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It's surprising that it isn't a blowout for Scranton. Scranton gets so much national attention for its affiliation with Biden. Those of us in PA or surrounding states may know Harrisburg and Allentown are heavier hitters than Scranton, but on a national level, I think Scranton is the third city most affiliated with Pennsylvania.
Recency bias. Most casual observers had no idea that Biden was from Scranton or did they know much about Scranton before this election. Whereas I think most people associate PA with Lancaster county (Amish country, rolling hills) and have for a lot longer period of time.
Recency bias. Most casual observers had no idea that Biden was from Scranton or did they know much about Scranton before this election. Whereas I think most people associate PA with Lancaster county (Amish country, rolling hills) and have for a lot longer period of time.
Hm, that's an interesting take. I am pretty sure Biden played up his roots in Scranton at a national level long before 2020, especially in 2008 and 2012. I assume we are talking about contemporary associations, not associations of the past, anyways.
Edit: I consider Lancaster and South-Central Pennsylvania the most "quintessentially Pennsylvanian" part of the state, but I do not think that means Lancaster is the third most associated city, or that it is all that well known on a national level. Many people consider it one of Pennsylvania's "best kept secrets."
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I live one state away in MD, and undoubtedly after the top two I associate Harrisburg the state capital next. And this comes as I have been to both Scranton and Allentown.
Hm, that's an interesting take. I am pretty sure Biden played up his roots in Scranton at a national level long before 2020, especially in 2008 and 2012. I assume we are talking about contemporary associations, not associations of the past, anyways.
Edit: I consider Lancaster and South-Central Pennsylvania the most "quintessentially Pennsylvanian" part of the state, but I do not think that means Lancaster is the third most associated city, or that it is all that well known on a national level. Many people consider it one of Pennsylvania's "best kept secrets."
You make some interesting points. Biden is a tricky case. So much of his campaign has been built on the story about his two hour train ride home from DC to Delaware to tuck his kids in every night after the loss of his wife and young daughter. On the other hand it's also about his blue collar roots in Scranton. He definitely plays up either/or at times depending on his audience lol I have zero problem with it and think it's endearing but just an observation.
Overall I just think nationally that the casual person would more associate Lancaster County (and all that comes with it) with PA than Scranton. Maybe that's not the case. When I was a kid in the 80's we did the family trip to Lancaster County from North Jersey. It just seemed like one of those PA things that so many did.
Recency bias. Most casual observers had no idea that Biden was from Scranton or did they know much about Scranton before this election. Whereas I think most people associate PA with Lancaster county (Amish country, rolling hills) and have for a lot longer period of time.
I agree with this take. I'm a political junkie, so I also know that Hillary Clinton played up her Scranton family roots too when convenient in 2008/2016 (and that the city itself is named for a prominent political family) but I would venture to guess that the casual observer nationally outside of the PA area would just assume that Biden was born in Delaware. Now if Steve Carell ever runs for office then Scranton would enter the minds of more voters nationally...
Last edited by innovator82; 10-28-2020 at 09:56 AM..
For rural PA, I more picture the hills of coal country in western/central PA, like where my dad grew up in Washington County. More dense forests and less open farmland than Lancaster County, which is actually one of the least hilly parts of the state, right?
And truth be told, picturing that western PA landscape makes me taste a sandwich stuffed with french fries.
I agree with this take. I'm a political junkie, so I also know that Hillary Clinton played up her Scranton family roots too when convenient in 2008/2016 (and that the city itself is named for a prominent political family) but I would venture to guess that the casual observer nationally outside of the PA area would just assume that Biden was born in Delaware. Now if Steve Carell ever runs for office then Scranton would enter the minds of more voters nationally...
Really? About every other general discussion of Biden includes a sound bite such as, "...the scrappy boy from Scranton..." Lol.
Quote:
Originally Posted by averysgore
For rural PA, I more picture the hills of coal country in western/central PA, like where my dad grew up in Washington County. More dense forests and less open farmland than Lancaster County, which is actually one of the least hilly parts of the state, right?
And truth be told, picturing that western PA landscape makes me taste a sandwich stuffed with french fries.
Yeah, truth be told, when I think rural Pennsylvania scenery, I think of the Northern Tier around Williamsport and North of Williamsport around I-99 and Wellsboro. But, that's because it is where my dad's family is from. And yes, the Lancaster area is in fact flat in some areas, but it is generally gentle rolling hills. It is probably the flattest part of the state, along with Southeast Pennsylvania.
First city that comes to mind with Pennsylvania? *Other than Philadelphia and Pittsburgh*
I think a decent way to describe the dichotomy being discussed here is which Pennsylvania: the gritty vs. the bucolic. And I mean both of those in a positive way (since sometimes people give the word "gritty" a negative connotation).
Erie, because every time we drive from MA to MI, we eat dinner at the Applebees right off 90 in Erie lol.
Voted Lancaster though, it's my prototypical PA town.
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