EASTON — Gov. Wes Moore hauled a large basket of food to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s food pantry Wednesday evening, along with an even larger smile.
The governor made his second public appearance on the Mid-Shore in as many months, speaking to local officials and volunteers of the Easton food pantry and thrift store.
“You all remind me of what it means to have hope,” Moore said. “You all remind us that we live in a big and a beautiful and a bright world and that we all have a place in it.”
He mentioned that St. Vincent de Paul’s work to help county residents in need comes “at a time when we continue to allow political vitriol to create horrific images that we continue to see on our television screens.”
Moore has denounced “political violence” in statements since an assassination attempt on Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump less than a week ago. The shooting, which took place at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, left one spectator dead and Trump with a minor injury.
The governor’s Easton visit came in the midst of a push by some Democratic leaders for President Joe Biden to reconsider his candidacy in the upcoming November election.
Moore’s name has been floated as a possible replacement for the president’s atop the Democratic ticket. But the governor has been steadfast in his support of Biden.
Prior to speaking Wednesday evening, Moore explained his support for the president.
Moore pointed to the state’s recovery in unemployment, a reduction in homicides and shootings, and the Port of Baltimore reopening — areas in which Biden’s assistance has been crucial to Maryland, he said.
“Those things did not happen by accident,” Moore said in an interview with The Star Democrat. “They required leadership, and they required partnership. And I’m just really thankful that we have the president as a partner.”
Moore said the upcoming election between Biden and Donald Trump is a “binary choice.”
“For me, the choice between Donald Trump and President Biden is an easy one,” Moore said. “President Biden’s consistently supported the people of our state, and I’m excited about thinking about what another four years of President Biden could be like.”
Alex Handy, president of the Easton chapter of St. Vincent de Paul, said during the governor’s visit that Moore is “one of the warmest people I’ve ever met.”
“He (had a) big smile, came over, hugged people like crazy,” Handy said.
It was the first time that Skip and Peggy Baraldi, volunteers at St. Vincent de Paul, saw the governor in person. Skip took notice of Moore’s “outgoing” personality as he talked to the crowd for around 10 minutes.
Moore thanked volunteers at St. Vincent de Paul’s Easton chapter, an organization he said acts as the “backbone of our social fabric” in an interview with The Star Democrat. Talking to the crowd, Moore emphasized his faith.
“I do want to be very, very clear: I am a child of God,” Moore said during his speech. “I know who woke me up this morning. I know who will put me to bed tonight. … So when I say I’m thankful for you and I’m praying for you, I mean it.”
“It’s an honor to be your colleague, it’s an honor to be your friend, it’s an honor to be your neighbor, it’s an honor to be your governor,” Moore continued, drawing applause from the crowd.
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