'Chains' Comments Weigh Down Coverage of Biden's VA Return

When Vice President Joe Biden returned to the Richmond, Virginia area Tuesday morning for a campaign event, local newscasts ensured Richmond voters would not forget the racially charged comments from his last visit. 

Biden alleged presidential candidate Mitt Romney and Republicans wanted to “put y’all back in chains” at an August campaign rally. The audience for the speech was half black, and the even was held in Danville, a city with a history of racial strife. 

Multiple Richmond television newscasts opened their coverage of Biden’s visit with a reminder of the gaffe.

FOX RICHMOND’S reporter: The Secret Service is here getting the fairgrounds ready for Vice President Biden’s visit here to Chesterfield. The last time Biden was in Virginia he stirred some controversy. He told a largely African American crowd in Danville that Republicans wanted to, quote, unchain Wall Street and put them back in chains. 

CBS RICHMOND’S anchor: This is the Vice President’s first visit to the region since August 14th, when he notoriously told a largely African American crowd that Mitt Romney would, quote, put them back in chains.

NBC RICHMOND’S anchor: Vice President Biden is well known for occasionally putting his foot in his mouth like many politicians and his last trip to Virginia was a little controversial. The last time Biden came to the Commonwealth, he said Republicans want to, quote, unchain Wall Street. He said this in Danville in front of a largely African-American crowd, and some took offense to his reference to chains.