Biden visits tornado-devastated rural Western Ky., 'perhaps the most conservative place he has visited as president'

Biden in Dawson Springs, Kentucky (Photo from WPKY Radio)

President Biden inspected tornado damage and met with local and state officials yesterday in rural Western Kentucky, "perhaps the most conservative place he has visited as president, the one where open hostility would be most apparent," writes Matt Viser of The Washington Post. In Mayfield, population 10,000, "He set foot in a county that voted for Donald Trump by nearly a 4 to 1 margin. Many here protested his election, and some still do not accept that he is the rightful president. But the storms that have transformed parts of Western Kentucky suggest that a natural disaster remains one of the few spaces left in American life where, however briefly, many attempt to put their politics aside."

Biden then went to Dawson Springs, pop. 2,500, which lost three-fourths of its buildings. It's in Hopkins County, which he lost 3 to 1. “Reporters heard a smattering of 'Let’s go, Brandon' shouts as Biden toured the area, but that reaction was relatively muted,” Viser reports. Republican James Comer, the district's congressman, told Viser that such was  “not appropriate.” He added, “Overwhelmingly, 99.5 percent of the people who were on the parade route were very polite and, I think, appreciated that the president of the United States took time to come here after the disaster. The people here are very patriotic — very conservative, but they’re patriotic, and they respect the office of the presidency.”

On CNN Thursday morning, Comer reiterated his gratitude for Biden's surprise announcement that the federal government would cover all of state and local governments' cleanup costs for the first 30 days, instead of the usual 75 percent. “This is rural America,” he told anchor Kate Bouldan. "Rural America just doesn't have the tax base that urban and suburban areas have.” Biden said he had never seen such damage from a tornado.

Bouldan said "Some things are above and beyond politics" and asked Comer about the working relationship between Democrats and Republicans. “It's been great thus far,” he said. "Everyone, as they should, put politics aside . . I hope and pray that will continue over the coming months.” He said some people fear that the federal government will attention will come “as long as CNN and Fox and the news stations are covering it,” and “That was the underlying theme of the message that residents in West Kentucky gave to President Biden . . . just don't forget about us.” Biden seemed to get the message, saying in Mayfield, “We’re not leaving. We’re not going to leave. I promise you, the federal government is going to be involved until this gets rebuilt.”