At a Democratic rally Friday, 2,400 people gathered in Mesilla Plaza near Las Cruces to see U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, the party's vice presidential nominee.

Joe Biden's introduction (scroll down for the rest of the story)

Warming up the crowd, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson asked if they wanted to hear from Biden, and jokingly asked if they wanted to hear a really long speech. "No!" they shouted in good humor. Richardson was in a jovial mood and didn’t seem to mind, noting that everyone had forgotten that he had run, and lost, in the primary for the party's nomination.

Biden came out to loud cheers. His message sounded a theme constant in all the speeches that day, saying Dona Ana County couldswing the state, which could swing the country in next month's election for Barack Obama.

“We need your help,” Biden pleaded, asking the crowd to vote early, and campaign vigorously.

On the issue of oil, he said America has only three percent of the world’s oil reserves but uses more than 25 percent.

“How are you going to drill your way out of that one?” he asked. Biden added that renewable energy could create 5 million “jobs you can’t export.”

He also spoke about his son, Army Capt. Beau Biden, who is headed to Fort Bliss on his way to service in Iraq.

The reference prefaced the unveiling of the Democratic ticket’s new education policy. “If you serve your country, we’ll get you to college,” he said. The party's proposal would include other forms of national service, such as the Peace Corps.

“It would be nice if he got a license,” Biden said joking about “Joe the plumber” to whom the Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, referred repeatedly in Thursday's dabate with Obama.

Snuggling up to the crowd even more, he added, “Ya’ll know about real mavericks down here. You can't be a maverick when all you’ve been the last eight years as a sidekick.”

Continuing, he blasted the “negativity” of McCain's campaign, to which “the (current) administration have bequeathed the tactics of Karl Rove.” In contrast, he said, Obama “will appeal to America’s better angels.”

On the subject of the Republican vice presidential nominee, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, he referred to her recent comment that she likes to visit the “pro-America” parts of the country.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve never been to a state that hasn’t sent its sons and daughters to serve and die for its sons and daughters,” Biden said.

“We are one nation under God,” Biden said in his final salvo, “I’m tired about the implications of patriotism.”

Joe Biden says goodbye (scroll down for the rest of the story)

After the event, Richardson said, “El Paso is a great community. We invite them to join us! We appreciate them. They’re our partners on economic development, on border issues. El Paso is like a brother or sister to us.”

Asked if he thinks El Paso had a role to play in the presidential election, Richardson said, “Absolutely. Absolutely they do. They can help us with volunteers and resources.” being so close to a swing state.

In a brief interview with Biden, Newspaper Tree asked if he had anything to say to the El Pasoans who were coming into Southern New Mexico and canvassing for Obama.

“I do! Help us on the way,” was his reply.

Texas state Rep. Norma Chavez, D-El Paso, was not surprised by Biden and Richardson’s sentiments.

“Senator Biden recognizes how important El Paso is to the southern New Mexico effort," she said. "It is a battleground state."

"El Paso has been sending hundreds of people to New Mexico. We’re gonna continue. The focus is Southern New Mexico and a straight ticket in El Paso. It seems the Obama campaign has the same focus.”

The possibility of the region deciding the election was a constant theme of all the day's speeches.

“We know better than most that every vote counts. … Barack and Joe need to win Dona Ana County” said Ashley Pineda, an Obama field officer, urging the crowd to make phone calls, knock on doors and “pull our neighbors out and help them make their voices heard.”

Democratic grass root leaders, including Pineda, agreed that El Paso is a part of this push.

But not just El Pasoans. Some people who had come all the way from San Antonio to hear Biden and spend the weekend canvassing for Obama.

“The state is still undecided. We’re trying to push it over the edge for Obama” said Patrick Salinas, a UT- San Antonio student. But did they think it was fair for Texans to be effecting the election in another state?

“We’re all Americans, anyway” retorted Salinas.

My day finished by waiting for Biden to come and talk to the press on a more formal basis. A secret service operative came out and ushered CNN through. All I got to see was the palm of his hand. I guess you have to be a member of the liberal media, rather than the local media to have access to such big wigs.

So I went and bought some fudge. (Habernero flavor.)

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Editors note: Here is the invocation that preceded Biden's speech