Most politicians woo car owners and auto union workers. In the United States, famous companies like Ford and automobiles in general are even more important and serve as the patriotic backdrops for speeches about American independence and the state of emergency.
But Biden’s trajectory is really related to cars.
A 1972 crash that killed his first wife and young daughter would overshadow the rest of his life.
An affinity for automobiles was also an integral part of the way Biden presented himself – a “regular Joe” who, despite being a Senator for four decades and Vice President for eight years, likes to talk about the intricacies of tires or torque.
As President, his main trip is the heavily armored “Beast” sedan. Secret Service logs – aside from the joy of Tuesday – mean he can’t get behind the wheel.
Even so, Biden still makes frequent references to his cherished green 1967 Corvette Stingray convertible, a wedding present from his father, who was a car dealer.
The Corvette is a muscle car, a loud, throbbing statement that’s as far removed as possible from the quiet, environmentally conscious electric movement.
But it’s part of the Biden brand – and maybe the soul of Biden.
“I like speed,” he told Jay Leno on a television show in 2016 when he was vice president.
During the Ford factory tour, Biden had the chance to drive a full-car nerd and shout things like “amazing”, “absolutely amazing” and “damn cool”.
He touched the huge battery in the low case of the F-150 and said, “Fascinating.” He sounded like he meant business.
When it was time to take the podium and address Ford workers, executives, and Democratic politicians, the president began a self-introduction.
“My name is Joe Biden,” he said, “and I’m the car guy.”
SMS / BFM
By Sebastian Smith