Far from it being a political liability, as some here hoped, Biden and Democrats understood how the bridge collapse was the perfect political opportunity. Biden was able to tout his infrastructure law and be empathetic.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Arriving just hours after a Pennsylvania bridge collapse, President Joe Biden stared into the cratered muddy earth where the aging span fell early Friday, striking evidence supporting the $1 trillion infrastructure law he already had planned to tout on his trip to Pittsburgh.
Standing before concrete barriers papered with yellow police tape, Biden craned his neck to look out over the gaping expanse left by the crumbled bridge, as the smell of gas from a nearby leak filled the air.
“The idea that we’ve been so far behind on infrastructure for so many years, it’s mind boggling,” Biden said.
As for the rest of the nation’s aging bridges, he pledged, “We’re gonna fix them all.”
While at the bridge, Biden spoke with Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and first responders, and was joined by Sen. Bob Casey, Rep. Conor Lamb and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman [who by some reports earlier hadn't planned to be with Biden].
Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a US Senate candidate, praised Biden in remarks at the fallen bridge and in a tweet.
John Fetterman @JohnFetterman
Pittsburgh is *the* city of bridges.
Now more than ever, we need to get to work. We need to make use of the legislation President @JoeBiden ushered in, rebuild our roads + bridges, and fix our faulty infrastructure.
