Former Vice President Joe Biden formally kicked off his bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential ticket with a rally Saturday afternoon at Eakins Oval outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Speaking a stone’s throw from the Rocky statue, Biden said he chose Philadelphia for the launch and his official campaign headquarters because “this was the birthplace of our democracy.”

A former Senator from Delaware, Biden has several connections to the region, and he emphasized his Pennsylvania roots during his speech. His wife, Dr. Jill Biden, recalled growing up watching Phillies games.

The crowd numbered only around 6,000, according to security officials. By comparison, Wawa Welcome America used to bring out upwards of 100,000 to the Ben Franklin Parkway. The day’s sunny and breezy weather couldn’t have been better, but security was tight, and events like the Italian Market Festival were competing for attention. Pundits called the small rally “a classic made-for-TV event.”

Another distraction for Philadelphians? The May 21 primary election. The city has been slowly gearing up for the intra-party showdown — which de facto settles many races because of the city’s lopsided Democrat-to-Republican registration ratio.

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