'll follow anything he does, and we'll see what the future holds."<doc-sep>Former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenAmerican held in Russia contracts COVID-19 after denied vaccine Biden defends waiving sanctions against Nord Stream Senators struggle to save Jan. 6 commission MORE was seen running during a Labor Day parade in Pittsburgh on Monday. Multiple reporters posted a video of the longtime politician jogging through the street during the parade while making light of Biden's possible candidacy in 2020. ADVERTISEMENT "Joe Biden. He's...running," a CNN reporter tweeted. Joe Biden in Pittsburgh, running pic.twitter.com/qyvgbt0Vzh — Edward-Isaac Dovere (@IsaacDovere) September 3, 2018 His appearance at the Labor Day parade comes as Biden prepares to campaign for Democratic candidates in the upcoming midterm election. Biden said earlier on Monday that "everything" was at stake during the November general election — one in which Democrats need to reclaim 23 seats in the House to retake Congress's lower chamber. Biden, 75, is also considered a possible Democratic candidate for the 2020 presidential election. He led President Trump by 7 points on a prospective 2020 ballot in a poll released last month.<doc-sep>
Follow KDKA-TV: Facebook | Twitter PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The 37th Annual Labor Day Parade kicked off in Downtown Pittsburgh just after 10 a.m. Organizers expected at least 200 groups to participate, from high school bands to unions from throughout the tri-state to elected officials. Dan Felter of Robinson came specifically to see Joe Biden. “This is the first time [I’ve] come to a Labor Day parade. Joe Biden was coming and I want to see the next President of the United States,” Felter said. Former Vice President Biden was in the parade, leading it off with other elected officials, but he was not here running for office. “If I were to run for President, I would be here a lot,” Biden said. Watch the parade here: Biden came to support labor and, as the holiday implies, to show support for America’s working class. “I’ve been with labor my whole career. They’re the ones, as they say, [brought] me to the dance,” said Biden. “And it was Pennsylvania labor, along with Delaware labor, so a lot of these guys, from Leo Girard on, have been my friends for over 30 years. So I’m happy to be here with them.” Deanne Manniella came out for the first time. “[It’s] an excellent parade that the Pittsburgh area has,” she said. Pittsburgh’s Labor Day Parade is also a day for family celebrations. Many in the parade brought their kids along to learn more about unions and politics. For others, it was just a chance to come out and support kids who were in the parade. And of course, in some circles, Labor Day marks the official kick-off of the fall campaign season, which is, in part, why so many elected officials were out in force. Mayor Bill Peduto, County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Congressman Mike Doyle, Senator Bob Casey and Connor Lamb were all in attendance, for starters. Biden, who is from Scranton, said he has always gotten support from labor in Pennsylvania and Delaware, which, in part, was why he was participating in the Pittsburgh parade.