It wasn't a surprise that Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden discussed the nation's economy, rising education and health care costs, and the price of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The average income is down and the price of everything is up, from gas to milk to all of your groceries. And there's a culture in Washington where a few very wealthy and powerful [individuals] have a seat at the table and the rest of us are on the menu," Mr. Biden said in a speech at Greensburg Salem High School last Thursday.

But in an election in which Pennsylvania's rural voters are crucial to Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama's campaign, did his words have a strong impact on a Westmoreland County audience?

Emily Comport, 21, of Mars, said one doesn't have to look far to see how the issues Mr. Biden raised affect her life.

A pre-law student at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, Ms. Comport said she appreciated the Obama-Biden proposal to cut taxes for families with annual incomes lower than $250,000 because it will help her family pay for her education. She also applauded a plan to reward community service with funds to pay for post-secondary education.

"I'm middle class, so I get no financial aid. I'm graduating $80,000 in debt in an economy where there aren't many jobs available," she said, noting that amount would probably reach $200,000 by the time she finishes graduate school.

Her father, Rick Comport, 47, of Mars, said Mr. Biden's comments about Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain's plan to tax health care insurance paid by employers as personal income would compound already-difficult financial times for families such as his.

The McCain plan would tax health insurance paid by employers, but would also provide $2,500 in tax credits to individuals and $5,000 in tax credits to families to purchase insurance.

"People just can't afford to pay that kind of money on health insurance," Mr. Comport said. "Health insurance is ruining the country right now."

For Tony Garofola of Crabtree, the most important issue raised by Mr. Biden was his promise that the Obama administration would not privatize Social Security.

Mr. Biden reiterated his and Mr. Obama's opposition to the Bush administration's 2006 plan for privatization and asked audience members to imagine how they would feel if their Social Security dollars were in today's stock market.

"I live in a little coal mining town and I'm 84 years old," Mr. Garofola said." If it wasn't for Social Security, I couldn't exist. Joe Biden and Barack Obama are the people we need to lead us."

Steve O'Donnell, a Democrat who is running against incumbent Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, in the 18th Congressional District, also spoke at Greensburg Salem. He was endorsed there by Mr. Biden.

Mr. O'Donnell, a Monroeville businessman, said small coal mining towns could benefit from the Democratic ticket's pledge to fund alternative energy exploration, including clean coal technology.

"The whole district can benefit from clean coal technology because we have such enormous deposits of coal in the county," he said. "Innovation in this technology can create jobs all over the county."

Although Mr. Biden was certainly preaching to the choir at the event, which was sponsored by the Obama campaign, volunteer Norma Margonari, of Greensburg, expressed faith that the county's undecided voters will eventually swing toward their ticket.

"I know a lot of people for Senator Obama, but I know some that are holding back," she said. "They're waiting, watching and listening carefully. They'll make up their mind and I believe they'll be for Obama."

William Skillings, 49, of Greensburg, said if people cast votes based solely on the issues, the Obama-Biden ticket shouldn't have problems in the largely Democratic county.

"With 41 days left, I hope Democrats don't look at age or race on this ticket, just look at it as a Democrat," he said. "Not because I'm an African-American, but because it's best for this country as a whole."