It was an eventful day for former Vice President Joe Biden.
Before he kicked off the University at Buffalo’s Distinguished Speaker Series before a sold-out crowd of 6,500, Biden surprised the lunch crowd at the Olive Tree in Lancaster, stopping for selfies and quick conversations.
The campaign stop for congressional candidate Nate McMurray was planned at the last second.
After Biden visited with customers, he sat and ate with his fellow Democrat.
McMurray, who's trying to unseat the embattled incumbent Chris Collins in New York's most Republican-leaning district, said he greatly respects the former VP and welcomes his support.
"He thinks people who come from backgrounds like he and I come from, from working class roots, that we have to get back in leadership so we can fight for people like us, fight for regular Americans."
Biden said he's confident that, with candidates like McMurray, America is turning a corner.
Then Biden kicked off this year's Distinguished Speaker Series at the University at Buffalo before a capacity crowd of 6,500.
Ticket holders were encouraged to arrive early to pass through security, with strict measures already in place before it was announced that two packages possibly containing explosives were found at two post offices in Delaware, addressed to him.
He is among the prominent Democrats to whom suspicious packages were addressed to this week.
Even before Biden took the podium, several UB students said they’ve been inspired by Biden and think the country’s more engaged in the political process now than in recent years.
“People that I’ve spoken to, they are much more engaged than they have been in the past,” said student Madeline Burns.
“I admire his personality, I admire how he engages with the community, especially with the division that’s going on,” added Tommy Valeiro.
Biden talked about the series of pipe bombs being mailed to Democratic leaders early in his UB speech.
"Folks we don't have all the facts yet, and we don't know who is behind all of this and why their doing this
During his speech, Biden mentioned that Americans must do better as a society to engage in public discourse respectfully.
"We're Americans before we're Democrats, Republicans or Independents," he said.