Biden bones up on Denver, DNC

By David Montero, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 25, 2008 at 12:44 p.m.
Updated August 25, 2008 at 1:10 p.m.

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Photo by Ellen Jaskol © The Rocky

Sen. Joe Biden visits Boney's Smokehouse on the 16th St. Mall, on Monday, Aug. 25, 2008.

Joe Biden had to appear in public somewhere — a place that reflects his, well, average Joe sensibilities while providing knowing nods of approval from the locals.

Enter Boney's Barbecue.

It's a small place. Can squeeze three behind the counter. Since 2005, it's usually two there — Trina Lynch running the cash register while her husband, Lamont Lynch, smokes the pork, meat and prepares the home recipe sauces.

But Monday, there were three. Mary Brown, Trina Lynch's mother, showed up with a digital camera to record history.

"About 11 a.m. this morning, the Secret Service told us to be ready," Trina Lynch said. "And they told us to have some smoked turkey legs ready, too."

Biden — two days fresh from his first public appearance in Springfield, Ill. as Barack Obama's pick for vice president — was coming. It would be his first public appearance in Denver.

Lynch dutifully got the legs ready. But then she learned a lesson about politicians. They change their minds. And when Biden and his family showed up, he decided on pulled pork sandwiches instead.

No matter. The slogan that has made their place successful — "cook low and slow, served quick" — was put into play. In two minutes, the order was changed and ready to go in brown bags.

Biden spent the time shaking hands with the throng that had gathered. About 150 people gathered at the corner of Larmier Street and the 16th Street Mall to watch the white-haired senator. His wife, Jill Biden, and their three children shook hands with people straining with outstretched arms and cell phone cameras.

Across the street on the balcony at the ESPN Sports Zone, people leaned over the railing of the upstairs patio — pointing and clicking pictures of the commotion on the street corner.

Then he went behind the counter while he gave Trina Lynch a hug and clasped hands with Lamont Lynch. They took pictures of it with Brown. Biden looked at someone in the crowd and joked around.

"I didn't get any pulled pork for you," Biden said, laughing.

Outside, Ann Kuster held a white canvas bag bearing Biden's autograph. She is a New Hampshire delegate and was an early Biden supporter. She is thrilled with Obama's pick.

"He's going to help all of us," she said. "He's going to help Obama restore America."

Biden, finished with taking his pictures with the Lynch family, then asked them where they were from originally. The question showed he knows Colorado — a state where natives proudly display their birthright on bumper stickers that feature a Rocky Mountains silhouette.

Trina Lynch is from Baltimore. Lamont Lynch is from Florida. Mary Brown is from Pennsylvania. Two of those three are swing states.

They've been in Colorado since 2000 — which might make them native enough. But more importantly to Biden and the ticket — they're registered voters and on the Obama-Biden bandwagon.

Except Trina Lynch did have one small confession. She thought Hillary Clinton should've been the vice presidential pick.

"I've supported him for a year — the Clintons had their time," she said. "But that would've been a strong ticket."

But she's with Biden now. And when the pictures are made into prints, they'll hang in a place of prominence. She'll send copies of newspapers to her family back East.

And she'll hope the Obama-Biden ticket wins so she can tell them the vice president ate lunch at their modest barbecue joint.

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Comments

August 25, 2008

1:04 p.m.

Suggest removal

RustyWon writes:

Ugh.

I'm going fishing until this crap is over.

I don't know what is worse, the stuffed shirts that run for office or the media that covers them.
August 25, 2008

1:14 p.m.

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danirobi writes:

Three children who are lobbyists and being investigated for FRAUD!!!!
August 25, 2008

1:20 p.m.

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anthony1979 writes:

I work downtown...I wish I could have taken this week off!
August 25, 2008

1:21 p.m.

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DenverDan writes:

Bad @ss Biden...I love it. The GOP better pack a lunch. Here we come. WE WANT CHANGE. sorry fox news.

Obama 08
August 25, 2008

1:26 p.m.

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Mayor_Quimby writes:

Anthony, my wife took the week off since the circus came to town.
August 25, 2008

1:27 p.m.

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anthony1979 writes:

BTW..this isn't front page news, it's online news. It's up to the minute...this cover pic wasn't taken more than an hour ago...I'm sure it's not going to be on the front page of the RMN/DP. I work downtown and I just talked to a person that saw Biden at that restaurant. I think it's great coverage guys. This is an exciting time for us as Coloradans.
August 25, 2008

1:27 p.m.

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danirobi writes:

DenverDan- If your candidate preaches change all the time, then why did he go with career politician such as Biden? Biden has been part of the problem in DC, especially with those lovely racist remarks he made last year while running for President...oh and not to mention the '80's presidential campaign. Yeah, change we can ALL believe in. Right!!!!
August 25, 2008

1:32 p.m.

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me2 writes:

Wish I could be in Denver and be part of the fun. I strongly suspect that some people just can not stand the idea of others having a good time.

When the Republicans have their convention, I hope that you all get excited and enjoy it for them.

Would it kill you to hope the Democrats have a good convention? Would your whole life and philosophy crumble if this went off nicely?
August 25, 2008

1:35 p.m.

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Scott writes:

Anthony,

Bruce Benson gave his employees the week off so that they did not have to put up with the circus.

Scott
August 25, 2008

1:37 p.m.

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NotReady08 writes:

Very appropriate for the Dem VP to be ordering and eating a vast amount of pork.
August 25, 2008

1:38 p.m.

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Scott writes:

me2,

If I were living in Minneapolis, instead of the Front Range, I'd also be dreading the RNC. So what "snappy" comeback to you have for that comment from one of the EVIL ONES (conservative)?

Oh, and having to navigate through a bunch of drunk (delegates) and smelly hippies (protesters) is suppose to be fun? Thank God I don't work down in the sewer (Denver).

Scott
August 25, 2008

1:52 p.m.

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DenverDan writes:

danirobi

Change from the past eight years. SAY NO TO McBush3.
August 25, 2008

1:55 p.m.

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me2 writes:

Scott, now sugar you are a perfect example of the attitude I was refering to. Where did I call anyone EVIL ONES?

Since you are not there, how do you know they are drunk and smelly? I smell (joke) some bias on your part.
August 25, 2008

1:57 p.m.

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samsmargolis writes:

Montero - keep us updated on the Biden bowel movements while you're at it....
August 25, 2008

2 p.m.

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Frontranger writes:

The real story is that Boney's BBQ is friggin awesome! And yes its news, its the first place he has been spotted since coming to denver as the VP.

Nice Notready, at least you are originally and not just puking up neo-con talking points.
August 25, 2008

2:01 p.m.

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Scott writes:

Will someone please get some nasal decongestant to me2. It is obvious that he can't "smell" sarcasm in a response.

Scott
August 25, 2008

2:04 p.m.

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rickg19611 writes:

PANIC TIME FOR THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN WITH TODAYS NEWS RELEASE!!!!

With Obama's support dropping month after month, team Obama had hoped their VP pick would turn their continual decline around (especially since they just have a few weeks left).

And what did America say about Obama picking Biden? A BLUNDER!

"This looks like a step backward for Obama, who had a 51 to 44 percent advantage last month," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Even last week, just before his choice of Joe Biden as his running mate became known, most polls tended to show Obama with a single-digit advantage over McCain. The first national poll conducted after Barack Obama publicly named Joe Biden as his running mate suggests that the battle for the presidency between the Illinois senator and John McCain is all tied up."

EVEN WORSE FOR OBAMA! His support among Hillary supporters has DROPPED! Rather than increase as blowhard Obamaphiles had foolishly predicted.

"Sixty-six percent of Clinton supporters -- registered Democrats who want Clinton as the nominee -- are now backing Obama. That's down from 75 percent in the end of June. Twenty-seven percent of them now say they'll support McCain, up from 16 percent in late June."
August 25, 2008

2:17 p.m.

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ddburton writes:

I find it hilarious that those of you who complain about this, waste your time by posting on this site. If you don't care that Biden is in town eating pork sandwiches, or that the DNC is here, don't post. It's the whiners like you that give all people (democrat, republican, liberal, conservative) a bad name. And this "sideshow" is town bringing a lot of money to our local economy. Regardless of Republican or Democrat, how is this a bad thing? I swear, if it wasn't for things like this to whine about, I don't know what you people would do.
August 25, 2008

2:19 p.m.

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Frontranger writes:

Wow everybody, RickG knows how to cut and paste! Good little republican dbag!
August 25, 2008

2:27 p.m.

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ksells writes:

Well, if a politician does go out to eat, and it happens to have reporters there to take pictures (what a surprise), he picked something I really like to eat (of course, Elway's would be great too, but I can't afford it and it probably wouldn't be so smart as John is a Republican). But I don't think I would go so far as to write about what they ate if I was a reporter. It's sort of a "kiss the baby" story that all politicians do.

I used to be a technician for Qwest and we always dreaded those quick visits by the president and VP to Denver. It really disrupted our work because everything we did was secondary to the visit. I really feel sorry for my former peers who have to say "how high" when told to jump for the convention over a much greater time frame. But it's part of the job.

By the way, did they have the coleslaw or baked beans as sides?

No, we are going to beat the McBush '08.
August 25, 2008

2:55 p.m.

Suggest removal

HairTrigger writes:

BREAKING NEWS! Biden Finds No American-Indian Workers at Boney's BBQ

16th MALL - Vice presidential nominee Sen. Joe Biden was quoted today remarking that the Denver-favorite sandwhich establishment, “unlike my homestate Delaware, I couldn’t walk in [Boney’s BBQ] and find one single American-Indian, you know the kind that are from India, working here.”

Reporters quickly scribbled Biden’s comments and then finished their lunch to go and find another hot-bed, fast-breaking story. Some reporters, who did not want to be identified for this story, were headed over the alleged water-boarding venue for Act II.
August 25, 2008

3:26 p.m.

Suggest removal

cp187 writes:

Hey America!

To anyone who has Denver envy, understand that this city is way too small to host an event this large. 89% of the folks who live here are annoyed by the disruptions to our lives, not because we begrudge the Dems their party. Large cities like NY, LA and Houston absorb this kind of activity with little or no disruption. Our city is so small, they are shutting down major streets and public transportation routes and Thursday afternoon they will close the only freeway through the middle of town while The One gives his speech in the football stadium. When guests disrupt your life, you get cranky. We will be glad to see this dem and pony production leave town.
August 25, 2008

3:32 p.m.

Suggest removal

NotUrFriend writes:

I've eaten there. Glad I didn't catch him there, not a fan.

I.
August 25, 2008

3:47 p.m.

Suggest removal

Hooligan writes:

Nice pic of Biden, it illustrate his ability to mingle, and blend with African- Americans. I for one, questioned his ability to comprehend and understand the struggle that we have all had to endure for so many years.
August 25, 2008

5:31 p.m.

Suggest removal

HairTrigger writes:

I've noted the update to this article to stops referring to Biden's children and instead now mentions his family. I suppose theRMN editors thought children was a bit overdone given the fact that his children are grown-up lobbyists.
August 25, 2008

5:32 p.m.

Suggest removal

HairTrigger writes:

I've noted the update to this article to stops referring to Biden's children and instead now mentions his family. I suppose the RMN editors thought children was a bit overdone given the fact that his children are grown-up lobbyists.
August 25, 2008

6:21 p.m.

Suggest removal

Reason writes:

"Very appropriate for the Dem VP to be ordering and eating a vast amount of pork."

HAHAHA!

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Home › News › Denver Democratic National Convention 2008

Biden bones up on Denver, DNC

By David Montero, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 25, 2008 at 12:44 p.m.Updated August 25, 2008 at 1:10 p.m.

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Published August 25, 2008 at 12:44 p.m.
Updated August 25, 2008 at 1:10 p.m.