[dropcap size=big]P[/dropcap]residential candidate Joe Biden stopped by King Taco in Pico-Union for a campaign photo-op and was asked about homelessness, immigration, and the "constitutional crisis" brewing in Washington. The former vice president made his first stop in California since announcing his presidential bid for 2020, scheduling two fundraisers in the L.A. area.
The fabled King Taco chain, which was founded by modern taco-truck inventor Raul Martinez Sr., is a favorite of presidential hopefuls when they swing into town.
Biden showed up at King Taco No. 10 with longtime taco fan L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti. The two sat at a table with locals as reporters and photographers watched and posed questions. When asked about the showdown over brewing House and Senate investigations into the Trump administration and the 2016 election, Biden said the country was "getting close" to a crisis over its foundational system of checks and balances.
Happening now - @JoeBiden is having tacos with @MayorOfLA at King Taco #10 on Pico. Biden is also attending two fundraisers while in LA. Head to @ABC7 online for livestream #2020Election #CAPrimary pic.twitter.com/UNlW6DJuGX
— Josh Haskell (@abc7JoshHaskell) May 8, 2019
Biden also addressed the most recent campus shooting in Colorado, in which 18-year-old Kendrick Castillo was killed on Tuesday while rushing two attackers. The former veep called for more action from Washington to stop the epidemic of mass shootings in America.
Watch video of Biden's entire visit to King Taco here:
Away from the cameras, Biden attended high-ticket fundraisers in Hancock Park and in Beverly Hills, according to reports. Garcetti had a short-lived presidential campaign himself, before the mayor abruptly announced in January he was not going to attempt becoming the first sitting mayor to make it to the White House. Today, that person is Pete Buttigieg.
"I will not speak ill of any Democratic candidates, I will not do it," Biden said, answering a question about the arguably overcrowded Democratic primary field of some 20 others. Biden, the current frontrunner according to national polls, later claimed that he had decided to run after Garcetti bowed out. "When he decided not to run, I called him," Biden said. "But I'm also glad you're not running, because I plan on running. I wouldn't want to run against you!"
It wasn't clear from the footage what Biden ate. ("By the way, I do endorse King Taco, the best taco around," Garcetti quipped.)
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