Joe Biden

Vice President Joe Biden Speaks at Miami-Dade College, JCC in Davie

Vice President Joe Biden was in South Florida Wednesday and Thursday to speak at Miami-Dade College and the Jewish Community Center in Davie.

Biden spoke at the Science Center at MDC's north campus Wednesday, addressing the importance of helping more Americans go to college.

The Vice President was last at MDC to deliver the keynote address at the 2014 commencement.

Biden came to South Florida to lend a hand to Senate Democrats and the administration's education agenda as some watched for any hint that he'll seek the presidency.

He may have dropped one such hint at MDC, telling the crowd, "People who aren't willing to risk failing never succeed."

But the remark at least on its surface was about the courage it takes for students to go back to school after being out for several years.

When his plane touched down in Miami, Biden was greeted on the tarmac by Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez and airport director Amelio Jimenez, sharing laughs with them and slipping both officials vice presidential challenge coins.

At the college, he toured a biotechnology lab, where a student asked if he wanted to join in her work. "I'm going to watch," Biden joked, looking at the press corps. "I can see the press headline: 'Biden screws up experiment.'"

After his visit to the college, Biden was scheduled to meet with Wasserman Schultz to presumably discuss President Barack Obama's nuclear deal with Iran.

On Thursday, Biden visited the David Posnack Jewish Community Center in Davie to discuss the Iran deal with local leaders.

Biden met with about 35 prominent Jewish leaders, running through details of the deal, insisting it's good for America and Israel, "It will make us and Israel safer, not weaker."

Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz helped organize the meeting, which was by invitation only.

Activist groups held a protest of Biden outside the event.

Biden's visit will temporarily impact some Miami-Dade Transit Services on Wednesday and Thursday. Metrorail and Metromover stations will be stopping service momentarily during afternoon and evening hours for security reasons, and Metrobus service may also be impacted.

Operations may cease for as long as 25 to 30 minutes. Anyone planning to use the Orange Line to go to Miami International Airport should give themselves ample time.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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